Courtney Mumford 鈥07 exudes Southern charm at its finest
(EDITOR鈥橲 NOTE: This year, the 海角乱伦社区 University Hospitality Management program celebrates its 50-year anniversary beginning Homecoming Weekend Sept. 30-Oct. 2. Here鈥檚 a look at one of its many successful alumni: Courtney Mumford, director of people, Montage Palmetto Bluff. Visit the Homecoming 2022 webpage to see Hospitality鈥檚 schedule of celebratory events.)
They write books about it. Some focus on cooking. Some on home d茅cor. Still others conjure up images of graciousness and charm鈥攁ll in the name of Southern hospitality.
For Courtney Mumford 鈥07, the South鈥檚 warm and welcoming ambiance is where she has parlayed her Hospitality Management degree time and again, most recently as director of people at Montage Palmetto Bluff, a luxury resort in the heart of South Carolina Lowcountry.
A native of Franklin, Pennsylvania, Mumford said 海角乱伦社区 prepared her for a rewarding career in hospitality by exposing her to real-world experiences.
鈥淚n addition to classroom training and research papers, the faculty prepared us by requiring hands-on experience on campus, two summer internships, and high expectations for career fairs and interviews,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here was never an expectation that it wouldn鈥檛 take hard work to be successful, but always the encouragement and support that if we put in the hard work, we would enjoy a successful career in one of the best industries in the world.鈥
Mumford鈥檚 career began as food and beverage supervisor at the Westin in Hilton Head, where she worked her way up to management, eventually earning the position of human resources manager. From there, she directed human resources at the Westin in Jekyll Island, Georgia, and the Bohemian Savannah Riverfront, before taking her current position with Montage International, where she is now in her sixth year.
鈥淗ospitality is hard work and can be long hours and exhausting days, but there is nothing like the hospitality industry,鈥 she said of her choice. 鈥淵ou are never really ready for that next position or promotion, but when you get it, if you work your tail off, ask questions, be humble, and surround yourself with people who are smarter and more experienced than you, you will find success.鈥
A final word of advice to aspiring hospitality managers, she said, 鈥淭ake care of your people and treat them like humans first and associates/employees second.鈥澛