Madison Riddle

Background

About Madison Riddle

From seven years of working in hospitality, I was quick to learn how much strong leadership and effective communication can shape a work environment. Having the opportunity to work from the associate level to managerial level provided me the invaluable perspective on how to lead and empower those around me. I acquired my Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University, majoring in Hospitality Management with a General Business Minor. Through various courses at JMU I collaborated with teams to plan and execute events. I was offered the opportunity work as a student mentor, leading teams during the planning and execution of their own events. Working as a mentor provided me with the insight on how to effectively encourage, support and manage multiple teams. My primary focus was managing their progress, reviewing materials, and providing insight on areas that could use improvement. Post graduation I completed the Voyager program for Marriott International. My primary focus was as assistant food and beverage manager, but after two months I was offered the opportunity to switch directions and become an event manager. During slow event planning periods I was able to complete rotations in every department providing a deep understanding of hotel operations. Due to turnover in the hotel I redirected my focus and managed my time effectively to act as an event manager, restaurant supervisor, and banquet manager. I thrived during this transition and was able to effectively lead my team while providing my clients with an excellent event planning and execution experience. I'm now moving forward with my event planning career at The Hilton Embassy Suites in Alexandria, Virginia.