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Students gain hands-on experience at iconic events
A hospitality student organization is connecting Panthers with the experiences they need to land coveted event management jobs
The Super Bowl. Formula One. And the Billboard Latin Music Awards. Hospitality students dream of working at mega events like these.
At FIU, it’s a reality. Through a student organization called Back of House, students work at local and national events, including some of the most recognized events in the industry. They go behind the scenes of these events and gain hands-on experiences that beef up their resumes and help them connect with future employers.
“There’s no other way to go about educating students in hospitality without giving them this real-world experience,” says Sharifa Wilkinson, the organization’s faculty advisor and a teaching professor of mega events and event management. “In the events industry you cannot separate the event experience from the education experience. That’s why I love Back of House so much. It offers students incredible opportunities.”
The organization, housed within the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, is open to all students across the university. The club hosts educational meetings, networking events and workshops with industry leaders. The club receives requests from organizations searching for students to work at their events and puts together student groups who meet the requirements for these events.
“We really want Back of House students to go into the industry being pros,” says Natalie Fraioli Hernandez ‘23, the president of the organization and a master’s student in hospitality management with a specialization in mega events.
Through the club she has gained a wealth of experience. She has worked at F1’s Miami Grand Prix, the Ultra Music Festival, Miami Dolphins games and a Miami Sharks Rugby game. She was also an intern at the T-20 Cricket World Cup and has worked with a recognized event planner in South Florida, assisting with events for nonprofits such as United Way and Goodwill.
“Back of House has helped me so much career-wise,” Fraioli Hernandez says. “I do a lot of events because of the connections I’ve gained through the club."
She adds, "I’m so proud to be an FIU hospitality student. We have such an amazing program. One of the things I love about FIU is that they really focus on making sure we have really good experiences [experiential learning opportunities].”
Wilkinson says that Back of House is also a valuable resource for organizations seeking to staff their events — and potentially recruit talented students.
“We have been getting really great feedback from the industry, thanking us for having this student organization,” Wilkinson says. “Sometimes our students are offered jobs almost on the spot. People have come in, had conversations with students, seen them executing events and offered job interviews.”
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The foundation
Back of House was founded in 2022 when hospitality students (now alumnae) Miranda Ghirimoldi M.S. ’23 and Dominika Rocco M.S. ’23 joined forces to establish the organization.
“You need to have experience to get a job,” Ghirimoldi says. “I figured students like us should all connect and learn about upcoming events.”
Ghirimoldi and Rocco went to Chaplin School Dean Michael Cheng and the late Clinical Assistant Professor Dan Cormany to ask for their support in launching the organization. “They were a huge push for the club,” Ghirimoldi says. “I’m more than grateful to them. They never said no. It was always, ‘Yes, let’s do this.’”
The club quickly took off and attracted a number of students interested in the experience. Today, the organization boasts around 300 members.
“It’s become a pool of volunteers that’s being called for events like music festivals, the Latin American Fashion Summit and the Superbowl,” Ghirimoldi says. “So many students have told me, ‘I got this job or that internship or this opportunity because of Back of House.’ That’s exactly why I started this organization. I’m happy I could give back to the students.”
Ghirimoldi herself is a freelance event producer who is passionate about uplifting her fellow Panthers. She continues actively engaged in Back of House, supporting the student leaders, referring her clients and contacts to the club, and successfully helping students connect with opportunities.
The network
Many alumni often remain plugged into the network and recruit student workers through Back of House for their own events.
Alumnus Matthew Varela ’23 is an associate events manager at Miami Design District Associates. He works with a variety of organizations from small businesses to non-profits to industry giants that host their events at the Design District as well with businesses located within the district — among them luxury brands ranging from Chanel and Gucci to Michelin-starred restaurants — for their events.
Varela manages the process, including contracts, renting out of venues, organizing run-of-shows, day-off support and more. He regularly recommends clients use Back of House students to staff their events. Why? The answer is simple.
“FIU Back of House students care,” Varela says. “The most important thing is finding people that care. People that care to show up on time. People that care to speak eloquently. People that care about providing an experience. Back of House students are always here to support and ready to go. The students have been amazing each time.”
Varela, who is currently earning his master’s in international business at FIU, got involved in Back of House while he was an undergraduate. Thanks to the club, he worked at South Beach Wine & Food Festival®, where he caught the attention of event production companies that eventually hired him as a freelancer for various events. Combined with a variety of internships, he created a standout resume that led to his current job.
When Back of House students work at Design District events, he’s happy to connect with them.
“I 100% see myself in the students,” he says. “Whenever I connect them with an industry client, it’s amazing. I’m trying to give them the same opportunities that I had.”