CFCC alumna finds passion in restaurant management
Massachusetts native Sarah Brennan traded the cold winters of her home state for a fresh start on the southeast coast.
PATH TO RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT
Although Sarah began her college education as a psychology major at a Massachusetts state college, she knew by her third semester that psychology was not her passion. That’s when she chose to relocate to Wilmington with her family and rethink her career path.
Inspired by a previous job at an orthodontist’s office, Sarah enrolled at CFCC to pursue a career in dental hygiene. However, her biology class proved that a health science career was not her passion.
During this time, Sarah held a position as a server at Longhorn Steakhouse in Wilmington, NC, where she discovered her passion for a future in hotel and restaurant management. Even before moving to Wilmington, she had considerable experience in the restaurant sector. Beginning at the age of 14, Sarah worked at Wendy’s, where she took on the role of dressing up as the Wendy’s mascot.
“After gaining insight into the dynamic restaurant industry, I chose to embark on a journey in hotel and restaurant management,” shared Sarah. “The inviting atmosphere of CFCC’s campus and their commitment to personalized education drew me in, making it the ideal place for me to transition my career into the Hospitality Management field.”
FROM SERVER TO HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL
Through the Hospitality Management program, Sarah learned many aspects of managing hotels and restaurants, such as financial budgeting, planning, marketing, and safety. Each day at work, she applies the lessons she learned.
“My Hospitality Law class was probably my favorite class.” Sarah shared. “To this day, I look around for potential hazards in the workplace to avoid getting injured or being sued!”
After graduating from CFCC’s Hospitality Management program, Sarah accepted a full-time position with Longhorn opening new restaurant locations around the country. In her new role, she applied knowledge from her coursework as well as the practical experience she gained planning and attending events with the Pineapple Guild, a student club for Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts students.
“My degree has pointed me in the right direction with many of my everyday work experiences,” Sarah noted. “CFCC’s Hospitality Management program helped me shape my career into a management position at Longhorn Steakhouse.”
Sarah enjoys working for the female-empowering Darden Restaurants, the parent company of Longhorn Steakhouse. While she anticipates a lengthy career with the company, she acknowledges that her degree opens up diverse avenues within the industry. These include opportunities in school or hospital cafeteria management, convention and event planning, as well as roles in food and equipment sales.
