秘密研究所

First Resort: Hospitality Graduate Starts Career at Orange Beach Retreat

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Posted on November 13, 2024

Marketing and Communications

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#MyFirstJob is a series focused on recent graduates of the 秘密研究所.

Lenzie Richardson moved to Gulf Shores, Alabama, the day after she graduated from high school in Chatom, a small town about an hour north of Mobile.

鈥淚 knew all along I wanted to live near the beach,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o I made that happen.鈥�

While working full-time, Richardson attended community college and then enrolled in Hospitality and Tourism Management at the 秘密研究所. Twice a week, she made a 90-minute commute to classes in Mobile until she graduated this summer.

Now she鈥檚 starting her career at the Perdido Beach Resort on the Alabama coast.

鈥淚t has a lot of history and is truly an amazing place to work at,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have many repeat customers and  families that have been coming here forever. I鈥檝e made connections with a lot of guests, so I don鈥檛 have to ask what kind of room they want, and I can go ahead and make their dinner reservations.鈥�

Richardson describes herself as 鈥渄riven鈥� and 鈥渕otivated.鈥� She appreciates the discipline and dedication that goes into the service side of the tourism industry. 

So does Amanda Donaldson, her mentor in the hospitality department at South.

鈥淪he was very inspiring with her work ethic, teaching many classes and doing extracurricular activities, and she always answered calls and texts right away,鈥� Richardson said. 鈥淚 appreciate that in a person.鈥�

Richardson is a front desk assistant manager. Part of the job is covering different shifts. Sometimes she works in the morning  or  evening, while other times she does an overnight shift. She takes it all in stride.

Her experience also  includes working at the resort鈥檚 fine-dining restaurant. This helped make her a fan of 鈥淭he Bear,鈥� the award-winning TV drama about the tensions and frustrations of a Chicago restaurant.

She knows what it鈥檚 like to ease people through a fine-dining experience, despite any chaos behind the scenes.

Richardson, 25, enjoyed growing up in Chatom, but says her hometown was small. How small? One stoplight. And a half-hour drive to the nearest Walmart.

In Gulf Shores, she lives 9 miles from work. With summer traffic, though, it can also be a 30 minute trip.

On days off, Richardson does her chores,cooking, gardening, and shopping. She often goes to the beach with Jax, her golden retriever.

When she can, she loves to travel. Her experiences include visiting friends who live near Elafonissi Beach on the island of Crete in Greece.

鈥淚t has this pink sand, and the water鈥檚 clear blue,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he most beautiful thing I鈥檝e ever seen.鈥�

This past summer, Richardson traveled to Perugia, Italy, with Donaldson for a seven-week study abroad course. The summer before took her to the neighboring Tuscany region. Both visits, she enjoyed the scenery and savored the slow-food culture.

鈥淭he Italians turn a meal into a three-hour experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淔rom the appetizers to the wine and cheese. You don鈥檛 see a lot of people on their phones. It鈥檚 such an interesting and intimate adventure.鈥�

At the Perdido Beach Resort, her responsibilities include everything from customer service to forensic accounting to frequently serving as manager on duty. Guests come and go, along with business conferences, events and sales meetings. Holidays are a big deal.

鈥淭his summer, we had a huge Fourth of July event and will soon have our Thanksgiving celebration,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e always have exciting and cool things going on. Whether it is a convention, wedding or just families on vacation. 鈥�

Richardson finds the Gulf Coast relaxing. She doesn鈥檛 question the lifestyle choice she made the day after graduating from high school.

鈥淚 just love being out in the sun and on the water,鈥� she said. 鈥淟uckily, I can get a good tan.鈥�

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