Kasey Eberth was 15 when he started working in hospitality.

He hasn’t stopped since.

Eberth started as a line cook. He wanted to find what was his best fit in the restaurant industry.

Fall in love with Missouri State

After a tour of Missouri State University, Eberth knew this was the place for him.

“I automatically fell in love with the campus and just knew this was my home,” Eberth said.

What sets Missouri State hospitality leadership from the rest? The faculty.

“It actually all comes down to the faculty,” Eberth said. “The connections with Dr. Hein and Abbe Ehlers, along with the rest of faculty, allowed me to figure out exactly what I wanted to do. One of my favorite mentors was Dr. Melissa Dallas. Dr. Dallas helped me get my first job in a hotel.”

Eberth found his current position through career fairs that hospitality leadership hosts.

“I met with the Marriott International team and fell in love with the mission and core values of Marriott,” Eberth said. “I interviewed on campus the day after the fair and a week and a half later I did the final interview.”

Three days after the interview, Eberth was offered a position. That was in November 2017, more than six months before he graduated.

“It was really nice and relaxing to spend the rest of the year having fun and not worrying about looking for jobs,” Eberth said.

Get involved

Eberth was heavily involved on campus. He was part of Sigma Delta, the president of Hospitality Leaders of Tomorrow and a hospitality leadership student ambassador.

All of these organizations let him meet students and leaders in the industry he could connect with.

Eberth especially liked being a student ambassador because he could meet everyone setting up at the career fairs in a less formal setting.

“You’re having lunch with the leaders before the fair,” Eberth said. “There’s no pressure because you’re not in a formal interview setting.”

After graduation

Eberth graduated from Missouri State in May 2018.

He is currently the manager of restaurants and bars at the Sheraton Grand Chicago for Marriott International. Before that, Eberth was in the Voyage Global Leadership Development Program.

“Voyage allows students the opportunity to learn about all the departments in a hotel while specializing in a specific discipline,” Eberth said.