Megan Kremer found her true passion and career path in hospitality management while a student at Southeast Missouri State University. The experiences and job opportunities available in the industry were the perfect fit for a job shes recently landed with Maritz Travel at Google.

After graduating from Southeast in December 2018 with a degree in hospitality management, Kremer, a native of Fenton, Missouri, was hired to work for Maritz Travel, a global events company. When Maritz recently announced Google was a new client and needed employees who wanted to work exclusively with Google in San Francisco, California, Kremer jumped at the opportunity.

Ive landed a dream job, Kremer said. I will be working at Google headquarters at the Sunnyvale location as an on-site event specialist, which is an on-site travel director based at Googles campus. I will be employed through Maritz but will be working specifically with Google, making sure everything is set up properly and assisting the clients during meetings and events.

Kremer will represent Maritz Travel at Googles Sunnyvale location beginning later this month, and is looking forward to the next step in a career she loves.

On working at Maritz Travel:

I got hired with Maritz in March 2019 to work temporarily as a registration specialist. Once the temporary position ended, I was offered a position as a travel consultant. In August, we were notified that Google had become Maritzs newest client. Maritz needed to hire people who would be willing to relocate to the Bay Area and work with Google. I didnt waste any time in applying. I convinced two of my friends to apply with me. We all got interviews within two days. After that, it started to sink in that this could actually happen. Two weeks passed, and I was offered a job, as were my two friends.

Working with people who have the same interests and dreams is something I havent really had before. I truly have found some lifelong friends in my career. Ever since I chose hospitality management, my goal was to work with meetings and events. Now I get to do that in California for Google.

On her time at Southeast:

Dr. (Quantella) Noto (Southeast associate professor and Hospitality Management Program director) and my other professors helped me prepare for my career. Dr. Noto really drove me to do my best and opened my eyes to how many great things are out there. I learned a lot, not just from being in class, but also through learning about my professors and their experiences. I learned that there are so many opportunities within hospitality, and I think thats what excited me the most. You can go so many directions with this major! Ive seen that firsthand.

On the future:

While at Southeast, I was so excited to get out there and start in hospitality management. From only working at Maritz since March, I truly cant believe how far Ive come. It wasnt all easy, but it really pays off when clients recognize you and compliment you on how great you are. I could not be happier about choosing this career path, and I look forward to what the future holds for me. Thank you to Southeast and everyone else who helped me get to where I am today. I cant wait to continue my journey on the West Coast.