Alumni Career Feature
Darlene Hinkelman
We feature alumni with interesting careers from a variety of career areas. To find out more about the alumnus profession contact them via the e-mail provided. Or if you are interested in being featured, e-mail us at alumni@pct.edu.
Darlene Hinkelman
- A.A.S., Hospitality, 1995
- The Coffee and Tea Room
- coffeetearoom@chilitech.net
How did you choose your present career? Please explain how you decided to major in your area of study during college.
It seemed that almost every job I had since I graduated from high school had to do with hospitality. I worked in the hotel industry as well as other little jobs. I moved to Florida and worked in a resort hotel. I realized after two years that without a degree I would not be able to live on my own. As a non-traditional student with life experience, I feel it was easier for me to excel. I, unlike the younger students, was able to apply my knowledge to what the faculty was attempting to teach us. I also had the motivation that comes with knowing what life had in store for me without a degree.
What advice do you have to offer to a student who is struggling with identification of a major/career field in college?
You need to find something you like to do. Look at careers that follow what you like to do - your interests and what you are comfortable doing.
How were you hired at your present position?
\Suggestions from previous customers about what they wanted in a coffee shop led me to explore opening my business. I worked for a large company and the coffee shop needed to be consistent across the whole company. Customers were looking for something more intimate. The academic part of my education helped tremendously. I had to draft a business plan and that took me over a year to complete. I worked for a while collecting items I needed. I then left my job and the business really moved fast after that. My business plan included adding computers to the coffee and tearoom to cater to the cyber café crowd.
What positions did you hold before this one?
I was a bartender and lunch chef at a small ethnic family restaurant, beverage manager, sous chef and guest service representative.
What would you tell a Penn College graduating student about your career field?
The hospitality field is large. You can be in anything from beverages, food preparation to management.
What was the most significant thing you learned on the job during your first year?
I learned to teach others about what I know. As the owner of my own business, I need to keep my employees up-dated. I learned how to research information to be able to give educated answers. I learned to know what I was talking about so I could educate them on the whole coffee and tea experience. It makes it more enjoyable for them.
What was most difficult about your transition to the world of work?
After college, it was difficult to go to a job with all the knowledge I had learned and not be able to use it. Some of the people I worked for did not know as much as I did - it was difficult to adjust to that.
What was the greatest strength of your Penn College education? (What did you learn at Penn College that helped you a great deal in your career?)
The academic subjects not in my major - I've used so much of what I learned in mathematics, English and human relations. It's as important to know all these things as well as the culinary classes. I thought I didn't need to know those things but I did. So much of that has come up in my business - even the scenarios in the human relations class.
What should students in your field do to prepare themselves for their career?
Work in the field. Be open to whatever position might be available. You get to know the people that way. Learn from the business and be open to what people are telling you. Get as much hands-on experience as you can.
What do you find the most enjoyable about your career field and your present position?
Being able to interact with people. I like being behind the scenes and watching it all fall in place. As the owner, I am involved in the whole business from the finances to cleaning the floor.
How do you see your field changing in the next 3-5 years? Will this change require you to obtain additional training?
Hospitality is a process that continues all the time. There is always something new. In my business better financial training, business management and human relations will be important.
What are your plans for the future? Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
Definitely being a business owner. Expanding the business and offering more services. Eventually I'd like to consider a second location.
If you could redo your college experience, how/would you prepare differently to enter the workplace?
I would be a part of whatever was offered. I should have taken more advantage of opportunities to cater special events.
From your perspective, what are 3-5 needed skills that your employer was seeking in a new employee?
Be willing to learn new things and/or do things in a different way. Understanding that everybody is different so that they are open-minded to customers. Work ethic - you have to realize that you may need to change some things in your life to keep the job.
Have you received any special recognition or awards through your employment or professional organizations to which you belong?
I participated in the Penn College Food Shows and won a few awards for my work. Included in these was a first-place award for the design of the kitchen in the Victorian House on campus. This was a team effort between a fellow graduate and myself. I graduated with Highest Honors in the Hospitality Class of 1995.
