Michelle Ford

Montpelier, VT
BA Hospitality and Restaurant Management 1997

Initially I did an internship on the West Coast and helped open a new restaurant. It was an amazing experience that utilized all the things we learned and practiced while in the program. When I returned to Vermont, I worked at NECI in a variety of food and beverage management positions and ultimately became the Food and Beverage Director for both campuses. Everything I learned in the BA program was valuable and relevant to my career progression.

I am currently the Dean of NECI's Hospitality & Restaurant Management programs and use my previous education and work experience to ensure our programs prepare students for today's industry needs. I am also now enrolled in a Master's Degree program.

Remembering NECI: I really appreciated the small class size. This allowed students to be really connected as colleagues and develop lasting friendships. It also facilitated great one-on-one coaching and development from the teachers.

The teachers were accomplished industry professionals who owned food businesses and could bring everyday, real life experiences to the classroom. They enjoyed sharing their knowledge with us and seemed vested in our success. The program was intense and challenging. I needed this rigor to stay focused and engaged. As a result, I got so much out of every class.

I was the first in my family to get a college degree and my success at NECI inspired my sister to go on to get her nursing degree. I was initially worried about the student loans but as I worked toward paying them back, I never once regretted the check I wrote for my education. It was the best investment I could have ever made. I'm still amazed today and am in the process of applying for my Master's degree! My NECI degree made a huge difference in my career advancement, job satisfaction and earning potential.

I'm happy to answer your questions.