 PHILADELPHIA - Paul J. Rebovich will graduate from Drexel next June with a definite advantage over the pack of new hopefuls who will be seeking employment in the hospitality industry.
PJ, a senior in Goodwin College's Hospitality Management major, will be one of the first Drexel students to graduate equipped with the expertise he has acquired in the new track in gaming and resort management.
With a variety of interests and aspirations, the Hamilton, NJ, native sought a college experience that would coexist with his entrepreneurial inclination and his interest in performing and catering.
"I've been working as a DJ all through school." PJ said. "I have my own business - PJ the DJ Entertainment - which I started in 1998."
"I have switched concentrations a couple of times. I know I want to do something combining services and entertainment."
PJ decided to pursue the new concentration, which includes 21 credits in gaming and resort management and in which Gaming Technology is a required course.
Drexel was the first university in Pennsylvania to offer education in casino gaming and continues to have the most extensive course offerings.
Additionally, PJ can add to his resume a position at the Borgata Hotel, Casino and Spa as housekeeping shift manager.
"My co-op at the Borgata was a great experience in management and leadership," he explained. "I had to work with a variety of people from different cultures. It helped that I speak both Italian and Spanish."
Honing his leadership skills is important to PJ, and he explained that one of his favorite courses at Drexel was Hospitality Leadership Seminar (HRM-450).
"We were trained to define our strengths and the strengths of our teammates and how to manage the talents of those on our team to be more productive," he said. "We took the DiSC assessment to determining our personality and communication style and I was a 'D' - a directive personality high on creative leadership."
The recipient of three academic varsity letters and a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society at Hamilton High West, PJ has continued receiving academic accolades at Drexel.
He is a member of the Dean's List, was awarded Outstanding Freshman honors, the National Restaurant Association's Salute to Excellence and an American Hotel Lodging Education Scholarship.
"The reason I chose Drexel's hospitality program was because of the strong business component," PJ said. "Most of the other programs I considered had less of an emphasis on business. And while we are given the ability to be well-rounded within the industry, this program is very focused."
"The hospitality marketing we learned was specific to the hospitality industry. We did a lot of e-marketing, we learned how to market tourism activities and we produced menus in design application."
PJ also feels that Drexel's metropolitan location added considerably to his educational experience.
"Networking in this industry is very important and with our field trips and internships, we have access on a daily basis to some of the finest hospitality sites anywhere," he explained.
"The faculty, like Jane Bokunewicz, (former VP at Tropicana Casino & Resorts, who enjoyed a 22-year career in the Atlantic City casino industry) are people who have extensive practical experience and connections within the industry. And because the program is so small, we are on a first-name basis with all of them. They are never too busy to talk with us, give us advice and help us make contacts."
With so much going for him, PJ will undoubtedly succeed in the next phase of his life.
"I know that I want to expand my entertainment business to include multiple locations," he explained. "I'd also like to go back to Atlantic City, perhaps work for the Convention and Visitor's Bureau doing e-marketing, maybe even get into hotel design."
"There are so many options available to me. The difficult part is deciding which to choose."
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