Four recent alumni from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) have found their professional paths at The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage. David Pacheco, Baldomero Felix, Cristian Cabrera, and Sofia Torres-Crespo are bringing a blend of education and dedication to the luxury resort.
Pacheco, who graduated in 2023 with a degree in business administration, serves as a human resources clerk. “At The Ritz-Carlton, I’ve learned a lot and met great people,” Pacheco said. His responsibilities include onboarding new employees and ensuring they feel welcomed. Reflecting on his experience, he noted, “The Ritz is a luxury property, so I had a bit of learning to do when I first started. However, after being here for three months, I feel right at home.” He emphasized the importance of gaining experience in the hotel industry for those aspiring to work at such establishments: “We have a saying here: We get the top 1% of ladies and gentlemen at The Ritz-Carlton.”
Felix graduated in 2022 with degrees in business administration and hospitality management. He has been undergoing manager-in-training for nearly 18 months. “I got this amazing opportunity to be a manager-in-training here at The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage for the last 17 months. I graduate next month. It’s phenomenal to be here,” Felix said. As a first-generation college student, he credited Joseph Tormey from CSUSB’s hospitality management program for guiding him towards his career goals.
Cabrera also graduated in 2022 with degrees in business management and hospitality management. He works as a general accountant at the resort handling billing and guest inquiries. “My experience has been really amazing here at The Ritz-Carlton,” Cabrera shared. Coming from a background where his parents were farm workers, he faced challenges but found support through Dr. Tormey’s mentorship.
Torres-Crespo completed her undergraduate studies in psychology and business administration in 2021 and is now pursuing her master’s degree in industrial organizational psychology at CSUSB while working as a learning and quality analyst at The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage. Her role focuses on training and quality improvement within the organization aligning with her educational background.
Torres-Crespo highlighted Avisinia “Avi” Rodríguez’s influence on her journey: “When I first went to PDC… Dr. Avi welcomed me with open arms… She saw my potential and my growth.” Torres-Crespo held several leadership positions during her time at CSUSB including president of the psychology club.
Shannon Gilbert, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage expressed pride over these graduates’ contributions: “It’s been so fun to see all the ladies and gentlemen from CSUSB who’ve joined us…” Matthew Payne, senior marketing manager added that working with CSUSB graduates has been “extremely pleasant.”
These alumni continue to grow professionally while serving as an inspiration for future students by showcasing the value of education combined with hard work.
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