Lauren Johnson Chief Executive Officer Lauren Johnson is a senior from Grand Rapids, Michigan and is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Art in Hospitality Business. She is expected to graduate in May of 2019 from The School of Hospitality Business. This summer she had the pleasure of completing an internship as a Casino Operations Intern at The Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. Previously, she had interned on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, as well as the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. She is ready to put her best foot forward when being back on campus by making Destination Auction's 28th year the best one yet! She has grown with Auction throughout her college career beginning as a volunteer, next moving into a Director of Community Relations role, then on to Chief Operation Officer, and now Chief Executive Officer. She is overwhelmingly grateful to have earned this role and Auction has done nothing but grow her love for the industry and everyone in it. Additionally, Auction has made her into the person and leader that she is today. After graduation, Lauren has plans to explore many other outlets of the Hospitality industry in search for her perfect fit. She is ecstatic for another exciting year and to put on an extraordinary Auction with a strong team beside her! |
Carly King Chief operating officer Carly King is a junior in The School of Hospitality, expecting to graduate in May, 2020. Carly has been involved with Destination Auction for 3 years. She started as a volunteer during her freshman year for Destination Auction Your Paradise Awaits. The following year, she was honored when chosen to become a Co-Director of Sponsorships, and she has now been given the amazing opportunity to serve as the COO. She grew up in Macomb, Michigan, and always wanted to attend Michigan State. Carly has completed both of her internships; one was completed through Pine Lake Country Club and the next at Jimmy John's USPBL Baseball Field. She is also involved with CMAA (Club Managers Association of America) and has been on the executive board for two consecutive years. Carly is open to all aspects of the industry and is excited to continue learning about new opportunities through The School at MSU. Her interests include, but are not limited to, event planning, marketing, and fundraising. |
Delaney Jones Chief Financial Officer Delaney Jones is a senior in The School of Hospitality Business and will be graduating in May 2019. She is originally from Temperance, Michigan, and has enjoyed the two internships she has completed during college. Her first was at the Sanctuary Hotel in Kiawah Island, South Carolina and her past summer's internship was for Kohler at The American Club Hotel in Wisconsin. Delaney plans to become a hotel or country club General Manager one day, and she has previous experience caddying at a country club for six years. Aside from being involved in Destination Auction and working during school, she is a receipt of the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship. She's excited for another outstanding year working for Destination Auction! |
Melissa Dam Director, live Auction Melissa Dam is a senior majoring in Hospitality Business and will be graduating in May of 2019. Born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI. Melissa can speak Vietnamese fluently. She’s worked in her uncle’s restaurant since she was 14, interned at a Marriott and just this summer, interned as a supervisor in Everett’s at Boyne Mountain Resort. Although she is still uncertain of what she’d like to go into once she graduates, she knows she wants to work either in lodging or food and beverage management. along with taking classes during the year, she also works at the Kellogg Center. She enjoys fitness to accommodate her love of food. Melissa is excited for this year’s auction, the new theme, and the opportunity to work with both past and new members! 
Mackenzie Newman Director, Catalog Mackenzie Newman is a Junior from Huntington Woods, MI. She will be graduating from The School of Hospitality and Business in of May of 2020. This past summer she interned for Jonathan Witz & Associates, owner of Arts, Beats, and Eats Festival in Royal Oak, MI. She also assisted orchestrating Detroit Music Weekend, Jewish Federation's Israel at 70 event, Detroit River Days, and more. Last year, Mackenzie had the opportunity to be an assistant Director of Catalog for Destination Auction. With her love and passion for the event, she will now be the 2019 Executive Co- Director of Catalog. |
Nicole Stein Director, silent auction Nicole Stein is a junior from Grosse Pointe, Michigan. She will be graduating in May 2020 from The School of Hospitality Business with a minor in Real Estate Investment Management. This past summer, Nicole interned with Marriott Vacation Club as a part of their recreation and activities team in Palm Desert, California. Prior to that, she worked for The Country Club of Detroit as a food and beverage intern. Nicole is looking forward to her third year with Destination Auction where she previously was a volunteer and assistant director. She is grateful for the opportunity to coordinate the Silent Auction this year and is excited to work alongside such a talented executive board. 
Taylor Milnes Director, Catalog Taylor is a senior in The School of Hospitality Business. Being previously involved in Destination Auction last year as a Co-Assistant Director of Sponsorships, she is very excited and honored to have more of a leadership role as a director this year. She is from Dewitt, Michigan and was fortunate enough to spend the summer of 2017 in Boyne City, MI working as a Restaurant Manager at Boyne Mountain Resort. Taylor is focusing on event management and hopes to work for a corporation or an association as their event planner. She is currently interning at Michigan Society for Association Executives for her final year at Michigan State as a Meetings Intern. Taylor is looking forward to being a part of Destination Auction this year. |
Kimmy Anderson director, event design Kimmy Anderson, from Traverse City, Michigan, is a junior, graduating in December of 2019 from The School of Hospitality Business. For the last two years, she did research for Dr. MiRan Kim within the Broad Scholar Program. In addition, she was a member of the Tower Guard Class of 2017-2018. This year she will be one of the teaching assistants for Dr. Schmidgall’s HB 302 accounting course. She has a background in the events industry, most recently completing her Level ll Internship at The Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor, Michigan as the Group Sales Coordinator. She also holds a special place in her heart for wine, having worked three summers at Black Star Farms Winery & Vineyard as the Event Coordinator’s Assistant. In the future, she hopes to work corporate for either a hotel chain or a cruise line. When she has free time, she enjoys traveling, swimming, and hiking. Kimmy is excited to contribute towards the success of Destination Auction this year! 
Emily Deese director, Human Resources Emily is a Junior from Midland, MI. She plans on graduating in the spring of 2020 as an HB business major with a minor in Entrepreneurship. This past summer, Emily had the opportunity to intern in front desk, reservations, and guest services at the Iroquois Hotel on Mackinac Island; a place she had come to love while volunteering 6 years for the State Park as an Honor Scout. Outside of Destination Auction, Emily enjoys researching possible vacation destinations, traveling, photography, and trivia. She looks forward to owning her own hospitality businesses and is excited about providing unique, memorable experiences for her guests based on learnings from her own wanderlust. Emily is excited to be part of Destination Auction and looks forward to what hospitality opportunities will be offered in the 2019 event. |
Audrie Smith Director, solicitations Audrie Smith is currently a junior in The School of Hospitality Business from Northville, Michigan. Last year, she participated as a volunteer for the silent auction and is honored to be part of the executive board as Co-Director of Solicitations this year! Aside from Destination Auction, Audrie is an active member in the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and The American Hotel and Lodging Association. She recently completed her first internship as a pastry chef at Cantoro’s Italian Market and Trattoria and is excited to complete her second internship next summer. After graduation, Audrie strives to pursue a job in the food and beverage industry. She is very excited to help make 2019 Auction a success! 
Nate Rose Director, Food and beverage Nathanial Rose is a senior from Toledo, Ohio in The School of Hospitality Business and is expecting to graduate in May of 2019. This is his second year of involvement in Destination Auction, previously he was the Assistant Director of Food and Beverage. Nathanial completed his internship at the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, Michigan. Along with being a member of the Destination Auction team, he is also an active member of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. In the future he looks forward to a career in Resort Management. |
Samantha Webb Director, sponsorships Samantha Webb is currently a junior in The School of Hospitality Business and is from Troy, MI. Last year, she volunteered in Destination Auction as a food and beverage assistant, and absolutely loved it. This year, Sam is very excited to be part of the Executive Board as Co-director of Sponsorships. Sam is also an active member in Kappa Delta sorority, MSU Lions Club and the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Aside from classes, she also works for University Advancement in the records department. In her spare time, she loves working out and cooking. This summer, she completed her level one internship with Kosch Catering as an Assistant Concessions Coordinator. Sam is still exploring all the options within Hospitality Business, she is interested in the food and beverage industry as well as the event planning industry. She is very excited to be more involved with Auction this year with a great team and is looking forward to a great school year! 
Audrey Blegen Director, sponsorships Audrey Blegen is a junior from Frankenmuth, MI graduating in December 2019 from The School of Hospitality Business. This past summer she interned at Boyne Mountain Resort in Convention Services. Audrey volunteered at Destination Auction the past to years and is thrilled to get to be on the E-Board this year and is looking forward to getting to work with an awesome group of students! |
Austin Thurn Director, TECHNOLOGY Austin Thurn is a Senior at Michigan State University from Plymouth, MI. He worked as a banquet houseman at The Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth for his level I internship during the summer of 2017. He decided to move a bit farther for his next internship and he worked as a food and beverage supervisor for The Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Traverse City, MI for his level II internship during the summer of 2018. Austin likes food and beverage, but his true loves are music and sports. Austin likes to play guitar and play with his dogs in his spare time. When he graduates he would like to start a career planning concerts, events, and maybe even festivals! He is very excited for this year and is looking forward to great Destination Auction: 2018 
Lucy Tomer Director, marketing Lucy Tomer is a junior from Richland, Michigan who plans to graduate in the Spring of 2020. She is an Honors College student majoring in Hospitality Business with a minor in Spanish. Lucy completed her internships at Gull Lake Country Club in Richland, Michigan, The Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is currently the Sales and Marketing Assistant and Front Desk Supervisor at Breslin Student Events Center on MSU's campus. In addition to her work and position in Auction, Lucy is also an active brother of her business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi. Last year she served on the board as a Director of Solicitations, and is very excited to be working as the Director of Marketing for the 2019 Destination Auction |
Emily Powers Director, Community relations Emily is a senior in The School of Hospitality Business, expecting to graduate in the spring of 2019. Emily is from Jackson, MI and has completed two internships, one at Lakeland Hills Golf Course in Jackson, MI and the other as a Hospitality/Events Intern at Lavender Hill Farm in Petoskey, MI. Emily is also a returning member on the Destination Auction Executive Board, last year she served as the Director of Catalog. After graduation, she wants to have a career as a meeting and event planner in a large city on the East Coast or be a manager at a concert venue. She is excited to be a part of Destination Auction again for her final year at Michigan State University and is looking forward to another successful event! |
Lingyun Xiao Director, solicitations Lingyun is a senior at The School of Hospitality Business, expecting to graduate in May 2019. From Canton, China Lingyun can speak in Cantonese, Mandarin, Hakka and English. She started as a volunteer in Destination Auction as a freshman and is excited to be part of the board for her last year in college. Lingyun interned at Four Seasons, Jackson Hole this past summer where she rotated in F&B and also shadowed in the marketing, banquet and HR departments. Before that she was able to gain quality experience as a server, cook and housekeeping inspector. On top of all that, she currently works in the Student Industry Resource Center or SIRC for short on campus for The School of Hospitality Business. After graduation, she wants to get to know more about the marketing and advertising side of the business and one day own a seaside resort. |
