Dennis Torres

Winston S. Churchill once said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Hello, my name is Dennis Torres, I am Puerto Rican living in San Antonio, Texas, for the past ten years. I have earned my Associate Degree in business management from Palo Alto College (May 2019 - Summa Cum Laude) and working on completion of my Bachelor of Science in hotel and restaurant management from the University of Houston, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, San Antonio campus (December 2020 graduation). I work full-time as a front desk agent and am in a manager in training program for a luxury resort. I left Puerto Rico due to poor economic conditions, even though I was close to completing my bachelor's degree in hospitality management. The economic struggles became so great that I was unable to continue my education or find any way to assist my parents.

Team Leadership and Development. As a founding board member and president of a new chapter of the NSMH it is important to develop and empower other students to become leaders within the organization. I accomplish this by giving others the opportunity to take the lead on various projects and events. I sincerely believe that everyone has something vital to offer that will lead to the success of the group. By engaging each member, we become better individuals and certainly a better organization. I have encouraged members to attend local, regional, and national conferences by working together in creative fundraising so that the maximum number of interested students can have exposure to new and exciting leadership ideas, concepts, and opportunities.
Navigation of Organizational Culture. As president of the NSME, it is important to me that each student, whether a member, or not, understands the ways in which our organization conducts its business, and the values that hold our organization together. As a National Delegate for the organization, I attend all regional and national meetings and work with six other board members to define our mission and values in creating and evaluating events and programs that we provide to the student body. Based on diversity, we value each and everyone’s ideas and contributions. We celebrate the diversity that makes us so very great.

Collaboration. I have reached out to the community college affiliated with our campus and was instrumental in the creation of a NSME chapter on their campus and have acted as site host for their first national meeting to ensure that members were able to extract the most beneficial outcome from the experience. During the meeting I was able to conduct several informal roundtable discussions with experts in the hospitality industry who provided excellent insights for this new group.

Meaningful Relationships. I find the greatest satisfaction in being a mentor to others, both within the NSMH and for other students in general. I can always spot someone who is on the sidelines and find a way to engage them and have them join into whatever group it may be. I have the privilege of having several outstanding mentors and make it my life’s mission to mentor as many others as possible.
Achieving a higher education will open the doors to more opportunities and with my internal motivation coupled with higher education, I know that I will be able to fulfill the dreams that brought me to the mainland, to become the general manager of a medium sized hotel and eventually own my own boutique hotel. Working in my current role in a downtown hotel, in a city that is tourist centric, gives me insight into the changing needs and dynamics of the hospitality industry. Having responsibility for the functioning of the entire hotel via my manager on duty designation has given me an understanding and appreciation for the complexity of running a complex hospitality machine and has further inspired me to achieve my ultimate goals. An outstanding guest experience depends on all disciplines working together with the same goals and vision, from grounds maintenance to housekeeping, billing, food and beverage, accounting, reservations, front desk, concierge, and security, everyone must be unified to adapt and treat each guest to their individual expectations.
After the completion of my degrees, one of my most important personal goals is to find individuals who are motivated but struggling and to become a mentor to them so that they too can achieve their life vision. I am lucky enough to have a mentor and know how important that person is to my success.

I am determined to continue to see the opportunity that lies within every difficulty and make that opportunity mine. Though the struggle continues, each day I make progress towards my goal of a strong, independent life filled with success and happiness. When Winston Churchill visited his alma mater, Harrow School, he gave a speech that inspires me every day. In that speech he gave his famous quote: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.” That is my plan, no matter the obstacle, large or small, I shall overcome them all.