An advertisement in the newspaper made the difference in Yzza Alvarez’s career.
“I started out as a liberal arts major at Hudson Community College,” said Alvarez, a Union City resident and an employee of the Hyatt Regency on the Hudson in Jersey City. “Then I saw an ad for Women Rising and decided to see what it was about.”
Alvarez is one of the first three participants in the Community Partnerships in Hotel Employment (CPHE) sponsored by Women Rising of Hudson County.
“Formerly we were the Young Womens’ Christian Association of Hudson County,” said CPHE project director Edward Gynn. “We disaffiliated ourselves to concentrate on social services.”
Women Rising assists women and their families to achieve self-sufficiency through their programs. Among those programs is CPHE, which helped Alvarez get her start in what she hopes will be lifetime career in hospitality management.
“I was enrolled in video technology courses before I heard about the CPHE program,” Alvarez explained. “Then I got interested in what I could learn at this program and decided to try it out.”
So impressed with the possibility of making a career in the hotel industry, Alvarez has changed her major from liberal arts. Alvarez has recently finished her training with CPHE and has been given seven credits from Hudson Community College toward her certification in hospitality management from the American Hotel and Lodging Association.
“Part of my course in the CPHE program was to work as an intern which I did at the Hyatt,” said Alvarez, who as of last week has taken up a full-time position at the hotel as a night auditor.
“The night auditor is the person who totals up the days receipts and compiles reports,” said Alvarez. “Women Rising got me an internship here as part of my training. I was thrilled to be offered a full-time job after my internship ended.”
For the close to the 15 weeks the CPHE program runs, Alvarez interned at the Hyatt Regency on the Hudson, serving in a number of capacities.
“Yzza worked in the front desk, working with checking in and checking out guests,” said Lofton Barnes, assistant director of human resources at the Hyatt. “We had her do a little bit of everything, including working on the hotel phone switchboard. The Hyatt took on three students, but we hired Yzza.”
Barnes said that Hyatt’s cooperation with Women Rising’s CPHE program is part of the hotel chain’s efforts at community outreach.
“We want to give back to the community, not just take from it,” said Barnes, adding that the Hyatt Regency on the Hudson was one of the first Hudson County hotels to become involved with the CPHE program.
“The great thing about this program is that students get exposed to new things they didn’t think they’d like,” Barnes added. “Some of the kids said they might not be interested in food preparation or room service. But after a few days, the students would admit they liked what they were doing.”
Alvarez certainly took a great interest in what she was doing during her internship. At one point, she had a brush with greatness.
“I was working the front desk when Michael Jordan checked in,” Alvarez exclaimed. “I ran right up to him and asked him if he needed any help.”
On a more serious level, Alvarez sees her time with the CPHE program and Women Rising as the springboard to both higher education and a rewarding career.
“Right now I’m working on the associate’s degree in hospitality management,” Alvarez explained. “After that, I want to go on to a four-year program. One day I would like to be the general manger of this hotel.”
Gynn said the qualifications for the CPHE are basic. The program is open to female 18 years or older.
“A participant should have either a high school diploma or be currently enrolled in a GED course,” Gynn said. “Students must be legal residents.”
Over the course of the 15 week program, students work on time management and multiple responsibility balancing.
“Students are given courses managing front desks and housekeeping,” Gynn added. “They are also taught First Aid and computer orientation.”
The classes are held at 270 Fairmont Ave. in Jersey City, Monday through Friday from 12 noon to 5 p.m. It’s free to women who meet the eligibility requirements.
For further information on CPHE or other programs operated by Women Rising, call (201) 333-5700.