08/22/2024
U of I, FSHN Featured Hospitality Management Alumnus
Phil Emmons
General Manager, Wildfire Restaurant, Schaumburg, Illinois
โOne of my primary responsibilities is to oversee the day-in and day-out operations of the restaurant which not only includes helping to control inventory levels and finding ways to increase business, but also to embrace and enforce a Culture of Caring that leads to the consistency and quality of our food and service, which ultimately helps bring success. Another main responsibility is to help develop my management team, so they have the tools and resources to learn and grow and find their own success in this business.
โAttending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is definitely a highlight in my life. Not only did it create many fond and lasting memories, but it also helped prepare me to handle the โreal worldโ. One of the biggest things being involved in the Hospitality program (within the Food Science and Human Nutrition School) did was it helped me conclude that I wanted to have a career in the hospitality field. I first chose the Hospitality Management major because, in short, it was my way of getting into the University. My original thought was to transfer to a different program, but after taking a few courses and having the opportunity to meet great contacts within the field, I started to realize that I was becoming really interested in the hospitality field. It helped me realize that the hospitality field fit who I was. Someone who gets enjoyment from helping to take care of others and making them happy, yet at the same time utilizing a business mindset to not only bring personal success but hopefully success to others. It taught me that if you donโt enjoy what you do, you will never be motivated to want to succeed and push yourself to be the best version of who you are as well as never be prepared or willing to deal with adversity. The school gave me tools and resources that I still use to this day as a General Manager.โ