Bo Jennings

Please describe your position and what you enjoy most about it.

We have three restaurants in Bar Harbor, which is located on an island, right next to Acadia National Park. Its surreal living two blocks from the ocean, and enjoying this amazing little town, consumed with tourists and locals! I have been very fortunate to live and work in some cool areas, and don’t take for granted God’s creation!

What aspects of your HLGU experience helped you prepare for your career?

Business classes with Jerry Allen have always remained a constant in my professional life. And thanks to Accounting I and II, I rarely need a calculator (since my professor did not let us use calculators. BEST THING EVER!). And continuing the great HLGU tradition of “Knowledge for Service.”

What have you enjoyed most about your career?

I get to work with and around people. Every day is different than the one before, and challenges (and opportunities) to be creative constantly, always strive you to be (and do) better!

Have you or are you currently continuing your education? If so, please list the institution(s) and degree(s) you earned or are working toward.

Florida Atlantic University
Hospitality and Tourism Certification Program – Completed May 2020

How did HLGU shape you as a person?

HLGU forces you to be with people. Its size really pushes you to engage with others. And the people I met (and surrounded myself with), are still some of my closest friends to this day. Even if we don’t see each other frequently, we always pick up right where we left off!

Please share a specific example from your career or life when the skills you gained at HLGU helped you most.

Jerry Allen is one of the smartest men I have ever known. He loved two topics, topics we always felt like we could get him talking about (and maybe forget about that pop quiz he promised us 😉 ). Those topics: cows/farming and John Deere tractors. He was so passionate about those things (and others). To this day, if I ever need to diffuse a situation with someone, I find out what they’re passionate about, and I get them talking about that. If you genuinely care what they care about, people will love you. We care about what Mr Allen cared about…and he cared about us!

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

I have two letters commendation that I am very proud of:

1. I was given a letter of commendation from the State of Tennessee for my role in growing the hospitality and tourism business in the state.

2. I was given a letter of commendation from the city of Nashville for being the President of International Live Events Association (Nashville Chapter) – and all of the work we did, including raising over $750,000 for Make a Wish of Middle Tn.

What HLGU professors played a part in your success? How did your relationship with faculty help you succeed?

Jerry Allen – He taught us how to be passionate about something and pursue it with vigor!
Mrs Burt – her patience in English classes was something I did not deserve, but still cherish to this day!

Do you have any tips to share with students interested in this field?

Get involved now! Hospitality, is a wonderful field, especially if you love people. You can see the country and/or the world. You just have to be willing to put yourself out there, work hard, and serve others.

What are some of your favorite HLGU memories?

– Forming the Hannibal Hooligans, and seeing the H2 Shirts the students to wore at all the home games (who still has theirs?!)
– TWIRP Week
– Watching our boys win their first AMC Conference title in men’s soccer (Fireworks included!)
– Late night dinners at Country Kitchen and forgetting you were there to study 🙂
– Midnight Breakfast (back when it was at midnight!)
– Dr Burt’s chapel messages – they were always so well done!

What on-campus activities were you involved in at HLGU?

Hannibal Hooligans – founder
Freshmen Class President

What is one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you started in the field?

That it was available and exciting! Branch out educationally and take advantage of summer opportunities and internships…there are so many exciting ones out there! Hospitality is not a focus at HLGU, but it very well could be. Use the knowledge they give you to pursue something you could never imagine otherwise!

 

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