SuffieldConnect: Mar. 31

Suffield’s College Counseling and Alumni & Development Offices hosted another college-to-career virtual discussion on March 31. The program invites alums to speak with interested students about their careers, college major choices, and experiences at Suffield. As part of the junior-year Leadership Program curriculum, students are asked to attend at least three of eight sessions offered each academic year. The goal is to expose current students to life beyond Suffield and provide guidance from alumni professionals working in various fields.

Tyler St. Pierre graduated from Suffield in 2007 and went on to attend the University of Vermont for a year before enrolling at Cornell University. At Cornell, Tyler majored in Hotel Administration and focused on Food & Beverage Hospitality Operations. After graduating in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration, Tyler worked for Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group in Las Vegas and New York City until 2016. After leaving New York City, Tyler worked in Miami, Connecticut, and then ultimately moved to Columbus, Ohio to pursue various roles in the hospitality field. In 2020, Tyler moved to Los Angeles and is now part of the Pendry West Hollywood, as the General Manager of The Britely Social Club, a private members club on property. As the General Manager, Tyler oversees all Food & Beverage operations for the club, as well as operations across the entire property. 

Tyler’s journey from Suffield to today finds him in the role as General Manager at a social club in LA, where the goals of the club are “to create a space of inclusivity, diversity, and really focusing on community.” He is passionate about his career path, and shared the key qualities to be successful in roles like his, saying, “I think drive is really important. The long game is really important, too... It’s easy to get caught up in what’s right in front of your face and you think this is the end all, be all of what’s going to define you.” Perhaps most importantly, the advice he’d give his high school self is that “it’s really important to know who you are, own it, and be excited about it.”

Juniors preparing for the college application process are heavily supported by Suffield's college counselors and alumni mentors. While it is an important decision in their lives, the mentoring sessions provide insight into many unanswered questions. It is made very clear that communication is a key to success and there is more than one way to accomplish a rewarding future.