Hospitality and Tourism Certification

Read our student success story about Nina Ervin, a graduate of College of The Albemarle’s (COA) Hospitality and Tourism Certification.

Nina Ervin didn’t expect to become an expert about the Outer Banks when she left her home in the Ukraine in 2014, but after successfully completing the Workforce Development’s Hospitality and Tourism Certification program at the Dare County Campus, that’s just what she’s become.

Ervin came to the U.S. as a J-1 student who planned to work seasonal retail, but after marriage to a local man, she wanted a better career opportunity. When she heard about the certification program, she quickly signed up and completed all the classes needed to earn her certification as a Reservation Specialist in the Hospitality and Tourism program. She was able to work in the industry while she was attending classes and says that she applied many of the techniques and tips of working with tourists and guests and found all the information to be right on target.

“About 40 percent of the information I received in class was completely new and eye-opening,” Ervin stated. She has been promoted in her real estate job since completing the certification.

Her favorite things about the classes, in addition to the enthusiastic and knowledgeable instructors, were learning the history of the Outer Banks and the area. Nina said anyone wanting a career in the top industry on the Outer Banks would “be silly not to take advantage of this program.”