Check out South Beach Wine and Food Festival part 4
Originally from the small island nation of St. Kitts, Jong received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and worked as an architect for a year in Sarasota. He then completed a master’s degrees from FIU, and while working as a festival volunteer, and earning a paid internship the following year. After graduation, he was hired into a fulltime position, and hasn’t looked back since.
“This festival has really allowed me to grow professionally and personally,” Jong said. “I wrote all the press releases for the festival, worked with the media and also coordinated all of the participating chefs’ involvement in the festival. I then went back to school and earned my masters in business administration with a focus on marketing and was then promoted to marketing director of the festival in 2007. The festival allowed me to continue my education while continuing to move up the festival ladder and serve several positions at the festival.”
Jong said he is amazed when he thinks back at how much the festival has grown since his first involvement.
“Over the past 7 years I’ve seen the festival transform from a local event to a national and even international event,” Jong said. “I’ve seen the festival fine tune many problems we had in the early years and now we’re pretty much a well oiled machine. I’ve also seen the caliber of talent participating in the festival really sky rocket from earlier years. We always used to joke that we used to have to beg talent to participate through constant emails and phone calls and now they come to us begging to be a part of it.”
The festival has also humbled Jong in his own demeanor.
“The most difficult part about my job is being wrong about something,” Jong said. “I pride myself on excellence and quality and sometimes we toss ideas around in the office and whenever my ideas prove to be unsuccessful it gives a big blow to my ego. Luckily, that doesn’t happen often!”
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