Shereka Ellison: A team player in hospitality

Along the way, she has implemented environmental programmes, won several awards and acted as motivational speaker to other young adults.

Ellison's journey to excellence began in 2006 when she graduated from the Frome Technical High School in Westmoreland. Like many other Jamaicans, she had CXC subjects, advanced level certification and big dreams to pursue a career in education. She applied for university, but she did not get the student loan and a struggling single mother could not afford to independently fund her education. Ellison recalls: "A lot of my friends were moving on and I started to think that there wasn't much hope for me - that this was it."

permanent employment

Two years later, Ellison was introduced to the Sandals Resorts' International Hospitality Training Programme - put in place to provide free training and certification for unattached youths who are out of school and who cannot continue their education immediately. She joined the programme at Sandals Negril in December 2008. Upon completion of training she was offered permanent employment as a cost control clerk, and a mere five months later, was promoted to the accounts department as an assistant income auditor. She has been excelling in her current capacity as payroll clerk for the past two years.

This humble ambassador's holistic training and development is evident in the many accolades she has received during her tenure with Sandals. In October 2009, she was awarded Most Improved Team Member, and later received several awards for Resort Team Member, Smile and Courtesy, Department Team Member and the Sandals Foundation Award. In a ceremony held earlier this year, excitement filled the air when Shereka found out she was named Sandals Negril's Prestige Team Member of the Year for 2010. "My Sandals journey has been amazing. It is a privilege and honour to have been selected and it only shows my passion for what I am called to do - serve." Ellison said. "I am a proud HTP graduate, and I believe this Sandals training programme has helped me to unlock my full potential."

"Shereka is dedicated, self-motivated, pleasant and very eager to learn, extremely neat and organised," remarked Andrea Buddle, financial controller at Sandals Negril. "As soon as she is not clear on something, she seeks help from someone who knows. With these qualities, her colleagues can't help but appreciate her."