The Rising Professional Award is a college award given to honor significant contributions made by a graduate in the early stages of his or her career. Recipients have demonstrated significant professional accomplishments through publications, professional organizations or programs and have made efforts to improve the health and well-being of the community.
The Rising Professional Award used to be presented to one or, at most, a couple of individuals during our Celebration of Excellence in the fall of each year”, said John Buckwalter, Betty L. Tointon Dean. “However, there were always a large number of very deserving nominees for this award. Needless to say, it was really tough to decide who to honor. Our faculty and college leadership felt we had so many deserving recipients, we needed to create a celebration just for these emerging industry leaders. The college was excited to have these alumni back on campus as a group to not only celebrate their accomplishments, but share how their K-State experience prepared them to succeed in their career fields.”
This year, the Department of Hospitality Management recognized two Rising Professionals.
Monica Nelson is the Senior Manager for Operations Compliance and Systems for Wingstop Restaurants, Inc.
Nelson began her career with Wingstop during her senior year at K-State through an internship class in the Hospitality Management program. After graduation, Nelson was offered a full-time position with the company as a Field Alignment Manager. This position took her around the nation, inspecting customer service, food quality, and cleanliness of each restaurant. She has since been promoted three times: first to a Corporate Trainer, where she provided training to incoming franchisees on the Wingstop business model, food safety and sanitation, and guest experience; then to Manager of New Restaurant Opening Support where she supported franchisees and employees of new restaurants by leading a number of corporate Opening Trainers; and finally to her current title of Senior Manager of Operations Compliance and Systems where she leads the Field Alignment Managers, the Operations Systems Manager, the Operations Change Committee, and maintains vendor relationships for operations systems.
Nelson received her Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management in 2013.
Katrina Marshall is a 2008 Kansas State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel, Restaurant, Institution Management and Dietetics with a Minor in Business. She is currently the Managing Partner of LongHorn Steakhouse in Manhattan KS.
Upon graduating from Kansas State, Marshall started her career with LongHorn Steakhouse in Olathe, KS as the Bar/Host Manager. Since then, she has worked through every management position and has opened four new restaurants as a manager in the Kansas and Arkansas regions. She was promoted to Managing Partner of the East Wichita, KS location in 2012. The time spent in East Wichita is one of Marshall’s proudest accomplishments as that restaurant finished its first year ranked 5th in New Restaurant Openings for LongHorn Steakhouse and retained over 75% of day one team members after two years of being open. Marshall moved back to the Manhattan, KS LongHorn (which she opened as a Kitchen Manager) as the Managing Partner in August 2014. She has brought great success to the Manhattan location and her and her team are paving the way to becoming Manhattan’s favorite steakhouse, as they were awarded that honor in 2017.
Marshall is very passionate about giving back to the community she loves. She is very involved with Girls on the Run of the Flint Hills, currently serving as their Board Chair. She is also a volunteer for Flint Hills Foster Teen Camps and helps numerous local organizations fundraise by holding Pancake Breakfast fundraisers at LongHorn Steakhouse with the help of her amazing staff.
She was recognized by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation in 2018 for her volunteer involvement in the community by being awarded the Rising Star Volunteer Award. LongHorn Steakhouse also awarded Marshall and her team the Community Spirit Award this past August.
Marshall is originally from Tipton, Kansas and now lives in Manhattan, KS with her dog, Ace. When not working or volunteering, she enjoys furnishing and decorating her new home, running, and enjoying life’s adventures.