Luqman Menifee
What’s your current position? How long have you been in this position? Can you give me a brief overview of what it is you do in your work?
I’m the Front Office Manager at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center responsible for the organization and distribution of our guest rooms and ensuring the highest level quality of service for our guests. In April 2020, I will be celebrating my 12-year anniversary at the Hilton, where I now play a key role in managing the revenue of the hotel, managing and training the front office team, and acting as a liaison between the GeneraI Manager and our entire staff. Among the many rewarding aspects of this career is getting to be the face of the property, supporting our guests and interacting with them upon arrival and throughout their stay to guarantee the best possible experience.
I am also passionately involved with helping lead and participate in the many activities of our Blue Energy Committee, a volunteer group formed by our hotel that’s intended to create a positive impact on the people and communities across Scranton. We’re currently working closely with the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority and we adopted the Nay Aug Community Park, taking pride in the maintenance and general upkeep of this beautiful recreational area in hopes that the community will have a place to enjoy for many years to come.
What would you say most motivates you to do the work you do? What are you most passionate about?
My motivation comes from helping, inspiring and empowering others and bringing joy to people’s lives. Approaching my work, and my life overall, with this sensibility is what feeds my sense of purpose and gives me faith that I’m contributing to building a stronger and more unified community. I work closely with local universities and colleges such as Keystone College, Marywood University, Lackawanna College and the University of Scranton, as one of the unexpected gifts that comes with my job is having the ability to give hotels tours and educate students about our more innovative management approach to the hospitality industry. When I see the students get excited about the hotel industry, or when I can spark something within them about this career choice, it is truly one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever experienced working here. Additionally, there’s great satisfaction in taking the time to empower the next generation of community leaders and I do this now through coaching, resume writing workshops, and mentoring sessions, all with the intention and goal of encouraging our youth to build a better future for themselves.
Where did you grow up and did you go to a college/trade school/join the workforce after high school? Where did you go, and what was that like? How did you end up in NEPA?
I grew up in New York City and was born and raised in the Bronx. I went to BMCC (Borough of Manhattan Community College) where I studied Business Administration and had access to some of the most interesting and influential educators. My professors were high level business attorneys, business owners, executives and community leaders of New York City and all were passionate about educating us to “find our why.” They became professors only to see students like myself find their passion and live out our dreams. In 2008, I came to Scranton when my daughter Sahmira was born. My family are my greatest supporters. At first, the move to Scranton was supposed to be temporary, but I fell in love with my family life, the city and the hotel business and knew that this new chapter of my life was one that would push me to become a stronger and more impactful leader. It most definitely has.
Did you have any key mentors or people who deeply influenced who you are? Tell a bit about them and what they did that influenced you.
I’ve been influenced by so many people throughout my life, but there are two executives who have influenced me tremendously at this phase of my life and career, John P. Argonish, former General Manager of the Hilton Scranton and Ryan Alpert, former Director of Sales & Marketing at the Hilton Scranton. Both John and Ryan saw something in me professionally and helped me to see it myself. John encouraged me to take on a position as a Sales Manager to help me see the hotel business differently and helped me see that I can take my career as far as I want it to go. Ryan’s support came in the form of genuine encouragement, helping me to know, and truly believe, that I can do anything I want. He shared with me a quote that I live by until this day: “You can’t be paralyzed by fear.”
How did you learn about Leadership Lackawanna? In what class year and program did you participate? Describe your experience. How did the program affect you post-graduation? What has your involvement with leadership Lackawanna been post-graduation?
It was John Argonish who enrolled me in the 2015-2016 Leadership Lackawanna Core Program. My experiences there are still paying dividends to this day. I made so many professional contacts, people who I now get a chance to work with on a daily basis, and made some friendships that will last a lifetime. I also learned so much about the city and I’m willing to challenge anyone in Scranton Trivia. Since graduation, I have volunteered for the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Association, Women’s Resource Center and the Lackawanna River Conservation Association. Lackawanna Leadership has played a key role in helping me become more of a community advocate within my workforce and has given me the opportunity to meet people from other industries and volunteer organizations. The work we did with Scranton’s Historical Architectural Review Board will forever be a resource to the city of Scranton, PA.