“One of the biggest mottos I live by is to ‘never say no to an opportunity,’” said alumnus Riley Bemis’24. “There have been many times when I have been presented with a new opportunity or challenge that might not seem beneficial to me in the short term but proved to be the best decision I could have made in the long term.”

Bemis graduated from Ship with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in marketing management. Throughout high school and college, Bemis worked at Hersheypark and continued to work his way up and build connections. Now, he works as a recruitment coordinator for the Hershey Entertainment and Resort Company. 

“From the earliest years of my time at HE&R, I have always been inspired by the company’s commitment to the growth and development of all of its employees,” Bemis said. “I have always loved the shared growth mindset that everyone shares of not only self-improvement but also assisting their colleagues with being the best version of themselves that they can achieve.”

The strong support system at HE&R is the main reason Bemis has remained with the company for many years and after graduating. The company’s positive culture and his colleagues have motivated him to always find ways to improve as a professional.

“This culture can be best described by a quote from Milton Hershey himself: ‘One is only happy in proportion as he makes others feel happy,’” Bemis said. “Everyone’s continuous contributions to growing one another have led me to become not only the professional but also the person I am today.”

The most rewarding part of working for HE&R goes way beyond the professional development opportunities provided. The Hershey company is a huge part of the community and culture of the town – something that Bemis takes great pride in. 

“It is not often that you can truly find a company that is as deeply committed to the community as HE&R is to the town of Hershey,” Bemis said. “Hershey Entertainment & Resorts’ core purpose is to carry on Milton Hershey’s dream of providing value to the Milton Hershey School in its mission of helping students lead fulfilling and productive lives.”

Now in his role as recruiting coordinator for the company, Bemis hopes to build upon the strong sense of Hershey pride and help others find their role within HE&R. Hershey is always searching for candidates who are looking to grow and bring their own set of passions and skillsets to the company.

“When I am hiring new employees, I am always looking for driven and compassionate individuals who are looking for an opportunity to not only grow but also bring their passions and skills to the table,” Bemis said. “With a culture deeply rooted in development and constant self-improvement, we must be bringing candidates who are willing to challenge themselves to embrace new ideas and to adapt to different environments.”

What’s unique about HE&R is that there are a wide range of properties within the company – from Pennsylvania’s largest amusement park, luxury resorts, manufacturing facilities and more. 

For upcoming grads and anyone looking to build a long-term career with HE&R, Bemis encourages them to step out of their comfort zone and reach out.

“Long-term careers with HE&R are not uncommon. In fact, over 50 percent of our full-time team members all started in part-time or internship positions—a statistic I am proud to say that I am a part of,” Bemis said. “To anyone looking to plant some roots and have a long-term career with a company like HE&R, I would say to not be afraid to take risks and be willing to embrace failure.”

Bemis emphasized that he was able to get to where he is today by saying “yes” to opportunities, even if he had to chase them down or there weren’t immediate benefits involved. 

Through his journey with HE&R, Bemis represents how building connections and having perseverance can lead to a long-lasting, successful career. Bemis encourages upcoming graduates to seek opportunities wherever possible and apply to places like HE&R. He also recommends that current students take advantage of opportunities such as Shippensburg University’s Hershey internship program, where students can establish a foundation with the company and potentially lead to a long-term career. 

To learn more about Ship’s Hershey internship program, visit here.