FGCU grad lands GM role at new West Palm Beach luxury hotel
6 – minute read
A resort and hospitality management grad who came to Florida Gulf Coast University through a summer program for provisionally admitted students has booked a reservation for the next stop in her professional journey — a leadership position at a new luxury hotel.
Kara dePool, a 2019 graduate, is the general manager at the Nora Hotel, an upscale 201-room property in the Nora District of West Palm Beach, which is expected to welcome its first guests later this year.
It’s the latest destination in an itinerary that began with an admittedly less-than-stellar SAT score, received an upgrade through extensive internships and was nearly derailed by a global pandemic.
For dePool, helping build a boutique hotel from the ground up represents a testament to the power of positive thinking and hard work — and the willingness of FGCU to offer an opportunity to a borderline student after her initial application was denied because of her SAT score.
“FGCU took a chance on me, believed in my potential and gave me the opportunity to prove myself. The summer bridge program helped me adjust early, build confidence and feel at home before the fall semester began,” she said. “Choosing FGCU wasn’t just about loving the campus or the small classes. It was about finding a place that believed in potential, not just test scores.”
‘I wasn’t just a face in the crowd’
After completing the summer transition program, dePool started to thrive as she began taking courses in her major. She said FGCU’s School of Resort & Hospitality Management prepared her for her career in ways that continue to influence how she leads today.
“The small class sizes created an environment where I wasn’t just a face in a crowd. My professors knew me, challenged me and held me to a high standard every single day,” she said. “Their expectations were high because they believed in what we were capable of, and that kind of accountability stays with you long after graduation.”
Professors brought real-world experience into the classroom, shared honest insights about what the industry is really like and made sure students understood not just the “what” but the “why” behind every concept, said dePool. The school’s internship program gives students hands-on experience early and often.
“Those internships were a chance to apply what we learned in class, build confidence and start forming the professional network that would shape our careers,” she said.
“By the time I graduated, I didn’t just have a degree. I had real experience, real mentors and a real understanding of the industry.”
The importance of a positive attitude
Among those mentors who had an impact on dePool’s development was Jennifer McGurk, internship coordinator and adjunct faculty member.
“She was the person who made sure I walked into every opportunity fully prepared and fully confident,” dePool said. “She didn’t just help me practice interviews. She taught me how to articulate my strengths, how to present myself professionally and how to navigate career fairs with purpose. Her guidance helped shape the way I approach every professional interaction today.”
From her perspective, McGurk noticed characteristics early on that made her confident in dePool’s abilities to succeed.
“I got to know Kara as a freshman through her involvement and volunteering in the program. She was consistently reliable, engaged and willing to take on whatever was needed. It became clear she understood the importance of soft skills in hospitality and intentionally worked to build them through both her academic and experiential opportunities,” McGurk said.
“What stood out most was her consistency. She showed up, followed through and approached every opportunity with a positive attitude,” she said. “Kara’s success really comes down to her work ethic and how she chose to respond to opportunity. She did not let her starting point define her. Instead, she stayed engaged, put in the work and consistently built experience while continuing to grow academically and professionally.”
Overcoming setbacks to success
That’s why it came as no surprise to McGurk that dePool found her first post-graduation opportunity after completing internships with three highly respected hospitality industry employers. Even before graduating, she was selected for the Marriott Voyager Program at The Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans, one of the most competitive programs in the industry.
She completed the program and had an offer letter for a full-time manager role — but then the COVID-19 pandemic happened.
“Overnight, the hospitality world shut down, my offer disappeared, and I found myself moving back home to Jupiter,” dePool said. “I genuinely thought my life was over. I had worked so hard, and suddenly the path I had envisioned was gone. But what felt like a setback ended up becoming a turning point.”
She accepted a supervisory position at The Ben Autograph Collection in West Palm Beach, re-entering the hotel industry as it began to recover. She moved to a private event company, gaining experience in a different side of the industry. But she missed the hotel environment. Taking a higher-level role with the AKA Hotel and Residences helped her grow as a future general manager.
‘The power of showing up with passion’
That future became the present when dePool applied for the general manager position at the Nora Hotel despite lacking the required five years of GM experience. That application led to a next-day interview, followed by subsequent meetings with company leadership and culminating in a job offer.
“That moment reminded me of something I learned at FGCU: Your environment matters. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, who see your potential even when you can’t and who push you to take the leap,” said dePool, who started her new role last November.
“If there is one message I hope students take from my story, it’s this — don’t underestimate the power of showing up with passion, surrounding yourself with people who lift you higher and taking chances even when you feel unqualified,” she said. “Your path doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Sometimes the most life-changing opportunities appear when you simply choose courage over doubt and trust that you are capable of more than you realize.”