SARASOTA, Fla. (March 14, 2023) — Miles Partnership, a leading tourism marketing consultancy, announced that Carla Vaca Pinacho has been selected as the company’s first-ever apprentice.
Miles launched its inaugural Apprenticeship Program in partnership with Tourism Diversity Matters (TDM) with the goal of cultivating greater representation within the tourism industry by supporting diverse college graduates who have a concentration in business studies and a passion for travel and hospitality.
Carla Vaca Pinacho, who was selected for the program as part of a competitive application process, started her paid apprenticeship as a DEI Project Coordinator on March 1, 2023. Vaca Pinacho will receive training in various areas of the company, including diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), finance and operations, while working closely with Miles’ Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and reporting directly to the Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion. As part of Miles’ larger DEI team, Vaca Pinacho will provide support for both internal and client initiatives related to DEI. Upon successfully completing 600 working hours over the course of 16 to 18 weeks, Vaca Pinacho will be offered full-time employment with Miles as a DEI Project Coordinator.
“We are excited for Carla to serve as our first apprentice,” said Melissa Cherry, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and SVP at Miles Partnership. “As part of the program, Carla will have the opportunity to engage with our ongoing planning and programmatic initiatives to support our commitment to DEI on behalf of our internal and external stakeholders at Miles.”
Vaca Pinacho graduated from the University of South Carolina in December 2022 with a B.S. in Tourism Management. She has experience working as a tourism research assistant at the University of South Carolina and completed internships with the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort and the Country Club of Charleston. Vaca Pinacho was an active participant in a number of university clubs and volunteer efforts, including the HRSM Global Community Club and Latin American Student Organization.
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About Miles Partnership
Miles Partnership is a strategic marketing consultancy focused exclusively on travel and tourism. Miles works with more than 130 destinations and hospitality businesses to create forward-thinking print and digital content marketing solutions. Learn more at MilesPartnership.com.
About Tourism Diversity Matters
Tourism Diversity Matters (TDM) is a 501(c)(6) founded in 2020 to empower tourism organizations to evolve and achieve excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Dedicated solely to all dimensions of DEI, TDM drives organizations forward through four primary pillars of activity: Apprenticeships, Workforce Development, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategies, and Research and Data. TDM collaborates with renowned academic institutions and industry partners to address workforce disparities and ensure tourism organizations have equitable access to forward-thinking research and educational resources. Through exceptional expertise and leading DEI strategies, TDM’s highly customized work guides organizations to fuel innovation, grow their business and become an employer of choice. Learn more at TourismDiversityMatters.org.
