#82 Catarina Matias- The Youngest Entrepreneur I Know; Founder of The Bite Company and Recruit Me

Today's podcast guest is Catarina Matias.  We met about 9 years ago when I was presenting to her Penn State Hospitality class. She came up and introduced herself after.  She sent a handwritten follow up note to thank me. She connected on LinkedIn almost immediately. She remained in touch via e-mail. In December, I received a holiday card from a New Jersey address that I didn't recognize.  It was from Catarina sending me good wishes and sharing her amazing news on her two companies. Since then, I felt it was imperative to interview her for this podcast.  I am careful not to reference her age, but she is the YOUNGEST ENTREPRENEUR with TWO SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES that I know.  Driven, driven, driven. THE BITE COMPANY: https://thebitecompany.com/ AND RECRUIT ME: Changing How People Find Jobs  https://www.recruitme-app.com/ Catarina is a proud Pennsylvania State University Alumni, where she received her BS in Hospitality Management and a Minor in Business.  Her tenure with the hospitality industry started with Hershey Entertainment, and most recently continued with Hotels Unlimited.  She oversaw daily operations for each of the hotels in their portfolio, including a combination of full and select service properties with brands such as Marriott, Hilton and IHG.  Additionally, she was responsible for the devising of new business strategies, including recruitment, hiring, training, mentoring and development of all property level management personnel, and was involved in corporate compliance and budgetary reviews.  A member of the International Society of Business Leaders, in 2019 Catarina was chosen as one of Hotel Management’s 30 Under 30 top rising stars in the hotel industry.  In January of 2020, Catarina founded The Bite Company, a curated healthier snacking alternative with multiple options to help anyone snack a little healthier.  Most recently, the creation of an app called Recruit Me has been her newest venture.  An app designed to put anyone in the driver seat of their own hiring process and connect the right people with the right companies; much like a dating app for your career.  A respected voice in the hospitality industry, Catarina exudes all the qualities of a polished professional.