Alumni Spotlight Archives
Tina Oddleifson CCP '01
by Sharon Rice PCP '04, CCP
Like so many CSCA graduates, Tina Oddleifson
came to the School as a successful business professional, having worked for numerous years in a non-food-related industry. Armed with an MBA, Tina served as the Director of Operations for the Nature Conservancy, utilizing her skills in the nonprofit arena. After several years at the organization, she found herself burnt out and looking for a change. So she took a leave of absence from her job and enrolled in the CCP program at The CSCA, where she met her future husband, former chef instructor Tony Lawless. Once Tina completed her culinary studies, she found herself back in the nonprofit world.
Newly married, Tina and Tony started to think about owning their own business, and in early 2005, they began exploring opportunities. They decided they would like to own and operate an inn, which would draw upon both their skill sets. To get a better sense of how an inn operates, Tina took a summer position at Beech Tree Inn in Brookline, which not only reinforced her desire to move forward in the industry but also provided her with valuable training. In October of 2005, Tina and Tony became the proud owners of Pilgrim’s Inn located in Deer Isle, Maine.
Built in 1793 on Penobscot Bay, the inn has a long history and has seen many notable guests including Julia Child, Theo Epstein, Elizabeth Mondale, and the host of Bizarre Foods Andrew Zimmern, among many others. Faithfully restored and meticulously maintained, the inn’s season begins the weekend of Mother’s Day and runs through the weekend after Columbus Day. Tina oversees its daily operation—handling everything from marketing the property and taking reservations to overseeing the staff and even cleaning bathrooms, when necessary. She notes that she easily wears 20 hats because whatever needs to be done, needs to be done. Tony oversees the inn’s restaurant, the Whale’s Rib Tavern, which serves breakfast to guests only and is open to the public for dinner. As anyone who knows Tony can predict, the food is outstanding, highlighting the freshest local ingredients. For both, it’s extremely hard work, but it’s clear that their guests and the local residents are very grateful for their efforts.
Located in one of the most beautiful areas in New England, the inn is a hot spot for vacationers from all over who enjoy everything from kayaking to eating lobster to visiting art galleries. The CSCA Alumni Association has been fortunate enough to have held two alumni weekends in this amazing location and hopes to hold more here in the future. We have enjoyed lobster dinners, scenic boat tours, and countless visits to local artisan shops, not to mention the great company of fellow alumni.
For more information about Pilgrim’s Inn, visit www.pilgrimsinn.com.
Alumni Newsletter, Fall 2010
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