Partnership with Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Opens Doors for Young MHS Alumni

When Hershey Entertainment & Resorts (HE&R) designed its Spartan Management Training Program, the goal was simple: create a pathway that allows young Milton Hershey School graduates to explore multiple facets of corporate operations while building meaningful careers. Today, the program is doing exactly that — and transforming the lives of the alumni who participate.

Zach Bleiler, Manager of Talent Acquisition at HE&R, said the program grew from a desire to more intentionally develop homegrown talent and introduce recent graduates to the often misunderstood world of human resources.

“People hear the word human resources and think, what is that?” Bleiler explained. “So, we brainstormed, how do we bring someone in entry level and let them try a little bit of each area?”

The result is an 18month rotational learning experience that immerses participants in HR support, recruitment, learning and development, onboarding, compensation and benefits, and more. The structure ensures participants get hands-on exposure during the busiest seasonal periods, allowing them to understand the real demands of the job.

“Doing the actual HR work during our busy times gives these trainees the best feel of what the job is and whether or not they like it,” Bleiler said.

A Program Born From Need—and Opportunity

The very first Spartan trainee, Kerri Hoffman ’19, didn’t just join the program—it was created for her. While interning in recruitment at HE&R, she found herself uncertain about her next steps as she approached college graduation. Leadership at HE&R saw an opportunity.

“I was the recruiting intern there, and I didn’t really have anything lined up,” Hoffman recalled. “So, the Director of Recruitment and the Vice President of Human Resources proposed this idea of the management training program to me.”

For Hoffman—who knew she wanted to work in HR but wasn’t sure which specialty suited her best—the training program was the perfect fit. During her rotations, she assisted employees at the entertainment complex, supported onboarding and I9 compliance, helped with learning and development, and even worked in the HR call center. The experience eventually led her to a full-time HR Operations Coordinator role at Hersheypark before she later moved on to another opportunity.

“I was able to see everything that I’m currently doing while I was in the training program,” she said. “I was able to hit the ground running here because I already had that previous experience.”

Hoffman credits the program with giving her a launching pad—and encourages other MHS grads to take advantage of the opportunity.

“You never know what you like until you try it out,” she said. “Just say yes to learning everything because in the end it’s going to help you in your career tenfold.”

Breyell Price Finds Her Path

For Breyell Price ’20 the program arrived at exactly the right moment. Price had returned home to complete online coursework at Temple University when her higher education support specialist at MHS reached out to share news of the new HE&R opportunity.

“They explained it would be based off of operational need, so I started off at HR support,” said Price. “Then HR operation, then recruitment during their peak season.”

Like Hoffman before her, Price found that the rotations helped her discover which HR area energized her most. By fall 2025, she landed a full-time role as a recruiting coordinator at HE&R—before even finishing the 18-month program.

“I learned so much within the program,” Price said. “Not many people get to do that. Even in my role now, I’m able to share my expertise in different departments.”

Today, she spends her days interviewing candidates, attending hiring fairs, posting jobs, and supporting HE&R’s high-volume recruitment needs. What she enjoys most is the constant people interaction and the sense of forward momentum.

“I like the diversity, the welcoming culture, and the ability to grow in your career. There’s lots of room for career growth here.”

Like Hoffman, Price emphasizes the program’s supportive structure—including the reassurance that participants have options at the end. “There wasn’t any pressure to stay with the company. The main goal was just to help us get that knowledge and experience and see if HR was something we were interested in,” she said.

Cultivating Future Leaders from Within

For HE&R, the benefit is mutual: the company gains motivated young professionals familiar with its mission and operations, while MHS alumni gain a structured path toward professional growth. Bleiler said the company looks for trainees who curious, adaptable, and mission-driven.

“We are looking for someone who is eager to learn and equally motivated to give back,” he said. “Someone who reflects on the opportunities they received at MHS and feels a responsibility to support and inspire the next generation of students.”

And for many participants, that sense of giving back—and continuing Milton Hershey’s legacy—is a powerful motivator.

A Program That Continues to Grow

With successful trainees now working in HR operations, recruitment, and beyond, HE&R is expanding the model into other corporate areas, including finance and accounting. The company is currently recruiting its next HR rotation participant—and hopes more MHS alumni will consider taking the leap.

“This gives you the opportunity to try everything out before you settle down,” Hoffman said.

Price agrees, adding: “I definitely found the department that interested me the most.”

For young alumni unsure of their next step but eager to grow, the Spartan Management Training Program may be the bridge that leads to a fulfilling career—just as it has for the MHS grads who helped shape it from the very beginning.