Thomas (Tom) Schmid, the new Senior Regional Talent Acquisition Manager for Hawaii at Marriott Vacations Worldwide (MVW), successfully blends his passion for sales recruitment with a business-savvy mindset that has elevated his career impressively over the years. After graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a bachelor’s degree in business management, Tom became an agency recruiter/account executive specializing in business development in the engineering, manufacturing and biotechnology sectors. This strategic position led Tom to an opportunity in the pharmaceutical industry, recruiting staff for multiple Fortune 500 companies who were launching new medications.
After Tom’s success in big pharma, he pivoted to the vacation ownership industry in 2012, joining Wyndham as regional sales and marketing recruiter for San Diego County. Two years later, Tom moved to San Francisco when Wyndham promoted him to a recruiting manager position for Northern California. Then Welk Resorts recruited Tom from Wyndham, San Francisco, back to San Diego County, where he became the company’s first Director of Sales Recruiting. Exceeding company expectations, Tom was then promoted to Senior Director of Recruiting with responsibilities for all resort operations, corporate sales, marketing, and owner services nationwide. In fact, Tom was responsible for more than 1,600 new hires in one year and was nominated for the prestigious ARDA (American Resort Development Association) award. Achieving another career milestone in 2019, Tom and his team were featured in Resort Trades Magazine.
Two years later, MVW purchased Welk Resorts and Tom assumed the role of Sales Recruiting Manger nationwide for Welk/HVC, covering Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs, and San Diego, California as well as Phoenix, Arizona; Branson, Missouri; and Breckenridge, Colorado. This position paved the way for Tom’s latest title and enhanced responsibilities.
Despite his busy work schedule, Tom enjoys these hobbies: ocean swimming, playing golf, and cheering for his favorite football, baseball and hockey teams. A native of Southeastern Michigan, Tom grew up in Southern California.