10 Within 10 Recognition

Class of 2015, College of the Arts and Media

Recently promoted to chief operating officer at the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, Emily Daunt, ’15, shapes how one of the state’s most dynamic industries tells its story. Her career has been built on a philosophy she’s carried since graduation: that relationships are everything, and that showing up consistently for your team — and genuinely caring about the mission you’re a part of — will take you further than any singular skill set. 

That philosophy found its clearest proof in the MRLA’s Women in Hospitality Leadership Conference, which Emily helped grow into a sold-out event by its third year. The energy in the room was palpable — and when people were still sharing months later how much it had shaped their careers, the purpose behind her work became unmistakable. 

Emily’s path to that work was shaped at CMU, where she served as a manager on the CM Life Public Relations Team and was actively involved in CMU’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. Balancing coursework, an internship and a part-time job, she developed the ability to manage priorities under pressure — a skill she draws on daily. But one of her most lasting CMU experiences came from an event management class, where she and a group of strangers were assigned to plan a real fundraiser together. They called it Trivia for the Troops: Battle of the Decades, which raised thousands of dollars for Student Veterans of America, and they never really stopped being close friends. 

That capacity for connection has followed Emily into her professional life and her community. She met her husband at CMU and now lives in DeWitt, Michigan. When interviewing candidates at MRLA, she finds that a CMU background consistently stands out because the curriculum means graduates arrive with real-world experience already behind them. 

She stays closely connected to the university by mentoring students and speaking honestly about what a career in communications actually looks like. For Emily, it’s straightforward: CMU invested in her before she had a resume to back it up, and giving back is how she keeps that cycle going for the next generation of CMU Chippewas. 

Emily holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts in integrative public relations and event management from CMU.