Alumni Spotlight: Christian David Abeyta ’16

Creating Meaningful Experiences: Christian Abeyta’s Roadrunner Story

Access Rooted in Community

For Christian David Abeyta ‘16, choosing Metropolitan State University of Denver was both a practical and personal decision. He wanted an urban campus close to home and one that reflected his community and allowed him to stay connected to friends and family.

“MSU Denver offered the balance I was looking for,” Abeyta said. “An accessible, inner-city campus with strong academic programs and a community that felt grounded and real.”

For Abeyta, MSU Denver meant being part of a University that not only welcomed him but supported him when he needed it most. As a first-year student, he struggled to find his footing and came close to leaving college altogether.

Then one class changed everything.

A Class That Changed a Trajectory

Abeyta graduated in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, tourism and events, but his path to that diploma was anything but linear. Early in his academic career, “Applied Hotel & Restaurant Operations,” taught by Jackson Lamb, proved transformative.

“As a struggling freshman, I was close to dropping out,” Abeyta said. “That class opened my eyes to the possibilities within hospitality and gave me a reason to stay and push forward.”

The hands-on curriculum of the School of Hospitality exemplified MSU Denver’s commitment to blending real-world expectations with rigorous coursework. Professors such as Dr. Gruhl and Dr. Vannucci set high standards while offering mentorship that helped Abeyta build confidence and resilience.

“They challenged me to think critically, take ownership of my work and push through uncertainty,” he said.

Classes like Wine with Dr. Wray and Legal Aspects with the late Larry Ambrose reinforced that hospitality was not just about service, but about people, adaptability and thoughtful execution.

From Classroom to Career Success

After graduation, Abeyta began working directly in hotel operations, applying the fundamentals he learned at MSU Denver in real-world environments. Those early roles helped him understand guest experience from the inside out, how teams function under pressure and how strong leadership and systems influence service delivery.

Over time, his career evolved into the hospitality technology sector. Today, Abeyta works as an Implementation Specialist II at Impulsify, a 365 Retail Markets company. In that role, he leads complex system implementations for hotels, residential communities and mixed-use properties across the country.

He coordinates internal teams, vendors and on-site staff to ensure operations are set up for long-term success, a process that translates complex processes into clear, usable workflows.

“The hospitality mindset developed at MSU Denver remains central to my work,” he said. “Adaptability, communication and a focus on the end user.”

Entrepreneurship as a Full-Circle Moment

In 2023, Abeyta co-founded Order My Board, a Denver-based charcuterie and small bites catering business. What began as a creative passion quickly became a thriving venture.

“Starting the company felt like a full-circle moment,” Abeyta said. “It brought together everything I had learned through my education and professional experience.”

Building Order My Board from the ground up has allowed Abeyta to apply hospitality in its purest form by creating meaningful experiences through food, managing logistics with precision and fostering connection. Running a business alongside his professional role has strengthened his leadership, accountability and problem-solving skills.

Each phase of his career has informed the next, he said. Together, they reflect a career rooted in hospitality, growth and intentional experience-making.

A Legacy of Opportunity

For Abeyta, being a Roadrunner is about more than a degree.  It is part of a family legacy. His grandmother, cousins and extended family are all MSU Denver alumni, connecting multiple generations through shared values of opportunity and access.

“Attending MSU Denver wasn’t just about earning a degree,” he said. “It was about continuing a legacy rooted in community and opportunity.”

He stays connected by maintaining relationships with former professors, returning to campus, supporting the University when possible and following the growth of the School of Hospitality.

Advice for the Next Generation

Abeyta’s message to current students is simple and hard-earned:

“Listen to your professors. Do the work, show up prepared and take your classes seriously,” he said. “Most importantly, don’t underestimate where MSU Denver can take you.”

As he looks ahead, Abeyta’s goal is to grow Order My Board into a full-time venture and to expand across Colorado while maintaining the care and quality that define the brand.