Esan Frederick is a young man with a set of clearly defined goals. He wants to be the general manager of one of Bermuda's large hotel properties.

And today it appears he is but one step away from that lofty ambition. Last Monday he was hired as the assistant general manager at the Stonington Beach Hotel.

His achievement is all the more awe-inspiring when one considers that Mr.

Frederick is just 26 years old.

As the assistant general manager, he is responsible for the daily functioning of the 65-room property which includes human resource development, the front office, housekeeping, maintenance, food and beverage, security and liaising with the Bermuda College.

But that is just a tip of the iceberg because he is also responsible for supervising the work force of 70; from the development of job descriptions, to menu coordination and deputising for the general manager when he is overseas.

Additionally, Mr. Frederick will form an integral part of the management team in labour negotiations.

When he was interviewed, Mr. Frederick was seated in the lounge at the hotel dressed in brown pants, a navy blue jacket and a blue shirt with a button-down collar and tie.

He is tall, at least six feet, and athletically built. His handshake is firm.

He is quietly confident, courteous, convivial and deferential -- qualities destined to make him a hit with staff and guests alike.

To hear him tell it, his path into the hotel industry was anything but direct.

Just ten years ago, as a 16-year-old student at the Berkeley Institute, Mr.

Frederick had a problem deciding on a career path.

He wandered in to see Robert Horton who was then the deputy principal at the school, for a little advice.

Mr. Horton's advice was simple. He told Mr. Frederick he had the smarts to make a success of a career in the hospitality industry.

But like a typical teen, Mr. Horton's advice washed over young Frederick like a faint gust of wind because the "in thing'' at the time was accounting.

"Mr. Horton told me that I had the personality for the hotel industry, but I tried accounting because everyone said that was where the money was.

"My parents (Bermuda College lecturers Dr. Gloria Frederick and Mr. Rawle Frederick) were also a solid source of support behind me along with Mrs.

Barbara O'Shaunessy Hind at the Bermuda College.

"Together they helped me to make my decision and to mould my career once I made my choice.'' After graduating from Berkeley Institute, Mr. Frederick attended the Bermuda Hotel College for three years and was exposed to hotel work in all its diversity.

He learned how to make up beds and clean rooms, fold towels, tend bar, cut grass and trim hedges and to operate the front desk as a receptionist and front office manager.

"It was a very thorough programme,'' he continued. "They made sure you got your hands wet. On one day they gave you basic instruction and on the very next day they threw a problem at you and said: `Do it'.'' After graduating with his freshly-minted Bermuda College diploma in 1993, Mr.

Frederick entered Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island and studied for a Bachelor's degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management in 1994.

Two years later, he graduated with an MBA in International Business from the same university.

During his time in University, Mr. Frederick worked at the Westin Hotel in Rhode Island as a housekeeping supervisor and then as a laundry manager.

"I went to school at night and worked between 40 and 60 hours per week at the hotel during the day because I knew this is what I had to do to get here.

"People are amazed when I tell them that I am an assistant general manager because they say that I am so young. But they are just looking at the end result and not at what I have had to do make this achievement real.'' His scholastic performance -- he graduated with his MBA from Johnson and Wales University with a 3.85 grade point average -- and work record at the Westin caught the eye of fellow Bermudian Edmund Tucker who was there at the time working as the director of hotel operations.

The two lost touch after Mr. Tucker moved on, but on his return to Bermuda to take up the general manager's position at Stonington Beach Hotel late last year, he sought out Mr. Frederick who was then the assistant manager at the Princess.

"He called me up,'' Mr. Frederick recalled. "And he asked me what I wanted to do. I told him I wanted to be a general manager of a hotel in Bermuda.

"He told me that he would groom me for the position so I would know what to do when that time finally arrived.

"Mr. Tucker clearly had my goals and interests at heart. I admire the energy and enthusiasm that he brings to his job. There are definite opportunities here.

"I would encourage all young Bermudians who are unsure about their careers to look at the hotel industry because it is a very interesting profession with many paths for fulfilment.

"There is the management side, housekeeping or even consultancy. There are many avenues to pursue. Young people must realise that if it wasn't for the tourist, the fancy clothes they wear, right down to the $100 Nike track shoes, would not be possible.'' NEW JOB -- Esan Frederick TOURISM TOU