Gerry Fernandez is the founder and president of the Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance
1 The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance encourages young people to pursue careers. Why target those industries?
The idea for MFHA was “hatched” at a Women’s Foodservice Forum I attended in 1995. As a black American of Cape Verdean decent, I know many people in communities of color do not believe the food-service and lodging sectors offer legitimate career opportunities. Positions within these industries, for many years, were seen merely as entry-level jobs with no real career track. … This is a mindset MFHA is working to combat.
2 How do you engage youth to become involved?
Since 2000, we have held career-conversation events in high schools and college campuses, educating students about the variety of exciting career opportunities in our industry. We recruit successful early and midcareer professionals, called “Showcase Stars,” to sit on panels and tell their success stories. … At some events we have career tables with employment information for students to take with them.
3 In Showcase of the Stars, 200 high schoolers met top Dunkin’ Donuts executives and franchisees to learn about their experiences. What do you hope they took away?
We always want to emphasize how much a quality education matters in career development and how subjects they’re studying helped these professionals do their jobs well and become leaders. We also try to debunk the myth that service jobs are not careers. Nothing could be further from the truth. For example, I was a troubled teenager and started out washing dishes. Thanks to the food-service industry and the fine education I received … I went from dish room to boardroom.
4 Why do you think it is important for young people to establish a career early and what can these industries provide them?
The best gift we can give young people is exposure to different opportunities, this is especially true for low-income and minority groups. Too often, young people do not see different career tracks or business disciplines. If they can see it, they can be it.
5 What do you think is the future of the hospitality and food-service industries in Rhode Island?
Restaurants, hotels and gaming are on the rise in Rhode Island. Johnson & Wales University continues to provide a steady supply of highly motivated, well-educated entrepreneurs who fuel industry growth.