The Rhode Island Hospitality Association Education Foundation is an essential resource for educators, industry professionals and those seeking opportunities.
In May, the foundation hosted a Hospitality Student Career Summit at the R.I. Convention Center in which more than 200 career and technical education students participated in various breakout sessions, explored different career pathways, practiced interview skills, learned effective communication styles and engaged with industry professionals.
Summit Co-Chairs Joanna Arrighie and Tom Riel are success stories in their own right. Arrighie started out as a server at TGI Fridays and is now the area director of sales and marketing for Meyer Jabara Hotels, while Riel started out as a busser and is now senior vice president of the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Industry professionals from all walks of life shared their stories in various sessions and seminars throughout the summit. In the “Career Reality Talk Show” session, ProStart alumni guests who now work in the hospitality industry were interviewed and shared their career journeys and insights. ProStart is a two-year hospitality career-building program designed by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Panelists included Maria Jacobo, sales manager for Hampton Inn by Hilton - Pawtucket; Colleen Kranich, executive pastry chef at Newport Vineyards; and Cameron Vicente, chef tournant at Castle Hill Inn and Resort.
In a session called “Simply Sweet,” Hangry Kitchen chef Stacy Deetz hosted an exciting culinary demonstration on making meringue cookies, which allowed students to explore flavors and creativity.
During the “Sip, Sample & Learn” session, Michael Sabitoni, associate professor and department chair of Food & Beverage + Travel & Tourism Studies at Johnson & Wales University, and Kevin O’Donnell, chef-proprietor of Giusto in Newport, delved into the world of mocktails and discussed their impact on restaurant sales and upselling strategies.
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CAREER JOURNEY: Former ProStart students Cameron Vicente, chef tournant for Castle Hill Inn and Resort, and Maria Jacobo, sales manager for Hampton Inn by Hilton - Pawtucket, share their career journeys during the “Career Reality Talk Show” at the Hospitality Student Career Summit, highlighting their first jobs and current roles in the hospitality industry.
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The seminars were not confined to food service, as industry professionals also provided insights into hotel management, guest satisfaction, revenue management and operational efficiency. Tips and scenarios about interacting with hiring managers and mock interview questions were offered by human resource professionals, and students had the opportunity to visit the career recruitment tables to practice what they learned.
There was an emphasis on in-person skills, with leaders paying careful attention to details in the interviews, including handshake etiquette, eye contact and applicants taking note of an interviewer’s name.
As can be seen from the roster of professionals conducting the in-depth seminars, executives, chefs, owners and managers can come from any position, including front or back of house. For example, Nicole Morris, human resources and finance administrator at Blackstone Caterers who led the “Highway to Employment” panel, listed her first job as restaurant busser, while both O’Donnell and Sabitoni started out as dishwashers. There were also former fast-food crew members, prep cooks and sandwich artists who are now chef-owners and management executives.
A key piece of advice to jobseekers from the seminar leaders was that applicants should write a note expressing gratitude for the interview afterward. A handwritten note is a nice touch, but email is also acceptable. Whichever is chosen, it should be sent immediately.
Students who attended the summit were provided with a deeper understanding of the abundant opportunities within the hospitality industry, and it was evident that everyone’s career pathway looks different, which is one of the most exciting things about hospitality.
“Dining Out With Bruce Newbury,” syndicated weekly on radio, is heard in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont and Indiana. Contact Bruce at bruce@brucenewbury.com.