Flagstaff Chamber Foundation NAU’s Eugene Hughes School of Hotel and Restaurant Management Host Student Taster Tours:
Earlier this month, Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, FUSD & NAU’s Eugene Hughes School of Hotel and Restaurant Management partnered again hosting local high school students at the end of their culinary business and education partnerships.
Almost 70 students attended from Flagstaff, Coconino, Summit and Ponderosa High Schools. The Chamber's SkillZ UP program brought these youth together with businesses who wanted to impress them with employability skills and the variety of career paths their companies provide locally.
Speakers included Julie Pastrick, President and CEO of the Greater Flagstaff Chamber, Patricia Pastor, Career Exploration Coordinator – Flagstaff Unified School District #1, and Dean Marc Molinaro. A panel consisting of local industry experts spoke to students about the skills needed to succeed in the hospitality industry, its breadth and attractiveness and answered questions from students. Most of them encouraged the students attending to stay home for postsecondary learning and to consider careers in their business.
Dean Marc Molinaro enthusiastically spoke to students about education options and career pathways in the Hotel and Restaurant industry and showed off HRM's newly renovated $2.5M kitchen which is a centerpoint for HRM students at NAU.
Travis Bradford, Assistant Professor of Practice led students on a kitchen tour complete with a chocolate tasting in the newly opened chef's training kitchen.
Special thanks to:
Ryan Kennedy | Regional Director of Sales – Little America Hotel and Restaurant
Fred Reese | General Manager – Little America Flagstaff
Chef Jamie Thousand | Owner – Satchmo’s Cajun and BBQ in Flagstaff
Rick Sederholt – Apprenticeship Counselor, CCAP
and the NAU and local high school staff for making this event possible.