Page 6 - Ohio RA 2011 Winter FlipBook

4 www.ohiorestaurant.org Winter 2012 Issue

Currently, the Ohio Restaurant Association Education Foundation supports 56 schools in the Ohio ProStart ® program for the 2011-2012 school year and provides training assistance to more than 2,100 students. The Foundation provides teacher training, connection to jobs for our students, competitions, scholarships and industry certifications.

In order to gain insight into why the program resonates with so many foodservice professionals, I asked teachers, supervisors and industry professionals why they are involved in the program. Here are some of their thoughts:

“Polaris Career Center supports the Ohio ProStart program because of its direct link to the industry and the ability of the students to obtain an industry credential - the ProStart Certificate of Achievement,” said Chris Olszewski, an Ohio ProStart instructor, chef and mentor. “It also allows students to learn many facets of the foodservice industry as well as gain valuable hands-on experience in the field. The benefits are many, and the industry knowledge that is passed on by the

experts and the potential for scholarships is staggering. I cannot stress enough the importance of having a link to industry.”

“I support the teachers and students who participate in ProStart for so many reasons,” said Connie Strebe, Tolles Career and Technical Center’s supervisor. “The Ohio ProStart program offers students and teachers alike the opportunity to obtain real-world experiences combined with a top quality curriculum. Both of these challenge teachers to practice their craft the best that they can while students are challenged to perform to a high level of achievement.”

“I get great satisfaction from helping young people pursue careers in this industry,” said Jim Sauter, director of operations for the Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern and a ProStart team advisor. “The industry has been so good to me, and helping young adults work toward the same things I did when I was young is an obvious motivator with a lot of personal feelings behind it. Now that I am in a position to give back, with the support of The Rusty Bucket and its resources, I can make more

of a difference. Lastly, the nature of their needs and ours is obviously reciprocal. They need good experience; we need associates dedicated to the job.”

Our Ohio ProStart students are well-rounded and receive a quality education from the dedication, knowledge and support of our Ohio ProStart certified teachers. As a 501(c)3 organization, we always need to assess what we are offering and look at ways to improve the program to best meet the students’, educators’ and schools’ needs. Based on the aforementioned testimonials, I think we’re heading in the right direction and need to continue on this path. Together, we are making a difference, but we seek continued industry support that will assist us in maintaining the fine educational program we offer.

By Sharon K.M. Fish Executive Director, The Ohio Restaurant Association Education Foundation

Education is Our Foundation

Why I Care about Ohio ProStart ®