2025 CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF
FOODSERVICE EDUCATION (CAFÉ) CONFERENCES

Hosted by Community College of Allegheny County – Allegheny Campus (CCAC)

“The Need for Change”

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11^TH ANNUAL CAFÉ DEANS & DIRECTORS RETREAT (DDR)

Monday, June 23, 2025

• Meet and Greet Happy Hour for Deans and Directors (5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.) 

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

• Bus transportation leaves from the Westin Hotel to CCAC – Allegheny Campus (8:00 a.m.) 
• Breakfast (8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.)
• Attendee Introductions/description of current challenges (9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.)
• Keynote Chef Christopher Galarza, founder of Forward Dining Solutions LLC and co-founder of EcoChef (9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.)
• Panel Discussion “Change Agents” – Moderator Jon Deutsch, Drexel University 

 (10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

• Lunch – Speaker on Partnerships – Moderator Paul Sorgule, Harvest America Ventures(12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.) 
• Roundtable discussions – Introductions/Moderator Paul Sorgule (1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
• Wrap up Paul Sorgule, Harvest America Ventures (3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.)
• CEH Certificates and Evaluations handed out (4:15 p.m.) 
• Bus transportation from CCAC – Allegheny Campus to Westin Hotel (4:30 p.m.)

MASTER CLASS

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 – Master Class (More details to follow soon)

• Hands On Master Classes (separate registration) 
• Master Class – PIZZA (more information coming soon)
• Transportation to/from master classes on your own

OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 (Evening Event for DDR, LC Attendees and Guests)

• Bus transportation from Westin Hotel to CCAC – Allegheny Campus (6:00 p.m.)
• Introduction to Conference – “15 Things You Can Only Eat in Pittsburgh” (6:20 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.)
• Awards 6:45 pm – 7:30 p.m. 
• Opening Night Reception – Guests are Welcome 7:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
• Breakout Session Sign-up Sheet for Educational Best Practices Day
• Bus transportation from CCAC – Allegheny Campus to Westin Hotel (9:00 p.m.) 

19^TH ANNUAL CAFÉ LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE (LC)

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 - INDUSTRY OUTREACH DAY

• Bus transportation leaves from the Westin Hotel to CCAC – Allegheny Campus (8:00 a.m.) 
• Breakfast (8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.)
• Keynote: Chef Christopher Koetke, CEC CCE HAAC, Corporate Executive Chef at Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc.(9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.) 
• INDUSTRY PANELS – will be addressing “What’s New?” and “What’s Next?”
  • Panel #1 (Amphitheater 1) and Panel #2 (Amphitheater 2) 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
  • Panel #2 (Amphitheater 1) and Panel #1 (Amphitheater 2) 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
• Lunch (12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.) 
  • Panel #3 (Amphitheater 1) and Panel #4 (Amphitheater 2) 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Panel #4 (Amphitheater 1) and Panel #3 (Amphitheater 2) 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• InfoFair (3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.)
• Bus transportation from CCAC – Allegheny Campus to Westin Hotel (5:00 p.m.)

Dinner on Your Own

Thursday, June 26, 2025 - EDUCATIONAL BEST PRACTICES DAY

• Bus transportation leaves from the Westin Hotel to CCAC – Allegheny Campus (8:00 a.m.) 
• Breakfast (8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.)
• Keynote – Dr. Fred Mayo, President, Mayo Consulting Services (9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.) 
• Breakout sessions #1 (10:15 – 11:15 a.m.) 
  • Three presentations simultaneously – Attendees Choose 1
• Lunch Panel - Career Paths (11:30 – 12:30 p.m.)
• Breakout sessions #2 (12:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.) 
  • Three presentations simultaneously – Attendees Choose 1
• Breakout sessions #3 (2:00 – 3:00 p.m.)
  • Three presentations simultaneously – Attendees Choose 1
• CEH Certificates and Evaluations handed out (3:00 p.m.)(Hand out during last presentation)
• Bus transportation from CCAC – Allegheny Campus to Westin Hotel (3:30 p.m.) 

Updated 1/23/2025

Notes:

Membership Discount: CAFÉ members get a $25 discount. Please log into your account and register to get your discount.

Presenter Discount: Presenters get a $100 discount on conference registration.

Pennsylvania High School Teachers get a $100 discount on conference registration.

Hotel: The Westin Hotel – Pittsburgh, 1000 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, (412) 281-3700 For more Hotel information, click here.

Certificates of Attendance: Certificates will be given at the end of each conference.

COVID-19: We will follow the current CDC guidelines and/or Community College of Allegheny County – Allegheny Campus (CCAC) guidelines as of the date of the conference.

REGISTRATION AND PRICING:

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: $50 discount to all that register prior to January 31, 2025.
Pennsylvania High School Teachers: For registration instructions, please contact Mary Young directly by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..