The hotel deadline for the Deans and Directors Retreat is just two weeks away!

The Hyatt on King Street is a perfect location for some exploring of the “hot” food destination title that Charleston richly deserves!

To get the CAFE rate, click here for more information.

To register for this event, click here.

We begin on Friday evening and end after lunch on Sunday. The Retreat awards continuing education hours recognized by the ACF. It is specific and targeted to your needs as program leaders.

SOCIAL MEDIA OVERLOAD—another Retreat session you won’t want to miss.

Leveraging Social Media applications to enhance communication, brand awareness, and student engagement in hospitality and culinary education.

Hear from two professional educators NATHAN REX and RANDY WILLIAMS who have taken this challenge on and how they can measure their success.

Nathan Rex is a Culinary Institute of Charleston alumnus, holding associate degrees in both Hospitality and Tourism Management and Culinary Arts Technology. After graduating from the CIC, Nathan continued his education at the University of South Carolina where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management. He later earned an MBA with a concentration in Finance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Before returning as the Department Head for Hospitality and Tourism Management at CIC, Mr. Rex most recently served as the Resort Manager for the 3,000-room luxury property, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. His hospitality experience also includes positions as the Director of Front Office at the Ravella Resort, Assistant Executive Housekeeper and Assistant Front Desk Manager at the MGM Grand, and Front Office Manager at the Platinum Hotel, all in Las Vegas.

Randy Williams, previously the executive chef at Zero George Hotel, has spent his career honing his teaching skills while working in the culinary industry. He has worked and trained under consulting chef Tom Colicchio of Craft Restaurant, executive chef Craig Deihl of Hello Sailor, and eventually opening the cooking school and Café at the boutique hotel Zero George in downtown Charleston. Two bachelor’s degrees in business from College of Charleston paired with his Culinary Arts background have led him down the path of Culinary Education while keeping one foot planted firmly in the industry.

Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food: Sponsor of TWO Awards

• Green Award: Recognizes culinary programs that promote and incorporate sustainability efforts as part of their curriculum and operations. Click here for information about the Green Award
• Food Entrepreneurship Award: Identifies culinary programs that either 1) teach or encourage entrepreneurship in their programming or 2) implement revenue-generation and cost-savings into their operations. Click here for information about the Entrepreneurship Award

Idaho Potato Commission Innovation Awards

CAFE is proud to be partnering with the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) once again as they sponsor the Innovation Awards for 2019.

This Award recognizes educators and/or programs at both the secondary and postsecondary levels who have shown to be innovative in their approaches to effective culinary arts education.

Examples of innovations can be in the areas of:

• New programs or
• New delivery methods or
• New partnerships or
• New relations with the local community

Click here for more information about the Innovations Award.

Sysco Educator of the Year Award

Thanks to Sysco for again sponsoring the Educator of the Year Award for 2019! This award is open to secondary and postsecondary educators as well as culinary educators working within the non-profit training sector. There will be two awards given.

The Committee will be looking for:

• a description of methodologies that exemplify innovative teaching techniques. Give examples.
• evidence of the educator’s professional commitment to the educational community and foodservice industry which might include school committee work, professional networking, and community involvement.
• a resume with the application.
• descriptions of ongoing professional development in both instructional and technical skills in the last few years.
• overall evidence that the educator has proven leadership in his/her profession; examples may include peer reviews, student evaluations, letters of recommendation, certificates and honors received, etc.

For more information about the Educator of the Year Awards, click here.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2019

February 11, 2019
Hotel Deadline, Dean and Directors Retreat

March 15-17, 2019
Deans and Directors Retreat, Charleston, SC

April 1, 2019
Award Applications Due

June 20-22, 2019
15th Annual CAFE Leadership Conference, Charlotte, NC