Preparing the Next Generation of Food and Hospitality Industry Leaders
Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management
SUMMARY: Students from the Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management were selected to participate in the first-ever Future Leaders Connect program of the WFF (Women's Foodservice Forum), the premier leadership development resource for the foodservice industry.
Students from the Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management were selected to participate in the first-ever Future Leaders Connect program of the WFF (Women's Foodservice Forum), the premier leadership development resource for the foodservice industry.
Fifteen students from the Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management comprised the inaugural Future Leaders Connect program launched by WFF, the premier leadership development resource for the foodservice industry. JMU was the only university selected to source the program’s first class -- a testament to the Hart School’s reputation and quality of its graduates.
As part of the program, the students attended WFF’s annual Leadership Development Conference, which took place April 2-5 in Orlando. They arrived two days early to help conference planners set up and get a behind-the-scenes view of the details involved in organizing and executing a major event.
WFF promotes female leadership within the foodservice industry, celebrating the unique contributions that they make in the workplace. The annual Leadership Development Conference brings together about 3,000 professional to network, exchange ideas and sharpen professional skills through educational seminars.
The 2017 Future Leaders Connect program strives to “prepare students for their careers through a combination of networking opportunities, leadership development and valuable on-the-job experience.” This year’s program was sponsored by California Pizza Kitchen, Sysco and the WFF Aspire Higher Institute.
“It was incredible to be with thousands of passionate professionals from across the country, to hear their stories and learn from the insights they had to share,” says Jacqueline Herrick, a senior hospitality management major and business minor. “This experience opened my eyes to so many opportunities within the hospitality field that I was not aware of before. Career paths are rarely a straight line, and I will start my career with a much more open mind, keeping the door open to the foodservice industry.”
Click here to see a video featuring the JMU students.
