Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2004

Contact: Marisa Ramirez
713.743.8152 (office)
mrcannon@uh.edu

Professionals from Houston’s diverse hospitality and foodservice industries will share their secrets of success with more than 400 area high school students, and college students from UH and Texas Southern University.

“The Houston Showcase of the Stars” is planned for Monday Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Conrad Ballroom of the UH Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. The purpose of the event is to inform students about employment opportunities in the hospitality industry and to showcase successful minorities from all segments of the arena. This is the first time this event has been hosted in Houston.

“We are excited to present students with this educational and networking opportunity,” said John Bowen, dean of the UH College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. “What they will learn from these professionals will equip them to compete and succeed in the changing hospitality industry.”

Panelists include Froilan Hernandez of Ninfa’s Restaurants; Michael Helm of Baugh Supply Chain and Cooperative; Tawna Cripps of Sysco, as well as other hospitality industry officials. Each will address questions concerning career progression, non-traditional hospitality jobs, diversity in the workplace and hospitality programs in colleges and universities.

“The Houston Showcase of Stars” is a partnership between the UH Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, Sysco Corporation and the MultiCultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance (MFHA). The MFHA is a national non-profit organization that serves as a facilitator on multicultural and diversity issues for the restaurant, foodservice and lodging industries.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.