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MIAMI, Fla. (May 11, 2007) — Students and professionals came together earlier this month to take an in-depth look at the role of diversity in today’s workplace.
More than 100 business, culinary arts and hospitality students from Johnson & Wales University’s North Miami Campus attended the first annual Hospitality Diversity Symposium, held Thursday, May 3 at the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts. The event, which was sponsored by Compass Group, was the first of its kind for J&W.
“Our students learn about diversity in the classroom, but this special event offered them the opportunity to open a serious dialogue with industry experts,” said Larry Rice, dean of academic affairs at the North Miami Campus. “From everyday tasks to major management decisions, working with culturally different people plays a critical role for professionals working in today’s diverse marketplace.”
The theme of the event, “Transforming Minds,” was demonstrated through a variety of methods including roundtable discussions, question and answer sessions and workshops. Topics and instructors included:
• A keynote address from diversity expert and consultant Deryl G. Hunt, Ph.D., who discussed his widely used model for building inclusive communities before successfully reaching diversity.
• Etiquette workshops for men and women entitled “Pull Your Pants Up” and “No She Didn’t,” which were led by Yvonne Brown, diversity manager and Rahman Khan, director of diversity and community relations, both of Compass Group.
• “Trading Places,” a discussion led by J&W professor Jendayi Saada that showed the impact of negative stereotypes based on race, gender, religion and sexual orientation on society.
• “The Show Must Go On,” a presentation that proposed a hypothetical show at the Carnival Center that required students to think about what to serve and how to serve it in a setting that was sensitive to diversity. The presentation was led by Andrew Lisi, general manager for Restaurant Associates, the food service provider for the Carnival Center.
• “After Diversity, Then What?,” an alternate consideration of diversity, not as an “end,” according to traditional diversity theories, but as a first step toward building strong unified and inclusive teams within the workplace. Taught by Larry Rice, Ed.D, dean of academic affairs and Alicia Ritchey-Brown, a business and education consultant.
• Roundtable discussions between students and 10 alumni from J&W to give graduates and current students a chance to share previous experiences in diversity.
“Diversity is not just the right thing for businesses to do, it’s essential,” said Vincent Berkeley, chief diversity officer for Compass Group. “If you can’t relate to your diverse clients, you can’t meet their needs.”
Berkeley, who spoke to students about the role that diversity has played in his more than 30 years in the hospitality industry, recommended that companies approach diversity by identifying a way to recruit a diverse workforce of entry-level employees, developing programs to target diverse associates and creating training for those already in the company.
The symposium also included entertainment from dancers and musicians, who performed during an internationally themed luncheon.
“It was eye opening to see how diversity works in different workplace settings,” said Jeffrey Saylor, a junior hospitality management major who attended the event. “I also appreciated the speakers’ ability to relate to young adults and the contemporary issues we face as young hospitality professionals.”
J&W’s North Miami Campus boasts a diverse student body of 2,215 business, culinary arts and hospitality students from 50 countries and 42 states (based on the fall 2006 enrollment). The student body is 24 percent Hispanic, 34 percent black and 32 percent white.
Charlotte-based Compass Group, The Americas is the leading food management company with more than $8.4 billion in revenues. Its parent company, UK-based Compass Group PLC was ranked the 12th largest employer by Fortune magazine in 2006. It has worldwide revenues of $19.5 billion. www.cgnad.com
Johnson & Wales — America's Career University® — was founded in 1914. It is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, food service, education, hospitality and technology. Preparing students for successful careers is the cornerstone of the University's educational philosophy. A benchmark of the University has been its 29 consecutive year employment record — within 60 days of graduation, 98 percent of its students from the 50 states have jobs in their chosen career field. With an enrollment of more than 16,000 students, Johnson & Wales maintains campuses in Providence, R.I., North Miami, Fla., Denver, Colo., and Charlotte, N.C.
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Media contact: Jordan Fickess, director of communications for Johnson & Wales University, (305) 892-7551, jordan.fickess@jwu.edu
Sarah Hada, Compass Group, The Americas, (704) 328-1365, Sarah.Hada@compass-usa.com
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