Ted Xenohristos, Chief Concept Officer & Founder of CAVA, Teaches by Example and Stirs Up Passion for Careers in Food Service

GAITHERSBURG, MD, January 12, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ — Seneca Valley and Sherwood High School students have partnered with restaurant industry leaders to gain first-hand experience creating an elegant pop up restaurant for one night in Potomac. The event will be the culmination of months of planning between MCPS students, hospitality program teachers Melissa North and Lisa Gilbert, and the Foundation for Hospitality & Restaurant Managements’ (FHRM) Student Professional Development Committee.

“Success starts with a spark,” said Ted Xenohristos, Chief Concept Officer & Founder of CAVA, “And, we’re here to light the match!” The dinner is an opportunity for the students to experience firsthand the wide variety of activities necessary to stage a sophisticated experience—from social media and ticket sales to front-of-house management and heart-of-house hustle. With a team of CAVA chefs, the students will design, prepare and serve a four-course gourmet dinner at the Falls Road Golf Course Café on February 3, 2023.

Jana Anderson, professor and Program Coordinator for the Hospitality Management Program at Montgomery College will coach the front-of-house student volunteers through in person and zoom workshops leading up to the event. “I am inspired by the students’ excitement and seeing this first dinner come together.”

Lizz Durante, President of Payroll Network’s Restaurant People Cloud and a FHRM Cadre, will lead the marketing activities for the fundraiser. The students will participate in two social media workshops led by Payroll Network’s Chief Revenue Officer, Mary Grothe and Becca Bollinger, Marketing Specialist. “We are excited to develop projects that engage MCPS hospitality program students in real-life scenarios like this,” said Ms. Durante.

Alan Squier, President of Squier Associates and a FHRM Cadre is working with the students to transform the café into a white tablecloth, candlelit dining room. “This fundraising dinner is our first,” said Squier, “but it’s not our last. We hope to learn from this experience and improve and expand future student dinners.”

“FHRM and MCPS recognize that teens today want to forge their own success and happiness in their future careers,” said David Child, General Manager of North Bethesda Marriott and FHRM’s President. “The most important thing to them is to do something they’re excited about, regardless of what career they choose. These students are drawn to hospitality.”

“At CAVA, caring, hospitality, warmth and generosity are our pillars,” stated CAVA Founder and CEO Ted Xenohristos. “Giving students the skills to succeed in the restaurant industry and nurture their passion is key to our vision. Mediterranean families have been perfecting healthy eating for 4,000 years. We hope to inspire a new generation to continue this great legacy.”

Student Takeover Dinner Details

Proceeds from the fundraiser will allow FHRM to continue to offer programs like this throughout Montgomery County and give high school students the opportunity to explore first-hand the wide variety of careers in hospitality, work opportunities, and apprenticeships and find ways to engage students and educators in public-facing projects.

Date: Friday February 3, 2023
Location: Falls Road Golf Course, 10800 Falls Road, Potomac, MD
Time: Two Seatings | 6 PM and 7:30 PM
Program: Four-course Dinner with Wine Pairings & Chef Meet and Greet

Tickets and sponsorship information Contact Lizz Durante ldurante@payrollnetowork.com or visit the website https://go.rallyup.com/fhrm-student-pop-up-potomac/Campaign/Details

About FHRM
The Foundation for Hospitality and Restaurant Management (FHRM) serves as an advisory board, to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), and is comprised of industry professionals, post-secondary educators and community partners focused on providing the skills that students need for management and entrepreneurial opportunities in hospitality, lodging, culinary arts, food and beverage, tourism and travel. The Foundation leverages its industry members’ first-hand knowledge and business acumen to provide MCPS strategic advice, encourage public/private collaboration, advocate for research and tracking of program and student outcomes as well as to guide educators and school leaders throughout the entire county on current trends in the industry. The Foundation’s core values and guiding principles are motivated by the industry’s vision. The Board members strive to foster a better world through real-world experiences, purposeful education and to do so with integrity, collaboration, guidance and an inclusive approach that embraces all.

Learn more at https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/hospitality

About CAVA
Headquartered in Washington, D.C. and founded in 2010, CAVA Group is a casual restaurant company that produces a line of chef-crafted dips and spreads sold in specialty grocery stores around the country.

About Montgomery College
Montgomery College (MC) is a public community college in Montgomery County, Maryland. The college has three campuses, the largest of which is in Rockville. Its other campuses are in Takoma Park/Silver Spring and Germantown. Its off-campus sites include the Business Training Center in Gaithersburg and Westfield South in Wheaton, which are operated by the college’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division.

About Payroll Network and Restaurant People Cloud
Restaurant People Cloud serves restaurants exclusively with Payroll, HR, time, talent, benefits, compliance and workforce management are delivered in a unified platform that increases retention and productivity. Payroll Network’s People Platform helps companies succeed with outstanding client service and comprehensive human capital management (HCM) SaaS, enabling employees to reach their full potential. The company is celebrating its 25th Anniversary Year by amplifying philanthropy and community impact.

Learn more at www.payrollnetwork.com.

About Squier Associates
Squier Associates is a manufacturer’s rep located in Rockville, MD. We support dealers, commercial kitchen design consultants, and end users in the selection of kitchen equipment, tabletop and supplies from premium brands. From fine dining and quick service to hospitality, healthcare and education, we exude a tangible passion for our partners and their establishments.

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