Spring 2008 Graduating Class, Tianjin, China
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Spring 2008 Graduating Class, Tianjin, China
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The wedding of alumnus Dimitris M. Kalaitzidakis
General Manager Grecotel Creta Palace, Crete

"Pure New Zealand Cuisine" sponsored a special culinary demonstration here at FIU School of Hospitality and Tourism Management on Monday March 31, 2008. Chef Graham Brown shared the secrets of some signature New Zealand dishes featuring four New Zealand natural products:  Cervena Venison; New Zealand Lamb; New Zealand grass-fed Beef; and Zespri Kiwifruit. Our School has featured New Zealand Cervena Venison at the FIU Exhibit at South Beach Wine & Food Festival for the past three years. FIU student, Alex Blanco, received the Cervena scholarship award.

Advanced Cooking Class, Tianjin China. Lead by Chef Instructor Andrew Lyman

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Barry Gump, professor of oenology, lifts a glass of deep purple wine to his favorite nostril, the left one. He takes a long, careful sniff and pronounces: ``I get raspberries, big ripe fruit, maybe even prunes.''
''Let's have a toast,'' calls out one of his students. ``Hurrah for Professor Gump!''
''And hurrah for FIU wine,'' Gump replies, beaming.

Alex Kuk '04 and chef Michael Moran '86 MS '03, an instructor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and SoBe culinary coordinator, flank Giada De Laurentiis at the 3rd Annual Tiger Woods' Benefit in Los Angeles. 
Kuk currently is pursuing a master’s degree in hospitality and tourism management and wants to be a master chef. He began working with the festival as a sophomore, an opportunity he calls “the opportunity for any hospitality student. The festival is the best class – you get experience in every aspect.”

His Excellency Zhou Wenzhong, the ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the United States, is an experienced diplomat who has helped shape China’s relationship with the United States in various roles dating back to the 1980s. He was appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary for the People’s Republic of China to the United States in 2005. On Tuesday, January 29, 2008, His Excellency Zhou Wenzhong visited FIU at the University Park campus. He delivered a speech entitled, “The Peaceful Development of China and its Relations with the United States”. Click here to read the Ambassador's thank you letter.


FIU's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management was an important presence at the Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality  & Tourism, held Jan. 3-5, 2008 in Orlando.  UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management played host to  this annual conference bringing together students and faculty from hospitality universities from Miami to Hong Kong. FIU Graduate Students presenting research papers at this conference included PhD candidates Meng-Chao Cheng and  He Wei, Masters graduates Sungpo Yi and Kwansoo Park, and Masters candidates Kyungbae Park,  Eun-Kyong Choi, and John Buschman.   Also in attendance were Masters candidates Myung-hee Yeo and Nurul Khairuddin.  Faculty in attendance included Assoc. Dean Joan Remington,  Dr. Mary Tanke as Editor of the FIU Hospitality and Tourism Review, and Dr. Jinlin Zhao as Director of Graduate Programs.  


FIU Hospitality Society Reception in New York City on November 11, 2007
Frank van der Post '84, Senior Vice President, Jumeirah-America hosted a fabulous reception at the elegant Jumeirah Essex House Hotel during the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show. These photos are just some of the 50 alumni, faculty and students who attended.

SPRING SEMESTER 2008 DINING EVENTS: Presented by Students of the Advanced Foodservice Management Classes. Members of the University and Local Communities are invited to participate in the Spring Semester advanced foodservice management training sessions for students of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in the Dining Classroom, HM 129.

There are "his" and "her" pantries in the Pembroke Pines home of Mohammad and Saadia Qureshi. His is filled with staples such as Cajun seasoning, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and soy sauce. Hers contains more traditional seasonings such as coriander, cumin and turmeric. Mohammad favors American and continental dishes with a spicy twist. Saadia enjoys cooking the traditional fare of the Punjab, Pakistan, where they were born.

George Cohon, founder of McDonald's restaurants in Canada and Russia, was the guest of honor in Dr. Dev's Strategic Marketing class in November. Who better to invite to evaluate the students' hard work in interpreting and proposing solutions to the Harvard Business School Case Study on McDonald's Russia? By the end of the class he was going by the name of "Professor George". Starting at McDonald's in 1966, Mr Cohon worked for founder Ray Kroc as a young lawyer. After successfully developing Canadian operations for the chain, Mr. Cohon invested 14 years of persistent diplomatic efforts, fighting red tape and cold war ideology with the likes of Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Putin. The result today is that Russia is the busiest operation among the 118 countries where McDonald's has operations. "Professor George" was also the guest of Dean West and Dr. Dev at Chef Moran's student-organized, prepared and served luncheon.

Thursday, Oct. 25th the HTM campus welcomed two special visitors from Celebrity & Azamara Cruises, premium cruise lines belonging to the RCL group. Antony Papageorgiou, Director of Brand Services, and Jim McKenna, Director of Onboard Revenue, participated as judges in Dr. Dev's Strategic Marketing class and listened intently to presentations on their Harvard Case Study from seven astute teams. Mr. Papageorgiou toured the facility with Assoc. Dean Angelo and enjoyed a hearty lunch produced and served by Chef Moran's students in the HM Dining Room. Mr. Papageorgiou holds a Masters degree in Hospitality Management from Cornell University, and Mr. McKenna is a graduate of Notre Dame with an MBA in Finance from Columbia.

Dr. Barbara Talbott, Executive VP-Marketing
Four Seasons Hotels
When Barbara Talbott joined Four Seasons, the company mangaged just 20 properties. Today they have 70 hotels in 31 countries and more than 20 properties in development. She began her career with the management consulting firm McKinsey & Co. and later served as VP Marketing for the luxury cruise company, Royal Viking. Her PhD is from the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Barbara Talbott visited FIU on Thursday 18th, October, 2007. Dr. Talbott meet with Dr. Chekitan Dev and with the student chapter of HSMAI and the Graduate Student Club.

Tianjin, China Center
Email from Dean Joseph J. West:
We have just successfully completed our first lunch on our Tianjin campus. Our team of students from Tianjin and Miami served 40 dignitaries including the Chairman of the Peoples Congress of Tianjin Wang Shu Zu, President Lui of TUC and several Marriott general managers with their H/R directors. Present also was the H/R director for ARAMARK Beijing Olympic Games and the executives of OBD Consulting who are working on housing for the Olympic games.
Chefs Said and Andrew were assisted by Director Cheung, the Food and Beverage Director of the Tianjin Sheraton. It was an overwhelming success. Each Miami student was teamed with a Tianjin student and they worked wonderfully together. When you consider that only 6 weeks ago our students were introduced to the kitchen - none of our Tianjin students had ever seen a western kitchen before and most of our Miami students are taking their first food course! I must say that the food was as good and it was served as well as any of our Miami luncheons. The service teamwork was enjoyable to watch as students helped each other and worked together.
Our Chinese and Industry guests were very impressed. We are all proud of our Tianjin team!

Dr. Jinlin Zhao, Associate Professor of Management and Director of Graduate Programs for our School, has received confirmation from ARAMARK Corporation of his appointment as "Olympic Project Training Manager" for ARAMARK's 2008 Beijing Olympic Project.
ARAMARK will provide logistic and foodservice support at the Olympic Village, International Media Center and International Media Club for the
2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Dr. Zhao will assist with the recruiting and training of 4,000 temporary employees that ARAMARK will employ for the Olympic Project.
Dr. Zhao will be on Sabbatical leave from FIU during Spring Semester.
His assignment with ARAMARK in Beijing is from January 7 to August 25, 2008.
Dr. Zhao, previously worked with ARAMARK's Olympic Village foodservice operations at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Congratulations Dr. Zhao!

Chef Michael Moran and Graduate Assistant Alex Kuk will be in Los Angeles October 3-7 to assist Food Network Chef and Culinary Personality Giada DeLaurentis preparing dinner for 700 guests attending the "Tiger Woods Block party", Saturday, October 6.
Tiger Woods is hosting the third annual Block Party at The Grove of Anaheim to benefit the Tiger Woods Learning Center, a 14 - acre youth education facility located in Anaheim, California. The Block Party event raises over $1 million each year for Programs at the Tiger Woods Learning Center. The Grove of Anaheim hosts the reception, silent auctions, gourmet dinner and entertainment for 700 guests. The dinner this year is being prepared by Celebrity Chef Giada DeLaurentis who invited FIU's Chef Moran and graduate student Chef Alex Kuk to assist as her culinary team for Tiger Woods' Block Party fundraising event. Chef Moran and Alex Kuk assist Giada DeLaurentis and other celebrity chefs and culinary personalities with their seminar presentations at the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival in February.
Congratulations Chef Moran and Alex!

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group signed a licensing agreement that will take the Gordon Biersch brand to Taiwan in 2008 with further plans for mainland China and beyond.
Jeff Lee ‘93, President of G & B Brewery Development (Asia), will lead the initial Taiwan opening and further Asian expansion. Lee, a graduate of Florida International University School of Hospitality and Tourism management, previously managed the opening and ongoing operation of numerous TGI Fridays located in Taiwan and China. In addition to over ten years of restaurant operating experience, he has taught a variety of hospitality courses at the Providence University located in Taichung, Taiwan. Robert Werk ’87 is the Chief Operating Officer of the Gordon Biersch Restaurant Group based in Chatanooga, TN.

FIU Hospitality Society Receptions
Frank van der Post BS MS '84, Senior Vice President, Americas Jumeirah, at the Jumeirah Essex House Hotel in New York City during the 91st International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show.Spring 2007 School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Career Fair. Alumni return to recruit.
FIU Hospitality Society-South Florida Chapter Reception hosted by Phil Goldfarb '79, President & COO Turnberry Associates, at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, Aventura, Florida
FIU Hospitality Society-Central Florida Chapter hosted by Tyrone Nabbie ''84, Managing Partner, Levy Restaurants, at the Orange County convention Center, Orlando, Florida.

New Full-time Faculty - Academic Year 2007-2008
Barry H. Gump, Ph.D., Professor, Harvey Chaplin Eminent Scholar Chair in Beverage Management
Chekitan Dev, Ph.D., Coca-Cola Distinguished Research Fellow and Visiting Professor, Management
Ronald Morritt, D.B.A., Visiting Associate Professor, Marketing
Twila-Mae Logan, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor, Finance
Eunju Suh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Marketing

 

FIU Winemakers
Winemaker Jeff Cohn, ’84 and CFO Alexandra Cohn, MS ‘87
founded JC Cellars, based in Oakland, California, in 1996. The winery quickly established itself as one of California’s most acclaimed artisan wineries. Jeff, the hands-on winemaker, produces Rhône style inspired Syrah, bold Petire Syrah, exotic Rhône style whites, late harvest Viognier, and powerful Zinfandels. Their website is www.jccellars.com

Stacy Mald '78, Managing Director, Fuzio restaurants, Modesto CA, flying off to inspect new sites

 

 

Selling the Sea, Second Edition. Examines all aspects of the modern cruise industry, where it started, how it got to where it is today, and where it’s headed. Co-Authors: Bob Dickson, President and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines; and Andy Vladimir, Associate Professor Emeritus of Marketing and Management, Florida International University School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. They go behind the scenes at major cruise lines and provide a first hand account of what makes a cruise line successful. Includes detailed case studies, plus coverage of important new trends like the impact of technology and the Internet on cruising, emerging niche markets, and how and where modern cruise ships are constructed; and what it takes to succeed in the leisure travel industry today.

New Edition of Hospitality Today Textbook
Co-Authors - Rocco Angelo | Andrew Vladimir
The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) has published the sixth edition of the best-selling textbook, Hospitality Today: An Introduction, written by Rocco M. Angelo, CHA, and Andrew N. Vladimir, CHE. The hardcover textbook includes full-color photos and images throughout that showcase the excitement and diversity of today’s hospitality industry. New examples, exhibits, updated hospitality statistics, and Internet references provide readers with the latest information on the industry.

Alumni Happenings
John Marks ’74 - General Manager of the Don Cesar Beach Resort is proud to announce that the hotel was recognized as hotel of the year in the Loews brand.
Stacy Mald ‘78 - Managing Director, Fuzio Universal Pasta Restaurant, Modesto , CA
John A. Freeman '81 - was married in Altamont, NY at the Appel Inn. John and Debbie reside in Albany, New York.
Rudy DiGiacomo ’87 - Director of Catering-Breakers West, The Breakers, Palm Beach, FL
Maria D. Fernandez ’99 - Senior Sales manager, Hyatt Regency Miami
Sven Oravec ’00 and wife Valeria Orrequia ’00 BS ’01 MS - are living in Buenos Aires, Argentina since December 31, 2005 and have a daughter named Sofia who was born on October 16th, 2005 in Miami and is now 1 year and 8 months. Sven is working in the Aspen Towers and Aspen Suites Hotels analyzing the entire F&B department and Valeria is the Banquet Manager at the Regente Palacio Hotel.
Maura Dominguez ’00 - Director Group Sales, Mid-West and West Coast, Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, FL
Brian Cliette ‘04 -Marcus & Millichap, Miami, FL
Luisa Mendoza ’05 - Sales Manager, Greater Ft Lauderdale/ Broward County Convention Center

Segmentation Strategies for Hospitality Managers (Haworth Press, 2007) by Ron Morritt. Effective market segmentation approaches can show a company which customer group is most profitable and how to best serve its needs. Segmentation Strategies for Hospitality Managers: Target Marketing for Competitive Advantage is a marketing primer whose time has come, teaching segmentation approaches that can make a difference where it really countss—the bottom line...

Alumni Happenings
Lt. Col. Tony Millican '00 - Life has been wonderful over the past 6 ½ years since I graduated from the Hotel and Food service Management Masters program. I recently was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel...
Mark von Dwingelo '84 - of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels has been promoted to regional senior vice president-Northeast responsible for overseeing the select service division's Northeast office focusing on hotel capital advisory services and the disposition of hotel assets...
Wilson O. Osoro '79 - Director of Studies at Kenya Utalii College in Nairobi, Kenya is shown with Associate Professor JinLin Zhao in Bejing. Wilson attended a seminar for thirty-eight African hotel and tourism officials from twenty-two countries that was sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the Peoples Republic of China..
Monique McKenzie '96 - Director of Business Travel and Leisure Sales, Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota is one of 10 Marriott International, Inc. worldwide employees to be honored with the J. Willard Marriott Award of Excellence, the 151,000-employee company's highest form of recognition .

From May 7 to 21, Dr. Zhao led a group of 31 of our students, adjunct faculty and friends visited 10 cities in China: Beijing, Tianjin, Xian, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, Guilin, Yangshuo, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. They explored the development of China’s hotel, restaurant and tourism industry. They exchanged a dialogue with the students from our Tianjin campus and visited the facilities.
From May 24 to 26, Dr. Zhao participated at the 5 th Asian CHRIE and the 13 th APTA Joint Conferences, where he presented a paper on FOODSERVICE MANAGEMENT...

Florida International University School of Hospitality and Tourism Management receives $1.5 million for proceeds from the 2007 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Festival Founder and Director Lee Brian Schrager presented the check for $1,508,435 to Dean Joseph West. Proceeds of the Festival benefit the students, educational programs and facilities including: scholarships for students; wine and beverage courses and maintaining the facilities of the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center.
Check Presentation Video --- SoBe W&FF 2007 Video

Florida International University School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Appoints Barry H. Gump, Ph.D. as Professor of Beverage Management; Dr. Gump Joins FIU's Hospitality School as First Holder of Harvey R. Chaplin Eminent Scholar's Chair in Beverage Management Southern Wine & Spirits of America is Proud Sponsor of One of America's Leading Educational Institutions Focusing on the Hospitality and Tourism Industry. Dr. Joseph West, Dean of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU), announced today that Barry H. Gump, Ph.D., has been named the first holder of the Harvey R. Chaplin Eminent Scholar's Chair in Beverage Management at FIU's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.



The Battle of Iron Chefs - On Tuesday 3rd April, 2007, the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management held its first "Battle of the Iron Chefs' competition. The three teams; Cougars, Panthers and Tigers, competed for a chance to go head to head with BIG 105.9 FM's Paul and Young Ron and were awarded $100 scholarships. The three Celebrity Chef Judges were: Allen Susser '78, Chef Allen's; Oliver Saucy, Darrell & Oliver's Cafe Max; and Adam Lamb, Executive Chef, Movieco Premier Bistro. After a heated two-hour "battle", the judges awarded Team Panthers, Chris Kark, Alexia Apostiadelis and Alex Boom as the winner.
Play Slide Show --- Play Video


Pure New Zealand Cuisine - New Zealand’s pristine environment, fast flowing cold waters, and abundant natural pasture produce some of the purest raw ingredients from which the finest, most flavorful and unique dishes are prepared. This coupled with the creativity of pacific-rim-inspired chefs, has boosted New Zealand’s international reputation as a culinary hot spot. On Wednesday, March 28, 2007, Chef Brad Farmerie (Public, NYC). Chef Farmerie, shared the secrets of some signature New Zealand dishes. Photos Available --- Note: 145 MB

Lodging Magazine - Cover Article - Hospitality schools focus their curriculums on the changing needs of the lodging industry
They say a great teacher never stops learning. This is certainly the case for Dr. Joseph West, dean of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU). More than three years ago, West embarked on a groundbreaking project with the Chinese government that would make the top-ranked program become even more comprehensive, and in the process...

The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival is a national, star-studded, four-day destination event showcasing the talents of the world’s most renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities. Hosted by Southern Wine & Spirits of Florida and Florida International University (FIU), the festival benefits the Teaching Restaurant and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center, both located at FIU
Please click more to see the Festival Slide Show...

Anthony G. Marshall - Dean Emeritus - 1939-2006
Anthony G. Marshall, Dean Emeritus of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University passed away at his home in Orlando, Florida on December 6, 2006, after courageously battling brain cancer.

The taped broadcast of Anthony Marshall's memorial is now available.
NOTE: Use the Windows Media Player to view the taped broadcast.