Advisory Board members in attendance: Alex Erdmann, Melissa Byrd, David Hough, Michele Erickson, Jennifer Campopiano, Samuel Bates, Rhonda Young, Anthony Thorpe, Sandy Pfau, Bryan Nelson, with students Clay Reeves, Kate Campopiano, and Jamiah Courvoisier
NOTES
- Board Meetings were scheduled for the year, September 2019 – May 2020:
- 9/6/19
- 11/15/19
- 3/6/20
- 5/5/20
- Lesly Shepak agreed to serve as Chairperson.
- Samuel Bates agreed to research necessary steps for creating a Wekiva Culinary Arts Foundation 501c; two more officers (in addition to Ms. Shepak) must be voted in during our next meeting
- Bryan Nelson agreed to arrange for events to be advertised on City of Apopka’s marquee
- Anthony Thorpe agreed to explore ways Oakmont Village might sponsor the Culinary Arts program; to schedule multiple classroom visits and to assist with two or more competition practices.
- David Hough agreed to investigate ways Sysco might sponsor the Culinary Arts program
- Alex Erdmann agreed to host a field trip to the new Valencia Culinary Campus downtown and to begin partnership discussion
- Sandy Pfau agreed to help Bates author a one page fact sheet for fundraising purposes
Requests for help:
- Please commit to finding two chefs/ restaurateurs who are willing to help our students succeed, with each professional prepared to visit Wekiva on one day of the 2019-2020 school year
- Please commit to attending one or two of the public events listed in the Activities Calendar – especially the Regional and State Competitions!
- Companies interested in being a presenting sponsor of a public facing event, of the dining room remodel, or of the Food Truck/ Trailer should contact me directly so we can negotiate naming rights, arrange photos, press releases, and finalize logos /publicity materials.
Events and Activities Calendar for 2019-2020:
- Competition BootCamp 6/3 – 6/14/19
- Back-to-school Teacher breakfast for 200, August 5, WHS at 8 AM
- Apopka Youth Works Dinner 8/7, Apopka VFW, 6 PM
- Grilled Cheese Competition at Orlando Convention Center/ National Restaurant Association Show 9/5
- Teach-in – November
- 3rd Annual Fall Renaissance Fair, WHS, 11/9/19
- Regional Competition, Orlando World Marriott – 12/2
- 2nd Annual Spring Cabaret, WHS, 1/29/20
- ProStart State Competition, Rosen Plaza, – March 1-4
- Teacher appreciation BBQ – 5/29/20
- Catering events on campus/ off campus – ongoing
- Science of cooking: Charcuterie, Molecular Gastronomy, Coffee Lab – ongoing
New:
- New partnership: Sonny’s and competition team
- New Project: $10,000 CFHLA grant for classroom remodel into dining room
Future:
- Valencia College Culinary Program Pipeline
- UCF Rosen School of Hospitality Pipeline
- Food Truck – ; ex: Leto High School’s Culinary Program is supported by 7 different companies and those companies have leveraged that connection to create broad community support and brand loyalty; Bend High School in Oregon, Francis Howell School District in St. Charles, Missouri, and Poudre High School in Fort Collins have each received distinction and awards for innovation by using an active food truck to further business and culinary education
- ProStart Premiere Status
Ultimate Goal:
- Fully-functional, gas-powered commercial kitchen with space for 30 students to work and learn