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Chairman's Message 2025

Sam Glynn

It is my pleasure to lead the RI Hospitality Education Foundation (RIHEF) as it continues to play a pivotal role in supporting Rhode Island’s robust hospitality and tourism sector. We have two key goals -- to grow the next generation of hospitality professionals, and to lead the industry in standards of professionalism and certification.

RIHEF’s training and career programs provide necessary skills and certifications for those already involved in our industry, as well as those embarking on their first hospitality career. Each year, we provide the necessary tools to help thousands of Rhode Islanders change their lives for the better.

Thanks to the guidance of a committed Board of Directors and a dedicated, hardworking staff, we've had another great year at the Education Foundation.

SOME OF THIS YEAR'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

  • RIHEF turned 30 in 2024, and sadly we lost former chairman David DePetrillo. In his honor, we have created a new scholarship to help a deserving student pursue a career in hospitality.
  • We hosted the 13th annual ProStart® High School Culinary Arts and Business Management Competition. Top teams from William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School and Chariho Area Career & Technical represented Rhode Island at the National ProStart Invitational in Baltimore, Maryland. Our annual competitions have resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships.
  • We trained more than one thousand industry employees.

As we look ahead, we are focused on enhancing the RIHEF Hospitality Training Academy through additional certifications, coaching, food and alcohol safety training, and mentoring and apprenticeship programs, and we will enhance career opportunities by offering career mapping and pathways, job shadowing, and mentorship programs.

All of us at the Rhode Island Hospitality Education Foundation look forward to providing the gold standard of educational and training programs to Rhode Island’s current and future hospitality workforce.

Thank you.

Sam Glynn
Chairman of the Board
RI Hospitality Education Foundation