FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                                                    Contact:  Karen Geisel
                                                                                                                                   518-421-3435 or kgeisel@njrha.org
 
Washington, D.C. -- For the first time in the National ProStart Program’s 26-year history, a New Jersey teacher was selected as the “National Educator of the Year” at its annual ProStart Invitational hosted recently by the National Restaurant Association in Washington D.C. Mary Beth Brace, a Bergen County Academies instructor and chef was surprised with the top award and $10,000 in cash in front of her students and peers.
 
The 21-year teaching veteran and 16-year ProStart instructor is fondly referred to on campus as “Chef B.” Brace has been teaching the ProStart curriculum in New Jersey almost since it’s inception and was named the Garden State’s (NJREF) “Educator of the Year” last March, making her applicable for the national honor along with every other state award recipients.
 
“I can’t express the myriad of emotions I felt at being selected for this high honor,” said Mary Beth Brace, “It was truly a full circle moment, one that I will always cherish as the highlight of my career.  Also, imagine my pride when I saw a former student of mine (I taught 19 years ago) judging my current students. This young man is now the executive chef and R/D Director for Bonefish Grill Corporate!” she added.
 
New Jersey’s ProStart program is the only homegrown educational platform that acts as a feeder for the diminishing workforce of the Garden State’s $16 billion restaurant industry. Most of the 2,000+ participating ProStart students graduate ServSafe-certified which makes them immediately employable in the industry. 
 
For more information on the ProStart Program, national award or competition, contact: Leslie Steele, VP, New Jersey Restaurant Educational Foundation at 609-599-3316.
                                                                                              #  #  #

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                                                                      Contact: Karen Geisel
                                                                                                                                                                    518-421-3435
 
 
                                       NEW JERSEY RESTAURANT & HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION HIRES
                                                         NEW GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
 
Trenton, NJ – Due to the excessive amount of state and local legislation affecting the state’s hospitality industry, the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association (NJRHA) recently announced the addition of Andrew LaFevre as Government Affairs Director. It’s the first time the 76-year old association created a job specifically targeted for this purpose.
 
“In the last couple years, the amount of legislation that has seriously affected our industry has increased tenfold, making it difficult for the association to keep up,” said Marilou Halvorsen, president of the NJRHA. “Andrew will monitor these bills, assist in advocating on behalf of our members, organize industry roundtables with locally-elected officials and members of our industry to educate them on how legislation and ordinances affect our small business community.”
 
An example of a current legislative victory orchestrated by the NJRHA was the NJ Department of Labor (DOL) recent re-clarification of tipped wage over time. Without warning the government agency changed the description on how tipped overtime should be calculated causing several unaware members to be audited. After numerous incitements, the DOL re-adjusted the narrative to reflect what had always been in place.
 
Currently, there are 386 bills LaFevre will monitor. He will also educate members via a monthly “Kitchen Cabinet” email, perform legislative calls, issue video updates and share information via NJRHA’s social media platforms. LaFevre was previously employed at the National Restaurant Association and Princeton Public Affairs Group. He lives in Milford New Jersey and graduated from Kutztown University.
 
#  #  #
 

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                                                                          Contact: Karen Geisel
                                                                                                                                                                         518-421-3435
 
 
BERGEN COUNTY TEACHER, “CHEF B” IS NAMED NEW JERSEY RESTAURANT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION                                                                        “EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR”
 
Trenton, NJ – Bergen County Academies teacher, Chef Mary Beth Brace is named New Jersey Restaurant Educational Foundation’s (NJREF) “Educator of the Year,” for 2018-2019 school year. Each year, the Trenton NJ-based non-profit organization that launched the culinary vocational program called ProStart, meticulously evaluates their teachers around the state to honor one individual who stands out.
 
ProStart is an educational program geared at economically challenged high school-aged students, but open to all. It teaches the skills necessary to obtain a position in the hospitality industry right out of high school or to achieve better entry into four year universities with culinary and hospitality programs. Many of the program’s participants receive academic scholarships as well.
 
Referred to as “Chef B,” “Mamma B,” or just “B” throughout the Bergen County Academies campus, Chef Brace is described by her students as a maternal figure. She has taught the ProStart Program for 16 years, almost since its inception in 1999. According to her students, the Culinary Institute of America graduate is dedicated her students beyond the curriculum. She goes the extra mile to incorporate important topics into their lesson plans and sacrifices her personal time to ensure students have more opportunities and work experiences.
 
“Her love and desire for her students to succeed goes way beyond the classroom,” said Anthony Desimini, a former Bergen County Academies student. “She also taught me how to refine my public speaking, interviewing and research skills. Soft skills she knew I needed to be successful,” he added.
Desimini, who wrote a glowing reference for Chef B to the NJREF, is currently a student in Pamplin College of Business/Hospitality & Tourism Management at Virginia Tech earmarked to graduate in 2022.
 
For more information on the NJREF, the ProStart Program, Educator of the Year Award or Chef Brace, please contact Leslie Steele, 609-599-3316 or leslier@njrha.org.
 
#  #  #