2025 CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF
FOODSERVICE EDUCATION (CAFÉ) CONFERENCE

Hosted by Community College of Allegheny County – Allegheny Campus (CCAC)

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11^TH ANNUAL CAFÉ DEANS & DIRECTORS RETREAT (DDR)

June 24, 2025
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

“The Need for Change”

Monday, June 23, 2025

• Meet and Greet Happy Hour for Deans and Directors (5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.) 

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

• Bus transportation leaves from the Westin Hotel to CCAC - Allegheny Campus (8:00 a.m.) 
• Breakfast (8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.)
• Attendee Introductions/description of current challenges (9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.)
• Keynote: “A Need for Change” presented by: Chef Christopher Galarza (9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.) 
• Panel Discussion “Change Agents” – Moderator Paul Sorgule, Harvest America Ventures (10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
  • Karl Uri, Sun Valley
  • Randall McNamara, Rouxbe Online Culinary School
  • Thomas Barnes, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Artificial Intelligence
• Lunch – Speaker on Partnerships – Moderator, Alice Julier, Chatham University(12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.) 
• International - Marco Polo – Michael Carmel
• Commodity Board – Meghan McKenna
• Chatham University/Eden Hall Campus – Chef Christopher Galarza

• Roundtable discussions – Introductions/Moderator Paul Sorgule, Harvest America Ventures (1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
• Wrap up Paul Sorgule (3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.)
• CEH Certificates and Evaluations handed out (4:15 p.m.) 
• Bus transportation from CCAC - Allegheny Campus to Westin Hotel (4:30 p.m.)

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CAFÉ MASTER CLASSES AND OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION

June 24, 2025

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 – Master Class

• Hands On Master Classes (separate registration) 
• Master Class – Pizza (12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) 
• Transportation to/from master classes on your own

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 (Evening Event for DDR, LC Attendees and Guests)

• Bus transportation from Westin Hotel to CCAC – Allegheny Campus (6:00 p.m.)
• Introduction to Conference – “15 Things You Can Only Eat in Pittsburgh” (6:20 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.)
• Awards (6:45 pm – 7:30 p.m.) 
• Opening Night Reception - Guests are Welcome (7:30 p.m. -– 8:45 p.m.)
• Breakout Session Sign-up Sheet for Educational Best Practices Day
• Bus transportation from CCAC – Allegheny Campus to Westin Hotel (9:00 p.m.) 

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19^TH ANNUAL CAFÉ LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE (LC)
June 25-26, 2025

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 - INDUSTRY OUTREACH DAY 

• Bus transportation leaves from the Westin Hotel to CCAC – Allegheny Campus (8:00 a.m.) 
• Breakfast (8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.)
• Keynote: “Adapting to the Future” presented by: Chef Christopher Koetke, CEC CCE HAAC, Corporate Executive Chef at Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc. (9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.) 

Industry Panels:  

Panel #1  –  American Technical Publishers; California Walnut Board; Idaho Potato Commission; National Watermelon Promotion Board        

Panel #2  –  American Farm Bureau Federation; California Milk Advisory Board; Certified Culinary Medicine Professional; RATIONAL

Panel #3  –  Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts; North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission; United Soybean Board

Panel #4  –  American Culinary Federation; General Mills Foodservice; Sun Valley Culinary Institute 

• Panel #1(10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.)
• Break (11:15 am to 11:30 a.m.)
• Panel #2(11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
• Lunch (12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.) 
• Panel #3(1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
• Break (2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.)
• Panel #4(2:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
• InfoFair (3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.) 
• Bus transportation from CCAC – Allegheny Campus to Westin Hotel (5:00 p.m.)

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Thursday, June 26, 2025 - EDUCATIONAL BEST PRACTICES DAY

• Bus transportation leaves from the Westin Hotel to CCAC – Allegheny Campus (8:00 a.m.) 
• Breakfast (8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.)
• Keynote: “Creating Communities: The Hidden Power in Teaching and Learning” presented by: Dr. Fred Mayo, President, Mayo Consulting Services (9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.) 
• Breakout sessions #1 (10:15 – 11:15 a.m.) 
  • Three presentations simultaneously – Attendees Choose 1
    • “A Conversation about Food Insecurities and Academic Success” presented by Thomas Barnes, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
    • “Advancing Culinary Education Through Digital Accessibility: Strategies and Solutions” presented by Donnisha Grant & Chef Melissa Hawkins, Anne Arundel Community College
    • “Becoming a Change Leader: Challenging your own perceptions to better meet the needs of your students and industry stakeholders” presented by Chef Katie Mosher, Tri-County Culinary Arts

• Lunch Panel – Career Paths, Moderator, Art Inzinga, CCAC (11:30 – 12:30 p.m.)

• Breakout sessions #2 (12:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.) 
  • Three presentations simultaneously – Attendees Choose 1
    • “Adding Workforce Credentialing to your Program” presented by Randall McNamara, Rouxbe Online Culinary School
    • “Enhancing Student Success: Aligning Culinary Education with Career Readiness and Lifelong Learning” presented by Amanda Weber, Lakeshore Technical College
    • “Crafting Success for Modern Students” presented by Matthew Britt and Jaime Schick, M.Ed, CEPC, Johnson & Wales University

• Breakout sessions #3 (2:00 – 3:00 p.m.)
  • Three presentations simultaneously – Attendees Choose 1
    • “Beekeeping” presented by Chef Tammy Inscoe, Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College
    • "Growing Disciplinary Literacy in Culinary Arts" presented by Stacey Izabal, CTE Culinary Arts
    • “Incorporating Plant-based Cuisine into Culinary Education: Strategies for the Classroom” presented by Tracy Burgio. Culinary Specialist, Humane World for Animals

• CEH Certificates and Evaluations handed out (3:00 p.m.)(Hand out during last presentation)
• Bus transportation from CCAC – Allegheny Campus to Westin Hotel (3:30 p.m.) 

Updated 6/4/25 

Notes:

Membership Discount: CAFÉ members get a $25 discount. Please log into your account and register to get your discount.

Presenter Discount: Presenters get a $100 discount on conference registration.

Pennsylvania High School Teachers get a $100 discount on conference registration.

Hotel: The Westin Hotel – Pittsburgh, 1000 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222, (412) 281-3700 For more Hotel information, click here.

Certificates of Attendance: Certificates will be given at the end of each conference.

COVID-19: We will follow the current CDC guidelines and/or Community College of Allegheny County – Allegheny Campus (CCAC) guidelines as of the date of the conference.

REGISTRATION AND PRICING:

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: $50 discount to all that register prior to January 31, 2025.
Pennsylvania High School Teachers: For registration instructions, please contact Mary Young directly by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..