1:53 p.m., June 4, 2008--More than 100 students and their advisers attended a Hospitality Entrepreneurship Summit at UD in April. Hosted by UD's Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management (HRIM) and supported by the Darden Restaurants Foundation, the second annual event was cosponsored by the Consortium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The two-day summit was designed to educate and encourage under-represented college and university students enrolled in business and hospitality programs to consider business ownership in the hospitality industry as a career option. Schools represented at the conference included Bloomsburg, Cheney, Delaware State, Lincoln, Morgan State, North Carolina Central and Virginia State universities, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and UD.

The summit was organized by Francis Kwansa, associate chairperson of HRIM, and Lozelle De Luz, who received her doctorate in urban affairs and public policy from UD in 1984, served on the UD Board of Trustees and was a previous owner of McDonald's franchises.

“This year's summit was a major success for many reasons,” Kwansa said. “The number of participating students nearly doubled, two more schools participated, and we broadened the industry presenters.

“Students who were present last year remarked that this year's event was richer in content and very motivating. We believe this summit is planting the seeds to inspire and enable our hospitality students, especially those from under-represented groups, to embrace the idea that business ownership can be their reality,” Kwansa said.

Robert Nelson, HRIM chairperson, said, “I cannot think of another industry with more entrepreneurial opportunities than the hospitality industry. This summit helps open the doors of business ownership to budding entrepreneurs.”

“This conference and the topics covered offered a tremendous complement to what we teach in the classroom,” said Cynthia Mayo, program director at Delaware State University. “The students were attentive to the presenters at all times and engaged them with substantive questions.”

The keynote speakers challenged the students to consider business ownership as a real option in their careers and to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge while in college to help prepare them for that opportunity.

Keynote speakers were Julie Coker, general manager, Hyatt Regency in Philadelphia; Xavier Teixido, owner, Harry's Savoy Grill and Harry's Seafood; Robert Steele III, immediate past chairperson, American Hotel & Lodging Association and general manager, Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, Fla.; and Henry Thomas, president, Victoria Hospitality Properties, and vice president, Hayon Group, Atlanta.

The summit included a workshop by Clinton Tymes, state director of UD's Small Business Development Center, on "The Basics of Business: Defining Entrepreneurship, Franchise vs. Independent, and Leadership in Business."

A panel discussion on the ingredients of business ownership included Jerry Sandman (PNC Bank), Jayne Armstrong (Small Business Administration), and Chipman Flowers (Flowers Council Group, LLC). A second panel featured current successful business owners, including Rita Mack (McDonald's franchisee), Tiffany Dyson (Bennett, Brooks, & Dyson, LLC), Van Wallace (Outback Steakhouse), and another panel consisted of franchisor representatives LaShawn Cartwright (Chick-fil-A), Dennis
Payne (McDonald's) and Michael Fruin (Marriott Towne Place Suites).