The Texas Restaurant Association and the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation are now preparing more than 25,000 students nationwide for careers in the culinary and restaurant management industry through the program ProStart.
Locally, schools are teaching the program to more than 700 students.
These high school juniors and seniors will be ready to begin their careers once they graduate. With all the local restaurants, both new and old, there more than enough jobs opportunities for these students to put their skills to work.
David Cea, board member of the Texas Restaurant Association and co-owner of Caprock Cafe and Orlando’s restaurants, says, “It is a long term solution to the number one problem that the hospitality industry in the United States has in the restaurant industry. There are not enough employees for all the restaurants being built currently.”
But, the ProStart program is designed to teach students the culinary and business management skills necessary to be hired.
Cea says college is not for everyone, but the students in ProStart are still on the right track.
“They’re not going to get hired for an entry-level position because they’ve already got skills, also, we want these kids to come work for us because we know that they’re more than likely serious about getting involved with this industry. They want to do this, it’s not just another job,” said Cea.
“The other thing cool about this program is that we’ve seen it dramatically increase graduation rates in high schools that have the program,” Cea says. “Sadly, a lot of the kids that get into the program, get into the program just because they’re hungry, but probably more than 50% of them stay in the program and actually start this as a career path.”
He says that was his career path as well, working for his father. “I started when I was 11 years old, working for my dad. Worked all the way through high school so it’s a great way to make a living,” Cea said.
