Students Cook Like Superstars Thanks to Wolfgang Puck Worldwide

East Carolina University Hospitality Management

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. November 30, 2009

GREENVILE, NC, November 24, 2009 - Although great cookware doesn't ensure great cooking, it sure helps! Working with state-of-the-art facilities and cookware creates a professional atmosphere for students in the Department of Hospitality Management at East Carolina University. Wolfgang Puck Worldwide (WPW), Inc. recently contributed to that atmosphere by donating nearly 300 pieces of its professional grade cookware to the hospitality management program.

The wide assortment of cookware will be used in the department's new state-of-the-art kitchen laboratory to enhance the educational experience of students preparing for careers in lodging, food and beverage, and convention and event planning. Professor Robert O'Halloran, department chair, said, “The donation of these items will assist students in their management of culinary experiences by blending the business of hospitality with knowledge of food preparation and presentation.”

Jacqui De Chabert-Rios, visiting assistant professor of hospitality management, who oversees several of the food laboratory courses said, “Wolfgang Puck has had a long commitment to the hospitality industry as both a restaurateur and culinarian. He has created three highly successful business enterprises within the industry. Mr. Joe Essa, managing partner and president of Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Inc. and advisory board member for our department, was the catalyst for this gift. We are so grateful to Joe and WPW for their donation and excited to have this high quality cookware in the labs. Having the best tools for our students will provide an even higher quality educational experience.

James Chandler, associate professor of hospitality management, worked closely with WPW to facilitate the gift. Chandler added, “We are more than grateful to Wolfgang Puck Worldwide for the generous donation. WPW has been an advocate of higher education for hospitality industry professional business managers, and this gift is further evidence of that commitment. We in the Department of Hospitality Management at ECU are honored to share the vision of Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, and we accept the challenge to change our world, one community at a time, through economic development. Tomorrow starts here.”

Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Inc. Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Inc. (WPW) is the franchising and licensing business controlled by celebrated culinary giant Wolfgang Puck. The company operates and franchises about 80 Wolfgang Puck Express fast-casual dining spots found primarily in airports, malls, and other high-traffic areas. In addition to eateries, WPW licenses the Wolfgang Puck name for a variety of consumer products, including kitchen wares, cookbooks, and food products. For more on WPW, visit www.wolfgangpuck.com.

About Hospitality Management at East Carolina University The Department of Hospitality Management is within the College of Human Ecology at East Carolina University. The department offers the largest hospitality management program in North Carolina. Talented students can complete a combined BS in hospitality management and MBA with the hospitality management option in only five years, an opportunity unique in the state and the Southeast. For more information on the department, visit www.ecu.edu/che/hmgt.

The College of Human Ecology educates professionals who enhance the well-being of people and communities. For more information on the College of Human Ecology at East Carolina University, visit www.ecu.edu/che.

Academic Contact: Robert O'Halloran, PhD, chair Department of Hospitality Management East Carolina University Ph. 252-737-1604 [email protected]

Media Contact: Peggy Novotny College of Human Ecology East Carolina University Ph. 252-328-2882 [email protected]