[Tallahassee, Fla] Last week, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) issued a statement clarifying that there are ‘no public health concerns’ in Walton or Okaloosa counties after a social media post claimed the waters off the Emerald Coast were the source of a bacterial infection. The post went viral and was shared more than 170,000 times, but the source of the post did not contact either of the counties or FDOH.
To help ensure the public has factual information, FDOH has distributed information about necrotizing fasciitis, the bacteria mentioned in the Facebook post.
Read the FDOH fact sheet here.
Visit HealthyOkaloosa.com and search “healthy beaches” to learn more about how Okaloosa County monitors water quality.
[Tampa, Fla] On August 1, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) Pinellas and Hillsborough chapters will host their 5th Annual Luncheon with the Chairman event at Bascom’s Chop House in Clearwater. Alan Palmieri, FRLA Chairman, Co-owner and Partner of Marlow’s Tavern, will host the luncheon and help celebrate the event’s special honorary guest, Joseph Kadow, Executive Vice President of Bloomin’ Brands and founding member of Outback Steakhouse.
“This annual luncheon is a wonderful afternoon of education and celebration,” says FRLA Pinellas and Hillsborough Chapter Regional Director, Dannette Lynch. “We are so excited to hear from Chairman Palmieri on the future of the restaurant industry and to celebrate the 25-year career of Joe Kadow. Joe has not only been an involved member of FRLA, but he has also served on the Board of Directors for the National Restaurant Association. His career in the restaurant industry with Bloomin’ Brands is exemplary, and we are honored to have him with us.”
The 5th Annual Luncheon with the Chairman meeting will also see FRLA Chairman Palmieri speak about his vision on the future of the restaurant industry which includes high retention, fully staffed businesses and fully trained and engaged staff to maximize success. Palmieri will also discuss the upcoming battle over minimum wage.
Tickets to the luncheon cost $25-35 and are available to purchase here.
For more information about the luncheon, contact FRLA Pinellas Chapter Regional Director, Dannette Lynch at 727-643-3404 or [email protected].
[Tampa, Fla] During the month of July, the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) will partake in their 2nd Annual Christmas in July food drive. Partnering with RCS, whose mission is to feed the hungry, help families facing homelessness return to self-sufficiency and empower survivors of domestic abuse, FRLA Pinellas members will be collecting donations at their businesses to help contribute food to area food banks and pantries facing shortages.
“The summertime is the most critical time for food banks in the United Sates,” explains Pinellas Chapter Regional Director, Dannette Lynch. “Children are home for the summer, increasing the need for more food. Because of the higher demand, food shortages occur and a direct need for more donations increases. Our Christmas in July event encourages our local members to help give back to those in need in our community.”
The FRLA members who participate will receive donation barrels to store their donations throughout the month of July. The Association is encouraging businesses and members to decorate and gift-wrap their donation barrels, similar to how you would a Christmas present. Internally, The Pinellas Chapter will be holding a contest for the most food collected by a business.
For more information on the Christmas in July food drive, contact FRLA Pinellas Chapter Regional Director, Dannette Lynch at 727-643-3404 or [email protected].
The proposed ballot initiative to raise Florida’s minimum wage to $15 an hour has a lot of feel-good appeal, but behind all the warm and fuzzies lie a plethora of unintended consequences. An increase like this would have disastrous impacts on businesses and individuals alike.
If passed, this amendment would result in a 77 percent increase in labor costs in six years. Additionally, the proposed ballot initiative does nothing to address Florida’s tip credit, which is frozen at $3.02. So, if this proposed amendment makes it onto the ballot and is passed by voters, tipped employees will earn a cash wage of $11.98 an hour. The simple truth is the majority of Florida’s businesses cannot afford that increase, and the hospitality industry is no different. Business owners will be forced to find solutions to control costs, and these solutions will have a direct impact on our state’s 1.4 million hospitality workers. The most obvious solutions include reducing the number of employees, reducing the number of hours remaining employees work and seeking labor alternatives like automation.
When business owners are forced to make these tough choices to keep their doors open, everyone is hurt. Entry-level and opportunity jobs become more difficult to find, and the path to the middle class narrows. The men and women of the hospitality industry are literally the face of Florida’s tourism industry, and they are the ones who create the memorable experiences that keep visitors coming back. It is imperative that we preserve their jobs and protect the opportunities afforded to those who ensure our state is warm and welcoming for our guests.
We are already seeing a move to automation in states that have drastically increased their minimum wage, so it is more critical than ever that we band together to protect Florida’s hospitality jobs. Now is the time to act. Talk with your employees, your neighbors and your elected officials to educate them about how a 77 percent increase will impact us all. While a $15 an hour minimum wage may sound appealing, it is certainly not good for the people.
-Statement from Carol B. Dover, CEO & President of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association
Today, representatives from the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) announced the addition of three news staff members in the Membership department. These new employees bring a wealth of expertise to the department and will ensure the continued growth of the division. Keri Burns will serve as Regional Director for the FRLA Central Florida Chapter, Ann Farran will serve as Administrative Assistant and Ashley Connell will be Director of Membership Marketing.
“I could not be more pleased with the new talent we are adding to the Membership team at FRLA,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the FRLA. “Their respective backgrounds and diverse experience will undoubtedly allow us to continue to serve our 10,000 members while simultaneously growing our chapters and events statewide.”
Burns will be based in Orlando and oversee all activities for the Central Florida Chapter. Before joining the FRLA team, she served as the Senior Vice President of Business Development at Ballantine Management Group (BMG) and the Entertainment Events Coordinator at Universal Studios Orlando. In addition to events experience, Burns also brings business development skills to the Association, having helped bring in new business for EDLEN Electrical Exhibition Services as well as BMG.
Farran most recently worked as a Marketing and Membership Industry Relations Coordinator at VISIT FLORIDA. In addition to working with VISIT FLORIDA partners across the state, Farran worked to capture and maintain data and provided customer service. As the Director of Marketing and Membership at Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, oversaw the organization’s membership and retention efforts and collaborated with Executive Director to save statewide programs.
Connell previously worked as an Assistant Media Buyer/Planner at VISIT FLORIDA, managing strategic digital and traditional ad buys to attract visitors to the Sunshine State. She brings extensive experience with contract negotiation and management to FRLA as a direct result of her work at VISIT FLORIDA. Prior to her work at VISIT FLORIDA, Connell served as an Account Executive at iHeart Media, developing relationships in order to effectively advise advertising clients.
[Washington, D.C.] On May 9 – 11, Florida ProStart teams competed in the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s (NRAEF) 18th Annual National ProStart Invitational held in Washington, D.C. This three-day event sees high school culinary students compete in both culinary arts and restaurant management competitions against students from across the United States. In the Culinary Competition, Leto High School from Tampa placed 5th. In the Restaurant Management Competition, East Ridge High School from Clermont placed 2nd.
“The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) is so proud of our Florida teams competing and placing in the National ProStart Competition,” says Laura Rumer, the Director of FRLAEF. “Throughout the school year, these students train and practice their respective crafts weekly. Getting the chance to compete and show off their skills on a National level is huge for them. All of the Florida teams were outstanding, and their work here is indicative of the bright future ahead for our state’s restaurant industry.”
For more information about Florida ProStart or FRLA’s Educational Foundation, contact Director Laura Rumer at [email protected]. For more information about the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, visit their website here.
[Tallahassee, Fla] Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nicole “Nikki” Fried has asked Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Senior Vice President of Education and Training Geoff Luebkemann to serve as an Industry Group-Retail representative for the Florida Food Safety and Food Defense Council.
“Since 2006, Geoff has guided FRLA’s statewide food safety training activity and has served in numerous state and national industry stakeholder groups,” remarks FRLA President and CEO Carol Dover. “He is the perfect representative for this council, and I look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership with Commissioner Fried as we work to ensure food safety and defense for the state of Florida.”
Starting with 15 years in food and beverage operations, Luebkemann worked for local independents and opened national full-service restaurants across the southeast. In the public sector, Luebkemann served as Director of DBPR’s Division of Hotels & Restaurants, the statewide food and lodging regulator. While there, he oversaw eight offices responsible for more than 85,000 licensees and hundreds of thousands of sanitation and safety inspections annually.
As created by section 5000.033, Florida Statutes, the Florida Food Safety and Food Defense Council serves as a forum for presenting, investigating and evaluating issues of current importance to the assurance of a safe and secure food supply for the citizens of Florida.
The Broward Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is hosting their 10th Annual Excellence in Education Gala Thursday, May 23, at the Marriott Harbor Beach Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. The event celebrates and awards Broward high schools with culinary programs, and the teachers who oversee these programs. The evening will also honor Jack Sieler, former Mayor of Fort Lauderdale, with the 2019 Industry Ambassador Award.
This Gala benefits the FRLA Education Fund, which provides scholarship opportunities, curriculums, textbooks, supplies and support to local high school students in the ProStart Culinary Program and the Hospitality & Tourism Management Program (HTMP). A portion of the night’s proceeds will benefit Broward County’s public high schools and approximately 7,000 Broward students who are pursuing careers in the hospitality industry.
Tickets for high school staff cost $49, and individual tickets cost $139. Both ticket options are still available and can be purchased here.
For more information, contact FRLA Broward Chapter Director, Rozeta Mahboubi at 954-270-5814 or [email protected].
[Tallahassee, Fla] Today, representatives from the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) announced the hire of Morgan Forsythe as IT Director and Ashley Gholston as Director of Industry Relations & Events.
“We are thrilled to welcome Morgan and Ashley to the FRLA family,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the FRLA. “Although they have very different skill sets, each is an expert in his or her respective area, and I have no doubt that they will bring incredible value to both our staff and our members.”
Forsythe graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Information Studies and is a Microsoft Systems Administrator. Most recently, he spent six years with Aegis Business Technologies as a Technical Services Consultant providing IT support, maintenance and planning services for private businesses and government agencies.
A graduate of North Florida Christian, Gholston studied hospitality, business and events at both the University of Central Florida and Florida State University. Since her return to Tallahassee after opening and managing restaurants for Darden, Gholston has specialized in events and fostering relationships between industry stakeholders.
[Tampa, Fla] The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce held their annual Tourism Luncheon on May 10, 2019, at the Tradewinds Island Grand Resort. At this luncheon, FRLA Regional Director Dannette Lynch was announced the 2019 Tourism Person of the Year.
Carol Dover, FRLA’s President and CEO remarks, “Everyone at FRLA is proud of Dannette and her accomplishments within the industry. She continues to make an impact in Pinellas County as Regional Director, and throughout the state of Florida.” Dover continues to say, “Dannette has dedicated 20+ years of experience and love into the Florida tourism and hospitality industry. She continues to be passionate and engaged in her work, as shows with this recognition.”
Dannette has worked with FRLA for 12 years, as the Southwest FL Regional Director and Director of Membership. Before joining FRLA’s staff, Dannette served as the Hospitality Education Director at the St. Petersburg and Clearwater Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for eight years. It was here she helped develop hospitality and training programs throughout Pinellas County.
