ManageFirst graduates to travel to Italy in 2009

Center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Virginia announces plans to offer "ManageFirst Program" in Spring 2009. According to the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation "The future of our industry lies in the hands of tomorrow's managers". "That's why the NRAEF developed the "NRAEF ManageFirst Program".



"The ManageFirst Program includes a set of competency guides, exams instructor resources, certificates, a new credential, and support activities and services. By participating in the program, you are demonstrating your commitment to becoming a highly qualified professional either preparing to begin or to advance your career in the restaurant, hospitality, and food service industry".

The competency guides cover a broad range of topics ; Hospitality and Restaurant Management, Controlling Foodservice Costs, Human Resources Management and Supervision, ServSafe@FoodSafety ,Managerial Accounting, Customer Service, Food Production, and more. "To earn the NRAEF's new credential, you will be required to pass four core exams and one foundation exam(to be chosen from the remaining program topics) and to document your work experience in the restaurant and food service industry".

Chef Brown plans to begin offering the "ManageFirst" courses in the spring of 2009,as a consultant. He would like to offer them at the local Community College where the students can then qualify for scholarships form the "National Restaurant Association Solutions, LLC". Chef Brown says, "I plan to travel to Italy in 2009, and I will have a drawing to take one or two of my ServSafe Certification Graduates with me".

Chef Brown will have a drawing at the end of 2008 to determine who that will be. You must also sign-up for at least one ManageFirst class, or indicate your intent to do so (by advance payment), prior to the end of 2008. You should also indicate the location where you prefer taking the class, Charlottesville, Culpeper, or Fredericksburg, VA. You can find out more about the NRAEF ManageFirst Program at http://www.servsafe.com/ .

RBC Institute at Locust Grove, VA

From the Center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Virginia, thanks to our partners at Locust Grove, VA. We are blessed by the constant prayers and support of the Higher Praise Church. The Higher Praise Church has services every Sunday at noon. The Pastor & Founder, the Reverend Catherine Parker and her husband have been priceless.



We also hosted the Network (www.networkva.org) May 2008 Executive Board meeting , the youth really enjoyed being there. RBC Institute at Locust Grove hopes to grow into an effective partner in strengthening families in that community.

Special thanks to Mr & Mrs Kenny Dotson, Owners of the Locust Grove Towne Centre. Also, when you are in the area, stop by Robinson's Tavern for some great food & fun. John, the Owner and his Chef took the ServSafe Class with Chef Brown at the new Germanna Community College Campus in Culpeper, VA.

Community Builders Network of VA / 5th Annual Conference

The Center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Virginia is happy to report that the Community Builders Network of Virginia (www.networkva.org), will be hosting its 5th Annual Conference at the Omni Hotel in Richmond, VA. The Network is composed of non profit organizations, community coalitions, and faith-based groups committed to prevention through Youth and Adult Partnership. There are five regions in the State of Virginia, Rev Brown is Regional Representative for Region One(www.regionone.wordpress.com) . "Save the date", the conference will be held August 21-23, scholarships are available for youth and adult attendance. The application can be found at the website, plan to be there "for the kids sake".

The Millennium Conference Centre/ ServSafe Class

Chef Ralph Brown, Sr will be traveling to Johnson City, Tenn next month to teach ServSafe Manager Certification at the Millennium Conference Centre (www.millctr.com) . This will be the first class Chef Brown has taught out side of the State of Virginia, but not the first major hotel conference center. In 2003 Chef Brown had the privilege of certifying employees at the Richmond Marriott West(www.Marriott.com) in Richmond, Va.

That same year he also certified employees at the local Glenmore Country Club(www.glenmore.com), in Keswick, VA, as well as the both Residence Inns by Marriott(www.ResidenceInn.com) in Richmond. He has certified employees of the Courtyard by Marriott (www.couryard.com) Brand in Charlottesville, Roanoke, Richmond and Petersburg, VA.

Special thanks to Mr Terry Woodard, General Manager of the Millennium Conference Centre for the invitation. Mr Woodard and Chef Brown worked together here in Charlottesville at the DoubleTree Hotel((www.doubletree.com) in the year 2000.

Outstanding work and commitment to excellence

From the Center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Virginia. We wish the very best to our former intern Savithri Lankatilleke. Savi can best be described as an outstanding worker with an absolute commitment to excellence. As a PVCC Intern /Spring 2005, she was one of our first and best student intern.

In her own words "Upon my arrival in the United States, I was determined to enhance my career growth as well as my personal and professional development. Although I had previous work experience and practical knowledge in the administrative field. I felt the need to continue to upgrade my educational opportunities. Even though I was an adult, I was ready to go back to school, and apply that knowledge in some work environment."

"As a foreign student , I was told that I would have difficulty getting into an American College. I needed certain academic qualifications to be accepted to Piedmont Virginia Community College, and to obtain a student visa" I started my internship with RBC Institute in the spring semester of 2005. I immediately learned the difference between being a student and being in the work place as an Administrative Assistant. I discovered that no two days were alike. My main task was to provide assistance to Chef Ralph Brown who is the President, in all aspects of the organization.

Through Dash Sevenatha, I organized fundraising activities for Tsunami Rehabilitation and Rebuilding Project in Sri Lanka. Being a citizen of Sri Lanka, I felt that I owe it to my country and to its people, to take the tsunami disaster as a opportunity to use my skills to support the victims and the survivors of this horrifying tragedy.Savi has now graduated from PVCC, and she now lives in England. Special thanks to Savithri, wishing you the very best, because you gave us and your people your very best.

Event: ServSafe Classes June-July 2008

The next scheduled ServSafe Manager Certification Classes are June 25 & 27, 2008, 8AM -5PM. All classes in Charlottesville are held at the VOP Building located at 703 Concord Ave, from 8AM to 5PM. The public is cordially invited to attend, call Chef Brown at 434-806-9762. There are also classes scheduled for July 9 & 29 for Charlottesville, and July 15, 2008 at the RBC Institute, 32345 Constitution Highway, Locust Grove, VA.

ServSafe@ Manager Certification Class Graduates May-Jun 2008

The Center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Virginia congratulates recent graduates of Chef Brown's ServSafe Manager Certification Class@. Robert Sawrey, GM, and Chef Gary Glaser, the Downtown Grille (http://www.downtowngrille.com/), Charlottesville, VA; Ariel Smith, Olde Virginia Catering, Fredericksburg,VA; Melody Jo Schaffer, Food Supervisor, Girl Scout Council of the Nations Capital (http://www.gscnc.org/), Washington, DC; Catina S. Meadows,Owner, Chef Around Town, Leesburg,VA; Luis Larios, Kitchen Manager,Houlihans, Scott Geter,A.K.M, Houlihans, and Mr David Welliver, General Manager, Crowe Plaza Dulles Airport (http://www.cpdulles.com/).

Special recognizion to Ms Schaffer who speaks both Chinese and Spanish, for taking this course to protect and serve the Girl Scouts of America. All of the ServSafe graduates will be eligible for our drawing for a free trip to Italy by years end. Best wishes to everyone, keep up the good work.

Charlottesville Sister City Commission

From the Center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Virginia. Congratulations to Rev. Ralph Brown, Sr for his appointment June 2, 2008 by the Charlottesville City Council to the Charlottesville Sister City Commission(http://www.charlottesville.org/) . Rev Brown's brother Nehemiah Brown lives in Florence, Italy and runs the Florence Gospel Choir School. Nehemiah speaks fluent Italian, and they hope to collaborate with students through an Exchange program.