Kendall College Welcomes Sam Toia, President of the Illinois Restaurant Association, as 2015 Commencement Speaker
CHICAGO (PRWEB) June 19, 2015 -- Kendall College is proud to welcome Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA) President and CEO Sam Toia to its 2015 commencement ceremony, which will be held Saturday, June 20, 2015 at the Chicago Symphony Center at 10:00am. During the ceremony, Kendall College will honor students from around the globe who have earned associates and bachelor’s degrees from the Kendall College Schools of Culinary Arts, School of Hospitality Management, School of Business and School of Early Childhood Education. Toia, a long-time restaurateur and active leader in the thriving Chicago restaurant and hospitality industry, will address students on a range of topics including the importance of communication and grit in achieving success.
“We are honored to welcome Sam Toia as the 2015 Kendall College commencement speaker,” said Emily Williams Knight, president of Kendall College. “Throughout his career, Sam has demonstrated a high level of skill, passion and commitment to his work that closely aligns with the values our expert faculty teaches and models to our students each year. Given our leadership in preparing future leaders, it is fitting that a veteran of the culinary arts, hospitality and business industry helps us celebrate the outstanding academic achievements of our students.”
As President and CEO of the IRA, Toia leads the association in its representation of the largest private sector employer in the state of Illinois, accounting for more than 529,000 employees working in the restaurant industry. He is also a trustee of the IRA Educational Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting high school students who seek education in the field. Toia graduated from DePaul University, has a background in community and government relations and has served as a leader in many civic and public agencies.
“I’m proud to address the 2015 graduates of Kendall College,” said Toia. “Kendall College is training the next generation of culinary leaders, hospitality and business professionals, and educators right here in Chicago. I look forward to celebrating the incredible achievement Kendall’s graduating class on Saturday.”
For more information about Kendall College and its degree programs, visit http://www.kendall.edu.
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About Kendall College
Kendall College, founded in 1934 and located in Chicago, Illinois offers undergraduate degrees in business, culinary arts, early childhood education and hospitality management to a diverse and passionate community of more than 1,800 students. The curriculum combines strong academics with practical experience and international educational opportunities to give students in business, hospitality, culinary arts and education programs the skills and expertise to be leaders in their professions. Kendall College was ranked the No. 1 program in Chicago for preparing students for careers in hospitality management and culinary arts in a survey of hiring managers at Chicago’s leading hotels and Michelin Guide restaurants (TNS Global - 2013 Survey). Kendall College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. For more information, visit http://www.Kendall.edu.
Kendall College is part of the Laureate International Universities network—a global network of more than 80 campus-based and online universities in 29 countries. For more information, visit http://www.laureate.net.
Jacqueline Carey, Laureate International, http://www.kendall.edu, +1 312-752-2190, [email protected]
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