New York State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, talked hospitality when he recently met with seniors enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at the Hewes Educational Center.
Borrello told Career & Technical Education students the importance of working hard and staying committed in order to succeed in the industry. He said it’s not uncommon for chefs to now own their own restaurant, but doing so takes time and effort.
“It’s about starting off somewhere as a line cook and moving your way up while gaining experience,” Borrello said. “Being a business owner is a skill in of itself.”
He continued, “I bring this up because I don’t want you guys to leave this area. I want you to stay here. In this business, in this industry, what you’re learning to do, there is a lot of opportunity right here.”
Borrello broke down the restaurant industry, noting that there are “big chain” locations most people are familiar with, as well as small, family-owned operations. It was the latter he emphasized to Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES students.
“Most of them are run by people who started off doing what you are doing,” Borrello said. “They started working behind the line or starting off as a server.”
Borrello, who previously served as a Chautauqua County legislator and as county executive, is certainly no stranger to restaurants and small businesses. In his early 20s, he founded a company that supplied products to the hospitality industry. His family is also prominently in the restaurant business in Sunset Bay.
The state senator reminded students that their teacher, Chef Burke Lindquist, has owned and operated his own restaurants in Chautauqua County. He said Lindquist is proof that hard work can lead to success.
Lindquist told his class that “putting the time in the kitchen” can pay off down the road. “If you work hard and learn and put your nose to the grindstone, good things will happen to you,” he said.
After his talk, Borrello got a view of the Culinary Arts kitchen and was provided a full Thanksgiving meal prepared by students.
Afterward, Borrello toured the Health Careers, Information Technology/Computer Systems, and Cosmetology programs with Hewes Principal Paul Mihalko.
For more information about Career & Technical Education programs at E2CCB, visit e2ccb.org/programs/career-technical-education/.
