PRLA Restaurant & Lodging Matters Fall 2019

6  • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters • Fall 2019 Jim Fris CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE IT’S BEEN A PRIVILEGE to serve you as the PRLA 2019 chairman. For my last Chairman’s Message, I wanted to circle back to my first one that outlined my key areas of focus and provide you with an update on our accomplishments this year. Expand our Footprint in Philadelphia Ben and Amy have made significant progress in engaging the hospitality industry in Philadelphia through new member sales, improved chapter meeting programming, and several new initiatives and partnerships. Chapter meeting attendance has increased in 2019, resulting in identifying new prospects and new members. Since starting this initiative, we’ve added nearly 200 new locations in Eastern Pennsylvania, with 82 of those in Center City Philadelphia, as members and have aggressive sales goals to keep it moving forward in the future. We launched two new initiatives this fall that raise PRLA’s profile as an industry leader and collaborator. First, we established a roundtable of community- based organizations with representatives from our industry to discuss areas where our sectors can partner to overcome workforce challenges. The other is a professional lunch series for Philadelphia high school students to gain life skills while learning about the opportunities available through the hospitality industry. Be at the Table In 2018, we established the legislative roundtable program as a way for our members to develop relationships with their elected officials in a more meaningful way than a 15-minute meeting at the Capitol during Legislative Day. In 2019, we committed to enhance this program, hosting nine local events across the state. These meetings allowed our members to have meaningful conversations with their state representatives and senators on the issues that impact their businesses and employees. Nearly 200 members attended a roundtable and 54 legislative offices were represented. These relationships are critical to our advocacy efforts in Harrisburg. Youth & Mentoring Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. ProStart continues to grow in Pennsylvania. This school year we have 24 schools and more than 700 students participating in the program in our state. More than 140,000 high school students participate in ProStart across the country. ProStart is vitally important to our industry as we search to fill open positions with qualified candidates. It teaches high school students culinary skills and restaurant management principles, as well as employability skills such as communication, teamwork, professionalism, and time management. This year, our Educational Foundation awarded the most scholarship money in the program’s history: $40,550 to 26 students. As I reflect on what we’ve accomplished in 2019, I’m pleased to say we’ve done so while remaining financially sound and fiscally responsible. I’m proud to turn the reigns to 2020 officers and look forward to watching them lead the organization. Fly Eagles Fly! Go Flyers! Shout-out to all my friends in the western part of the state! • “As I reflect on what we’ve accomplished in 2019, I’m pleased to say we’ve done so while remaining financially sound and fiscally responsible.”