Jeanne Simkins Hollis, Esq., Co-Founder, Poitier Global Training Institute; Chris Koetke, Vice President of the School of Culinary Arts of Kendall College; Dr. Pandora Johnson, Interim Vice President, Academic Affairs; Dr. Sophia Rolle, Interim Executive Director CHMI; Pam Poitier, Co-Founder, Poitier Global Training Institute and Milton Newbold, C.V. Bethel High School and Kendall College alumnus.

The College of The Bahamas Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute and Kendall College Bridge Certificate Programmes are, according to a Kendall College executive, “a great way” to explore the hospitality and culinary arts industries, either as preparation for entry-level into the industries, or as the beginning of a career, with a path ending in an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree. Chef Koetke CEC CCE HAAC of Kendall College spoke at a recent Town Hall Informational Meeting hosted by The College at Choices Restaurant, moderated by CHMI Interim Executive Director Dr. Sophia Rolle.

“I am so excited about the possibility of offering these kinds programmes to The Bahamas and to The College of The Bahamas and our future students,” expressed Dr. Rolle during her official welcome.

Chris Koetke, Vice President of the School of Culinary Arts of Kendall College, told the students in the room it was “critical” for their futures that they embraced “internationality.”

“The hospitality and culinary industries are growing globally. The statistics are impressive how much money that represents globally, so the opportunities for you to contribute in this country are enormous.

“And, oh by the way, the opportunities for you to move around the world are equally enormous. The day and age where you grew up in one little part of the world and you stayed in that little part and that’s where you grew old and died, that’s coming to a close really fast,” he said.

Koetke said that greater levels of education correspond to greater personal income moving forward. “It’s what we always call the life investment,” he said.

Pamela Poitier of the Poitier Global Training Institute spoke to the attendees about Bahamian customer service, asserting that unless and until the students learn and return to the authenticity of Bahamian hospitality, greatness would elude them.

“The Bahamas is one of the most incredible, powerful, important places on the planet. From space we can see how beautiful The Bahamas is. But beyond that, we’re also very valuable: we’re valuable in our history, and it’s so important for us to know what our history is, because that’s what we’re selling.

“We’re selling our culture, and we’re selling our history,” Poitier said. “As Bahamians we have always been hospitable. We have always been open and loving, and we have always been children of God. So until we recognize how powerful we are, and how valuable we are as individuals and as a country, we’re not going to be able to rise to the levels that I know we can,” she said. “The world wants to come here.”

Dr. Pandora Johnson, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs, spoke to the capacity of the institution to influence national development.

“As we prepare our students to participate fully in the social, cultural, political, economic and spiritual life of their communities and indeed the wider world, we at The College will continue to embrace partnerships, both nationally and internationally, with other institutions and community groups. The partnership with Kendall College fits into this framework.”

The College of The Bahamas (COB) has established a partnership with Kendall College to become an official affiliate institution of Kendall College’s School of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts.

Through this relationship, Kendall College brings the extensive expertise of its faculty and quality of its world-class curriculum to enhance the Skills Bride Programmes, Associate and Bachelor’s Degree offerings at the soon to be University of The Bahamas. Through the professional development of The College’s faculty, inclusion of Kendall courses in COB curriculum, and further opportunities for students to complete their studies at Kendall’s Chicago campus, graduates of COB will be prepared for successful careers in hospitality, The Bahamas' number one industry.

The Bridge Certificate will provide the student with enough information to “jump start” their career in the hospitality and tourism industries, as well as seamless entry into any one of the Degree Programmes in the Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute at COB.

Students completing high schools throughout the country can apply for the Bridge Certificate, as well as any person who is presently working in or intending to pursue a career in hotels, restaurants, retail, outlets and all Family Island Small and medium sized properties. Registration deadline for the first cohort is April 15th. For more information, contact the Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute at 677-3218.

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