Hospitality Business Management Programs Prepare for the Future

Story by Sue McMurray

The WSU School of Hospitality Business Management (SHBM) offers three certificates and a new Institute for Senior Living to educate present and future business professionals. The certificates are noncredit bearing, and the flexible formats benefit those who don’t want to earn a degree or working professionals who want to move up or transfer to other industries. “Meeting people where they are is key in preparing for the future of business education,” says Nancy Swanger, SHBM director. “Certificates are one way we can adapt to accommodate the needs of learners and industry. The Institute for Senior Living will educate the next generation of senior living specialists and leaders needed to manage the estimated 75 million baby boomers who are winding down their careers and heading into the next phase of their lives.”

WINE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE

The wine business management certificate educates learners in key aspects of wine business planning, marketing, financial consideration, legal issues, and wine tourism management through six online modules. Students develop a wine or beverage-oriented business plan for each module. This program also applies to beverage businesses including beer, distilled beverages, ciders, and others. Two weekend learning experiences in Washington wine country are required.

Learn more at go.wsu.edu/wbmcertificate.

SENIOR LIVING MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE

The senior living management certificate offers seven online modules focusing on key areas of senior living including financial management, leadership, customer experience, industry history, philosophy, operations management, resident care and services, sales and marketing, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Course modules can be taken separately and in any order.

Learn more at go.wsu.edu/seniorlivingcertificate.

CULINARY CERTIFICATE

The culinary certificate is a joint offering between the WSU School of Hospitality Business Management and the nationally accredited American Culinary Federation Education Foundation. The certificate benefits professional culinarians, full-time WSU culinary or food and beverage-focused students, and professional chefs working toward certification. The program offers a one-year, 1,000-hour certification or a two-year, 4,000-hour certification taught by Carson College Executive Chef Jamie Callison CEC, AAC, and other guest chefs. Material is delivered online and face-to-face, with courses focusing on the foundation of cooking, modern cooking techniques, food and beverage industry-relevant skills, sanitation, management, and nutrition.

Learn more by contacting Chef Callison at jcallison@ wsu.edu.

Register at go.wsu.edu/culinarycertificate.

INSTITUTE FOR SENIOR LIVING

Recently, SHBM established the Institute for Senior Living to address the deficit of trained professionals needed to manage the exploding demand for senior housing. The institute will focus on three major initiatives designed to help build the future senior living workforce: academic programs, building industry partnerships, and research that improves senior living practices. A fundraising campaign is underway to name the institute in honor of the late Granger Cobb, one of the early pioneers on the project and industry legend.

To learn more, visit go.wsu.edu/slinstitute.