Jenn Bushby named Director of the Hospitality Institute of Ohio, Sonya Delaney promoted to Senior Manager of Workforce Programs & Operations

Jenn Bushby has been named Director of the Hospitality Institute of Ohio, the Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance (ORHA) workforce development foundation. Jenn began her ORHA career in the Membership Department before serving most recently as Senior Manager of Communications. As Director of Hospitality Ohio, Jenn will lead programs and initiatives that strengthen Ohio’s hospitality workforce by expanding career awareness, workforce education, industry training and employer engagement. Her leadership will help position Hospitality Ohio as the st...

Ohio ProStart and Ohio Hospitality CTSO 2026-2027 Calendars

Dates

2026

September 25 Teacher Institute

October 20 Ohio Hospitality CTSO Leadership Lab

October 27 Burger Battle, Creative Cakes, Mocktail Madness

2027

March 9 Ohio ProStart Invitational

Virtual events coming soon!

Final Reminders

Monthly updates will be coming throughout the summer. If you would like us to use a different email for summer communications, email Sonya - sdelaney@ohiorestaurant.org

Intent to compete forms are HERE. Any questions? Send them to Sonya (sdelaney@ohiorestaurant.org).

Rachael Ray Foundation ProStart Grow Grant application is coming in August!

Funding from Rachael Ray Foundation ProStart Grow Grant provides schools the...

May Office Hours

May Office Hours will be held Thursday, May 14 from 2:30-3:00. Please send Sonya (sdelaney@ohiorestaurant.org) your topics. Remember – CEUs are given for attendance.

Attention Educators

Intent to compete forms will be sent to all schools next week in the April recap. Be on the lookout for the email from Sonya (sdelaney@ohiorestaurant.org).

Honor Cords

If you need honor cords for your 2026 graduates, please reach out to Abby at adelriesgo@ohiorestaurant.org. They will be mailed to you. Please include your school’s graduation date in the email to ensure they arrive on time.

Teacher Institute - Friday, September 25

Mark your calendars – Teacher Institute is being he...

Teacher Institute - Friday, September 25

Mark your calendars – Teacher Institute is being held September 25 at Zink Foodservice in Columbus. Registration is open! Sign up HERE.

It’s COA Time!

We will accept COA paperwork through June 30.

TWO WEEKS before you test, please have your students log into their accounts to confirm they have access.

• If they have completed a level one exam, be sure they can see their results


• If your student has never tested, have them create an account. Use the directions found in the Educator Portal HERE


• If your student cannot access their account – send an email ASAP to info@oraef.org


• If you are a multiple educator school, send us the names and email addr...

It’s COA Time!

We will accept COA paperwork through June 30.

TWO WEEKS before you test, please have your students log into their accounts to confirm they have access.

• If they have completed a level one exam, be sure they can see their results


• If your student has never tested, have them create an account. Use the directions found in the Educator Portal HERE


• If your student cannot access their account – send an email ASAP to info@oraef.org


• If you are a multiple educator school, send us the names and email addresses of all the students that will be testing so that we can merge their accounts

If you still have questions reach out to info@oraef.org ASAP. COA'S MUST BE RECIEVED BEFORE JUNE 30...

Burger Battle Champions at the Ohio Beef Council

If you didn't see last week... A Message From Our Executive Director, Patty Halper

It has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve as the Hospitality Institute of Ohio/Ohio ProStart Executive Director. Working alongside such passionate and dedicated culinary educators has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Every day, you bring skill, heart, and purpose to your work by shaping you...

A Message From Our Executive Director, Patty Halper

It has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve as the Hospitality Institute of Ohio/Ohio ProStart Executive Director. Working alongside such passionate and dedicated culinary educators has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Every day, you bring skill, heart, and purpose to your work by shaping young lives and preparing them for meaningful careers in hospitality.

It is amazing how quickly twelve years have flown by. I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished together—from implementing Ohio ProStart exams in lieu of WebXams, to establishing Ohio Hospitality CTSO, to earning recognition as a Pre-App...