The Hospitality and Lodging class at Questar III’s Rensselaer Educational Center seized the opportunity to utilize their banquet set-up skills by catering a networking meeting held at the Rensselaer Educational Center in April.
Hospitality and Lodging Students
The Adult Literacy program volunteered to host the Rensselaer County Interagency Networking meeting, which is held every other month at a different community location. Pamela Mertz, Questar III’s Adult Literacy Programs Facilitator volunteered to serve as host for the April meeting.
Mertz asked the Hospitality and Lodging class if they would be interested in providing refreshments and setting up the meeting room. The students jumped at the chance to practice their skills.
Student Matt Broncato, from Columbia High School, served as the Event Coordinator and organized his team to do everything one would expect when attending any professional meeting
Broncato interviewed Mertz, using an event questionnaire that the class drafted to ensure that client needs are met. Broncato then assigned duties to team members, and every aspect of the meeting was handled by the budding banquet managers.
Students greeted and welcomed guests as they arrived, gave directions to the meeting room, and checked on the needs of guests throughout the 2 hour meeting.
Students introduced themselves to meeting attendees before the networking meeting began, and were given a huge round of applause for the great work they did as a team.
Lisa Phegn, the Hospitality and Lodging Teacher at REC, said, “I couldn’t be prouder of the students. They took this event very seriously and attended to every last detail. It was a great practical experience, and Matt Broncato, the Event Coordinator, did an amazing job.”
