FCSI EF UPDATE
Building tomorrow’s consultants
As FCSI celebrates 70 years of industry leadership, the FCSI Educational Foundation marks its own milestone of 30 years investing in the future of foodservice consulting, as Foundation president Kathleen Held outlines
W
hen FFES (Foodservice Facilities Equipment Society), what was to later become FCSI, was first
established in 1955, education was woven into its DNA. Te organization’s earliest initiatives included sponsoring specialized courses at Cornell University, taught by industry pioneers Earl Stevens and Ernie Bangs. By 1995, leadership formalized this educational mission by establishing the FCSI Educational Foundation. FCSI’s 70th anniversary represents more
than organizational longevity. It reflects a firm commitment to elevating our profession through education. Te Educational Foundation embodies everything our founders envisioned: creating pathways for knowledge sharing, professional development, and industry advancement. William Eaton FFCSI (PP), the
Foundation’s first president, articulated the vision: to create sustainable funding for scholarships, grants, and educational programs that would benefit not just FCSI members, but the entire industry. Tat vision has exceeded all expectations. Today’s Educational Foundation
operates two major programs serving a dual mission: to educate a new generation of consultants while educating clients on the importance of using FCSI consultants on their projects. Te FEED Workshop (Foodservice Essentials for Effective Design) has become the premier educational event for foodservice facility design
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professionals, serving architects to facility managers across healthcare, education, hospitality, and corporate dining sectors. Te partnership with Western Kentucky University launched the nation’s first Foodservice Design Certificate, providing structured pathways into the profession. One of our biggest challenges is
visibility. Most people don’t even know that foodservice consulting exists as a career path. Our programs solve two critical problems: they introduce talented individuals to our profession while providing consulting firms with better- prepared candidates.
LIFTING THE PROFESSION
Te Foundation’s fundraising success centers on the Golf Scramble and Crab Feast, an annual event that began in 1993 through the vision of Jo and John Birchfield Sr. Under Bob Jacobs’ leadership, this single event has generated more than $570,000 over three decades, with additional Foundation funding coming from FEED Workshop (approximately $100,000 in two years), other golf events, and individual donations. Te Golf Scramble and Crab Feast perfectly embodies FCSI’s motto: We Share. We Support. We Inspire. In 2025, the event will support the newly established Jo & John Birchfield Sr. Educational Scholarship. Perhaps the Foundation’s greatest
achievement is strengthening bonds within the foodservice consulting community.
FOR MORE GO TO
FCSI.ORG
Trough scholarship programs, mentorship opportunities, and educational events, we’ve created connections between seasoned professionals and emerging talent, fostering knowledge sharing and mutual support. When we invest in education, we’re
investing in the future of foodservice. Every scholarship recipient, every FEED Workshop graduate, every certificate program student becomes an ambassador for professional excellence, carrying forward the values that have defined FCSI for 70 years: integrity, innovation, and collaboration. Tis isn’t just about filling open
positions. We’re helping people discover a career they probably never knew existed, and giving them the tools to make a difference. Tey will design kitchens in hospitals, create dining experiences that bring college students together, or figure out how to feed thousands efficiently at airports and stadiums. Tat’s what’s kept us going strong for 70 years, and what gets me excited about the next 70.
The FCSI Educational Foundation continues accepting applications for scholarships and educational grants. For more information, visit
fcsief.org
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