There are moments in life and business that remind you the long hours, hard work, and commitment to your industry truly matter. Being voted in as a Board Member of National Association of Hospitality Certification and Training, www.NAHCT.org, is one of those moments for me personally and professionally.
For many years, I have dedicated my work to advancing education, certification, and workforce development through EduClasses® and our family of programs, including FMC® Food Managers Certification, FHC® Food Handler Classes, SSC® Seller Server Classes, and FAC™ Food Allergens Classes. Throughout that journey, my goal has always remained the same — to help create practical, accessible, high-quality training solutions that genuinely support both businesses and the people working within the hospitality industry.
To now have the opportunity to serve on the NAHCT Board is something I deeply appreciate.
The hospitality industry continues to evolve rapidly. Food safety, responsible alcohol service, workforce education, compliance standards, technology integration, and training accessibility are more important today than ever before. Organizations like NAHCT play a critical role in helping shape conversations surrounding certification standards, professional development, and the future of hospitality education.
I believe strongly in collaboration within our industry. Some of the best progress happens when educators, operators, regulators, trainers, and certification leaders come together to share ideas and work toward common goals. I look forward to contributing to those conversations while helping support innovation, integrity, and practical solutions that benefit hospitality professionals nationwide.
This appointment is also a reflection of the incredible people who have supported me over the years - our EduClasses team, our Advisory Board members, our EduProctor®, affiliates, instructors, partners, health departments, culinary educators, restaurant operators, and the more than 1.5 million students who have trusted our programs.
I’m grateful for the confidence placed in me and excited for what lies ahead.
The future of hospitality education is bright, and I’m honored to help be part of that future through NAHCT.
- Tony Dean