Being able to find the right person, at the right organization, at the right time, is a huge timesaver when it comes to workforce and training needs. Here, we've compiled resources throughout Virginia, organized by region, to help you find valuable connections. Explore our regions of interest below to find workforce connections in that area. Questions? Contact Jai Girard, Director of Education and Workforce Development.
Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) LaPearl Smith- Business Development Manager (540) 431-0538
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Marco Pineda- Registered Apprenticeship Consultant (540) 784-4438 Localities served: Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Clifton, Falls Church, Ft. Belvoir, Lorton, McLean, Mount Vernon, Springfield, Vienna & Woodbridge
Virginia Department of Veterans Services (703) 261-5802
Kitchen of Purpose Kitchen of Purpose offers the only bilingual culinary job training program in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. The program began as an organization focused on serving Hispanic immigrants, but has expanded their services to many other underserved populations as well. Training content is catered to what the food service industry requires, offering employers a workforce of employees with comprehensive culinary knowledge, industry certifications, and life and employment skills. In turn, clients have access to higher-skilled and better-paying jobs to provide a sustainable source of income for themselves and their families.
Together We Bake Together We Bake is a comprehensive workforce training and personal development program for underserved and underrepresented women. They help women gain self-confidence, transferable workforce skills, and invaluable hands-on experience, which will allow them to find employment and move toward self-sufficiency.
ProStart Schools Arlington has two high schools with culinary programs, Arlington Carer Center and Arlington Public Schools. In Alexandria, there are three high schools with culinary programs - T.C. Williams High School, Edison High School Academy, and Mount Vernon High School. Please contact Jai Girard to connect with your local teacher.
Bull Run
Prince William Workforce Center Angela Harris - Prince William Workforce Center Specialist (703) 586-6800
Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) LaPearl Smith - Business Development Manager (540) 431-0538
Virginia Department of Veterans Services (703) 261-5802
Stratford University (Woodbridge Campus) Chef Hugh Cossard - Associate Program Director (703) 897-1982, ext. 2458
ProStart Schools Prince William County Public Schools has two high schools with a culinary program, Patriot High School and Potomac High School. Please contact Jai Girard to connect with your local teacher.
Charlottesville
Piedmont Virginia Community College (434) 961-6534
Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Nate Mahanes - Business Development Manager (434) 515-0061
Virginia Department of Veterans Services Jasmine Gore - V3 Program Analyst Central Virginia Regional Program Manager (804) 482-8483
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Faith Clayton - Registered Apprenticeship Consultant
Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Christy Morris - Career Navigator (LifePath Program)
Culinary Concepts AB Antwon Brinson - Owner | President (434) 218-2637 Culinary Concepts AB focuses on soft skill development using collaborative learning and intrinsic motivation through the art of culinary. Each of their classes is designed to enhance emotional intelligence with an emphasis on station mastery and peer to peer leadership development. With each program, they strive to help their students increase communication, strengthen relationships, and understand the agility needed to grow with any team.
Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC Center) Contact Jai Girard to connect with the CATEC culinary teachers.
Coastal
Hampton Roads Workforce Council Christina Brooks - Senior Director, Youth Services and Special Projects (757) 373-8732
Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Melissa Edmonds - Business Development Manager (757) 358-2488
Virginia Department of Veterans Services Mark S. Buehlman - Virginia Values Veterans (V3)-Regional Program Manager (804) 297-5825
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Maynard Stowe - Apprenticeship Consultant (757) 455-0891, ext.149
Old Dominion University Lindsay Usher, Ph.D. - Associate Professor (757) 683-7056
ProStart Schools Norfolk Public Schools currently implements the ProStart program at two schools, the Norfolk Technical Center and Maury High School. Contact Jai Girard to connect with your local ProStart school.
Elite Culinary Staffing Chef Jermaine Boothe (757) 537-4728 Elite Culinary Staffing is a culinary recruiting, training, and consulting firm. At ECS, they pride themselves in employing qualified, well trained, and reliable culinary professionals. They focus their efforts to promote the success of their clients, by ensuring that they receive the best possible candidates.
Fairfax/Loudoun
Virginia Career Works – Loudoun Workforce Resource Center Michael Bozeth - Employer Services Coordinator (571) 246-7652 (Cell)
Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) LaPearl Smith - Business Development Manager (540) 431-0538
Virginia Department of Veterans Services (703) 261-5802
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Kenia Brooks - Registered Apprenticeship Consultant, Division of Registered Apprenticeship (703) 392-0900, ext. 131
Goodwill of Greater Washington Lisa Bauer - Director, Employment and Mission Partnerships (703) 376-4399
ProStart Schools Fairfax County and Loudoun County Public Schools both implement the ProStart Program. Fairfax County has ProStart teachers at Annandale High, Chantilly High School Academy, Edison High School Academy, Falls Church High, Marshall High School Academy, Mount Vernon High and South Lakes High. Loudoun County has a ProStart Teacher at The Academies of Loudoun. Contact Jai Girard to connect with your local ProStart school.
Richmond
Virginia Career Works - Capital Region Alice Bowyer - Employment & Training Specialist (804) 652-3238
HOPES Program Hannah Eller - OAR of Richmond, Case Manager, HOPES Program (804) 643-2746
Reynolds Community College Chef Jesse Miller - Program Head, Culinary Arts (804) 523-5070
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Diana Leyva - Apprenticeship Consultant (Apprentice) (804) 371-3104, ext. 119
Virginia Department of Veterans Services Jasmine Gore - V3 Program Analyst Central Virginia Regional Program Manager (804) 482-8483
ProStart School Richmond Technical Center currently implements the ProStart program in the Richmond Region. Contact Jai Girard to connect with a local teacher.
Culinary Coach Duane Brown - Owner Culinary Coach is a food service industry workforce solution serving the Richmond metro region. Culinary Coach provides short-term culinary training to prepare individuals for employment in food service operations. They provide intensive bootcamp classes for new food service workers, reentry employment training for formerly incarcerated, and custom staff training for operators that want to improve operational efficiency, boost staff morale and increase staff retention through professional development.
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry Travis Messick - Registered Apprenticeship Consultant (540) 248-9280, ext. 30
Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Nate Mahanes - Business Development Manager, Workforce Programs, Virginia Division of Rehabilitative Services (434) 515-0061
Dabney S. Lancaster Community College Chef Michael Lund - Culinary Arts Department Head
James Madison University Reg Foucar-Szocki - Internship Coordinator, Hart School
ProStart Schools There are a number of high schools in the Shenandoah Valley that implement the ProStart program. Contact Jai Girard to connect with your local teacher.
Roanoke / Blue Ridge
Virginia Career Works - Blue Ridge Region Morgan Romeo - Executive Director (540) 562-8442
Virginia Western Community College James J. Zeisler, Sr. - Program Head of Culinary Arts (540) 857-6331
Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) Beth Groff - Business Development Manager, Workforce Programs (804) 895-1696
Virginia Department of Veterans Services Meagan LoBuglio - V3 Program Regional Program Manager (Southwest Virginia) (540) 220-1091
ProStart Schools There are a number of high schools in the Roanoke Region and New River Valley that implement the ProStart program. Contact Jai Girard to connect with your local teacher.
