Webinar: Fueling the Future of Work - Building Career Pathways in the Restaurant Industry
2025-09-03 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Fueling the Future of Work: Building Career Pathways in the Restaurant Industry
Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 2:00pm ET – Register Now
The restaurant industry operates in every community in America, employing more than 15.7 million people as the nation’s second-largest private sector employer. Join this webinar to learn about the career pathways generated by this powerful industry and leave with an overview of how the Foundation’s new RestaurantsWork tool can help individuals explore and interact with the myriad opportunities available in every community in America.
In honor of Workforce Development Month, the Foundation is presenting this free, four-part webinar series designed to address the evolving needs of the restaurant and hospitality workforce. Each session brings together industry leaders, workforce experts, and changemakers to explore strategies that empower workers, close skills gaps, and drive long-term career success. Whether you’re an operator, workforce partner, educator, or jobseeker advocate, these sessions will equip you with strategies to attract, develop, and retain the next generation of industry talent.

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Webinar: Fueling the Future of Work - Shaping the Restaurant Workforce Through Cultural Intelligence and Second Chances
2025-09-10 14:00 - 15:00
Fueling the Future of Work: Shaping the Restaurant Workforce Through Cultural Intelligence and Second Chances
Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 2:00pm ET – Register Now
Restaurants reflect incredible variety – from the guests they serve, to the flavors and menus they create, to the backgrounds and experiences of the people they employ. Join this webinar to explore the intersection of cultural intelligence and second-chance hiring. Learn how Foundation programs like Restaurant Ready and HOPES are leaning into the unique strengths of individuals with justice involvement to enhance and build the restaurant workforce. You’ll leave with an understanding of MFHA’s work to build cultural intelligence in the industry as well as the tangible ways Foundation programs are bringing this concept to life.
In honor of Workforce Development Month, the Foundation is presenting this free, four-part webinar series designed to address the evolving needs of the restaurant and hospitality workforce. Each session brings together industry leaders, workforce experts, and changemakers to explore strategies that empower workers, close skills gaps, and drive long-term career success. Whether you’re an operator, workforce partner, educator, or jobseeker advocate, these sessions will equip you with strategies to attract, develop, and retain the next generation of industry talent.

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2025 Restaurants Advance Leadership Awards Ceremony Livestream
2025-09-16 19:00 - 21:00
Watch the 2025 Restaurants Advance Leaderships Awards Ceremony LivestreamTuesday, September 16, 7:00pm ET
This year, for the first time, we will be airing a livestream broadcast of the awards ceremony as we announce the 2025 winners and hear their remarks.
Presented during the National Restaurant Association Fall Board Meetings, the Restaurants Advance Leadership Awards are awarded to individuals for the Inclusion Innovator Award, the Community Champion Award, the My Journey Award, and the Ambassador of Hospitality Award. The Foundation designates a special $2,500 scholarship to be awarded to a future restaurant leader in each winner’s name.

WATCH THE LIVESTREAM

Webinar: Fueling the Future of Work - Fostering Future-Ready Leaders Through Training and Upskilling
2025-09-17 14:00 - 15:00
Fueling the Future of Work: Fostering Future-Ready Leaders Through Training and Upskilling
Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 2:00pm ET – Register Now
Training and upskilling are at the heart of restaurant workforce development, ensuring that individuals have both the knowledge and hands-on experience to embark and advance through an industry career. This webinar will explore the intersection of the ProStart experience – supported through initiatives like JumpStart and Rachael Ray ProStart Grow Grants – with career building pathways like apprenticeship and post-secondary scholarships. You’ll walk away with a fresh look at how the Foundation is investing in young futures to build future ready leaders.
In honor of Workforce Development Month, the Foundation is presenting this free, four-part webinar series designed to address the evolving needs of the restaurant and hospitality workforce. Each session brings together industry leaders, workforce experts, and changemakers to explore strategies that empower workers, close skills gaps, and drive long-term career success. Whether you’re an operator, workforce partner, educator, or jobseeker advocate, these sessions will equip you with strategies to attract, develop, and retain the next generation of industry talent.

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Webinar: Fueling the Future of Work - Building a Future-Ready Workforce Through Policy, Partnership, and Practice
2025-10-01 11:00 - 12:00
Fueling the Future of Work: Building a Future-Ready Workforce Through Policy, Partnership, and Practice
Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 11:00 am ET – Register Now
In the final session of the series, we’ll explore how operators can leverage public-private resources and partnerships to build their own future-ready teams and drive workforce impact in their communities. Learn from Foundation and Association stakeholders why a public-private partnership is essential for initiatives like apprenticeship to succeed in building a long-term talent pipeline. Finally, operators will gain insight into other resources, including available tax incentives through tip and overtime exemptions, child-care credits, and paid leave support to strengthen their teams for the long haul.
In honor of Workforce Development Month, the Foundation is presenting this free, four-part webinar series designed to address the evolving needs of the restaurant and hospitality workforce. Each session brings together industry leaders, workforce experts, and changemakers to explore strategies that empower workers, close skills gaps, and drive long-term career success. Whether you’re an operator, workforce partner, educator, or jobseeker advocate, these sessions will equip you with strategies to attract, develop, and retain the next generation of industry talent.

REGISTER NOW

ProStart® Leadership Forum
2025-10-05 - 2025-10-08 | Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot, 225 3rd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, 55401
ProStart® Leadership Forum 2025
Minneapolis, Minnesota

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For more information, please contact prostart@nraef.org.

MFHA Roundtable: Connecting Customers, Communities, and Culture
2025-11-05 17:30 - 2025-11-06 16:30
MFHA Roundtable: Connecting Customers, Communities, and Culture
November 5-6, 2025The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, GA
In the restaurant and hospitality industry, impact goes beyond great service—it’s about aligning brand purpose with customer engagement and community outreach. This session explores how cultural intelligence can expand your business’s influence by fostering authentic connections with guests and the communities you serve. Learn strategies to integrate cultural awareness into your brand, build loyalty, and create meaningful, purpose-driven outreach initiatives.

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MFHA’s Roundtables explore how cultural intelligence can build more collaborative teams, enhance communication, and build future-ready leadership. Honing these skills makes individuals invaluable contributors in any professional setting and empowers organizations to build strategies that adapt, endure, and thrive. Designed for diverse industry stakeholders, you’ll receive actionable insight and practical tools that drive organizational growth and fuel success.

Webinar: Cultivating Opportunity: Foundation Scholarship Recipients Leading the Future of the Restaurant & Hospitality Industry
2026-02-26 14:00 - 15:00
Cultivating Opportunity: Foundation Scholarship Recipients Leading the Future of the Restaurant & Hospitality Industry
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 2:00pm ET – Register Now
The skills gap is widening in the United States and industries must evolve to meet the shifting needs and expectations of their customers. With over 70 different career pathways, we believe opportunity thrives in the restaurant and hospitality industry. From viticulture to pastry, we are investing in future of our industry through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s Scholarships program.
Hear how some of our most distinguished Scholarship recipients have leveraged the Foundation’s investment into their post-secondary education to maximize their potential. You will walk away with insights into how they’re transforming the future of our industry- and making it easier for you to find your organization’s next rising star.

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Ted J. Balestreri Leadership Classic 2026
2026-03-04 - 2026-03-07 | The Inn at Spanish Bay, 2700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach, CA, 93953, United States
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA
March 4–7, 2026

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National ProStart Invitational 2026
2026-04-24 - 2026-04-26 | Marriott Baltimore Waterfront, 700 Aliceanna Street, Baltimore, MD, 21202, United States
National ProStart Invitational 2026
April 24–26, 2026

View the main NPSI page

Register to Attend

Military Foodservice Awards & Training 2026
2026-05-15 - 2026-05-17 | Palmer House Hilton, Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL, United States
Military Foodservice Awards & Training
May 15-17, 2026

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Learn more and watch the Livestream

National Restaurant Association Show 2026
2026-05-16 - 2026-05-19 | McCormick Place, Chicago, IL, United States
National Restaurant Association Show
McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
May 16-19, 2026Chicago, Illinois

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Educational Foundation Activities at and around the National Restaurant Association Show
Each year, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation hosts and participates in a variety of special events associated or concurrent with the National Restaurant Association Show. When available, we will publish a list that includes highlights of our activity for the 2026 Show. If you have any questions, please fee free to contact us at partnerships@nraef.org.
