NPSI 2025 Volunteer Resources

For Team Ambassadors

Thank you for being a team ambassador at this year’s National ProStart Invitational. Team Ambassadors are integral to the management of NPSI – without you, we would not be able to host the competition. As a Team Ambassador, you have been assigned to teams based on your interest, connection to the industry and availability during competition times. Your designated teams, schedules and duties are based on you competition assignment.

Reminders

As team ambassadors, a few of your responsibilities include

• Greeting teams
• Escorting teams throughout the competition space(s)
• Serving as official team timer (culinary only)
• Cheering on the team
• Presenting a positive image of the hospitality industry

Guidelines

• Ambassadors should not have their phones out while on the competition floor.
• Ambassadors should take care of any personal affairs before they meet their teams (ie. phone calls, bio breaks, etc.) Once they meet their team, they will not be able to leave the floor. Should an emergency arise, please consult with a lead judge or member of the event team.
• As time allows during the introductions or after their official competition time is complete, get to know your team and you may share some information about your journey in industry, career pathways and future opportunities in industry, and use the information you learn about them to provide some tips and tricks that might help them in the future (ie. schools with programs, majors or alternative programs they may pursue, guidance on finding mentors, etc.).
• Appropriate interactions:
  • Sharing stories and advice about pathways and opportunities in the industry
  • Encourage students throughout competition
  • Help ease nervous members with encouragement and advice for settling nerves before they go onto the floor
  • Positive reinforcement of their performance throughout competition
• Inappropriate interactions:
  • Providing feedback on their proposals or negative feedback about their performance throughout competition
  • This should go without saying but:
    • No physical contact
    • No profanity, suggestive language, negative feedback, or discouraging comments
    • No assistance with set up of materials for competition
  • Do not make the conversation just about you. Try to make a connection with the team and share accordingly.
  • Be respectful of judge interactions and feedback; do not provide additional commentary of judge engagement.

Team Ambassadors may communicate openly with teams ONLY during these times:

• Culinary
  • Report to Competition time
  • While they are in the holding area before going onto the competition floor
  • When they are released from competition after the dishwashing segment
  • Encourage audience participation, but do not have conversations with specific audience members
• Management
  • Report to Competition time before they begin booth set up (probably introductions only)
  • During their break while waiting to be escorted to feedback rooms
  • When they are released from competition after feedback
  • Encourage audience participation, but do not have conversations with specific audience members

Teams are not permitted to communicate with anyone outside of you and each other once they Report to Competition. During that time, you are not permitted to communicate with the following third parties (ie., state coordinators, educators, or team mentors). You are permitted to communicate with judges and NRAEF staff referenced above. You may communicate with third parties before and after competition ONLY.

Competition Responsibilities

Culinary:

• Review Culinary Timer Sheets
• Confirm you have the appropriate timer sheet for your team
• Ambassadors should plan to record actual times for each segment of competition, and record any overtime (overall competition)
• Input initials at the bottom of the sheet
• Ambassadors should provide regular updates on the team’s time according to the segments (refer to the 2025 Culinary Timer Responsibilities document)
  • The timer should announce the start of each competition segment i.e. Mise en place begins now, etc.
  • The timer should announce the time according to the increments listed during production time
  • The timer can provide time updates as requested by the team
• Ambassadors cannot provide any additional conversation or answer questions besides time related questions. Any other questions must be directed to a lead judge or member of the event staff. Ambassadors may connect with a floor judge or event staff on the team’s behalf.
• Ambassadors should confirm their official times with one of the lead timers before they leave the competition floor – lead timers will check in with you on official times before teams leave the floor for the dishwashing segment.
• Ambassadors will be released when they return their complete timer sheet back to the Ambassador Lounge in Kent A (4th floor) or Waterview Ballroom (Lobby Level) depending where their team dismisses from.
• Ambassadors will use the clocks on the floor to record official times down to the seconds.
  • You may use your phones as a countdown clock for each segment to inform teams how much time is left at any given time, but use the wall clocks to record the official start and end times (ie. start a 20 minute timer for mise en place to provide updates to the team).

Management:

• Review Management break times before escorting teams to feedback
• Ambassadors should pick up a set of headphones before going to their assigned booth
• For teams who report to feedback immediately after the 5-minute break, Ambassadors may provide positive feedback before escorting them to the feedback rooms. Any other communication should wait until after they are dismissed from competition. IF the team is willing, they may provide additional industry insights and info when the team is dismissed from competition.
• For teams who have 10 minutes or more between end of presentation and escort to feedback, they may provide positive feedback and industry insights and information while they wait. Any other communication should wait until after they are dismissed from competition. IF the team is willing, they may provide additional industry insights and info when the team is dismissed from competition.
• There will be a reserved seat at each booth labelled Team Ambassador where you will stay throughout your two rounds. Confirm you know what states will be at your booth for both rounds.
• Ambassadors will have a break in between heats (15 minutes). They may use this time to use the restroom but should return to the competition floor immediately.
• Ambassadors should check in with the event team to be dismissed from competition

Team Ambassadors Schedules

• Management Team Ambassador Schedule
• Culinary Team Ambassador Schedule

Staff Roles

• Awards Dinner Registration
• Awards Dinner Table Checking
• Career Expo
• Champions Escort
• Culinary Badge Monitor
• Culinary Product Check In ***
• Directional Staff **
• Management & Culinary Competition Check-In
• People Mover – Opening Ceremony
• People Mover – Champions Night Out
• Report to Competition Floater
• Registration
• Team Ambassador Support
• Winners Circle/Champions Escort

** Denotes a role that will require standing for extended periods of time
*** Indicates a role that may require bending, moderate lifting and travelling between rooms/floors.

Event Safety & Preparedness