September 17
“MFHA” created by an industry group to promote opportunities for people of color
MFHA 25th Anniversary Celebration
September 17, 2021 to March 31, 2022
[confetti]
1996 to Present:
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS!
1996 to Present:
Celebrating 25 Years!
MFHA proudly celebrates 25 Years of serving the Restaurant, Foodservice and Hospitality Industries promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as good for business. Launched at General Mills in 1996, MFHA has been supporting our industries in delivering cultural education, image building, and relationship events. With great enthusiasm MFHA looks to the future in partnering with the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation in providing solutions and
services that improve cultural awareness, employee engagement, and guest service. Our goal — Building Cultural Intelligent Brands and Leaders!
MFHA MISSION
MFHA is a educational non-profit with the mission to increase racial, ethnic, and gender diversity in the restaurant, foodservice, and lodging industry to improve business results.
MFHA MILESTONES
MFHA Milestones
Originally conceived through the leadership efforts of Gerry Fernandez while at General Mills the “MFHA concept” was formally launched on September 17, 1996 through the combined efforts of 17 founding companies and visionary leaders.
Grounded in the objectives to promote diversity & inclusion as “good for business”, MFHA began the journey of delivering cultural education, image building and relationship events. MFHA focused on solutions and services to improve cultural awareness, employee engagement, and guest service.
Twenty-five years later, MFHA has been responsible for several first-ever initiatives ranging from ground-breaking research to innovative cultural programming and providing key, strategic support in facing challenging Diversity, Equity & Inclusion issues.
Today, MFHA proudly celebrates the work of our educational non-profit with the mission to increase racial, ethnic, and gender diversity in the restaurant, foodservice, and lodging industry to improve business results. With great enthusiasm, MFHA provides access to diversity & inclusion expertise, insights, education, and connectivity.
We move with confidence to the future, partnering with the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation in providing support, opportunity and direction for the restaurant, foodservice & lodging industry.
Our Milestones
1996
1997
March 22
1998
August 8
MFHA Conference takes place in Atlanta Georgia
1999
July 22
Promoting Minority Business Enterprises, MFHA publishes a first-ever Foodservice & Hospitality Diverse Supplier Directory to improve awareness and improve connections
2000
July 22
MFHA conducts a “Career Exploration Event” first event in Chicago
2001
January 22
MFHA releases first-ever Industry Specific Diversity survey research created in partnership with Nation’s Restaurant News
2004
February 22
Multilingual pocket guides created for managers/employees to better communicate. First-ever translation guides designed specifically for the food & hospitality industries
May 14
Multicultural Marketing Guides designed to help industry operators better market themselves, products, and services in the Hispanic-Latino, African American & Asian American markets.
2005
April 22
2008
August 5
MFHA revises strategic plan, focusing more heavily on attracting multicultural talent and educational support system to recruit, develop diverse talent and improve the working environment to retain talent.
2009
January 1
MFHA shifts from the conference educational model to a “membership” focus. Priority now, is to support each member company getting to the next level in their Diversity & Inclusion Journey.
June 1
MFHA highlights the industry’s commitment to multiculturalism by celebrating the outstanding efforts and accomplishments of the MFHA Member companies
2011
January 1
MFHA partners with Johnson & Wales (J&W) to develop a Cultural Intelligence Series, MFHA aligns organizationally with J&W
2014
May 1
Hispanic /Latino, Black / African American & Food Bank Cultural Intelligence eLearnings are created, “Diversity Visibility in Online Branding of Foodservice Organizations” – Website Assessment developed with Texas A&M University, and Joint report with People Report/ TDN2k – on “State of the Foodservice Industry Diversity Report 2014”
2016
2019
March 1
Understanding Unconscious Bias in Restaurants an eLearning aiming to heighten awareness of unconscious bias and impacts in decision-making
2020
February 6
MFHA virtual programming, strategic conversations, addressing needs of health, economic, and social injustices
2021
September 8
DEI Survey created in partnership with Cornell University and the DEI Roadmap presented at the 25th Anniversary celebration hosted at the National Restaurant Association in Chicago.
LEADERS
Leaders
Founding Companies
Embracing the “long view” is the hallmark of great organizations. We honor our founding members who had the foresight to recognize the strength and purpose of MFHA to bring the economic benefits of diversity, equity and inclusion to the food and hospitality industry. We celebrate their longstanding commitment to MFHA’s vision of delivering more connections and opportunities in building Member’s Cultural Intelligence. Our founders have led by example in creating successful strategies and smart practices in effectively engaging multicultural employees, customers, and communities. Each founding member company’s commitment shines brightly on our 25th Anniversary!
We are so grateful for the support of our corporate partners. MFHA is committed to providing cutting-edge solutions to foster diversity, equity and inclusion for our workplaces, customers and communities. Together, we are helping make a difference in the lives of so many in providing clear pathways to effective recruitment of diverse talent; and the development and retention of our diverse workforce. Our sponsors join us to build insights in cultural intelligence to better connect and support our customers and engage with our communities.
Our sponsors for the MFHA 25th Anniversary will be supporting events and programs that we will be featuring from September 17th, 2021 to March 31, 2022. Many thanks to our sponsor leaders who continue to pave the way for the vision of MFHA to be deeply realized.
TAKING ACTION!
Taking Action!
Your donation is needed now more than ever. As we ADVANCE our vision for a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive food service & hospitality industries your support will provide for meaningful solutions and bold new opportunities.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Looking to the Future
The Future of MFHA is in all of our hands. Advancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion the opportunities for Employees, Communities, Entrepreneurs, and Leadership is all about partnership and building strong alliances.
In 2021 MFHA launched DEI Research in partnership with Cornell University. Our findings will help position our efforts to maximize ways to create vibrant opportunities, inclusive workplaces and strong multicultural voices with a seat at the leadership table.
MFHA is proud to be working in alliance with the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation. Together we ADVANCE programs and initiatives that make real differences to people of color and women in the Foodservice and Hospitality industries.
You can be a part of our solutions. Join our alliance as a corporate or individual member, sponsor, or donor. Together we can make a difference to ADVANCE Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
�Everyone is just blown away and tickled pink� and still talking about it. It was the best day that I�ve ever seen my crew experience in a long time. We thoroughly enjoyed it and I have every intention on reaching out to Gerry to share how great he was and how excellent the whole day was.�
�The MFHA Suite of Solutions and Services are specific to the challenges of the restaurant, foodservice and lodging industries and will help our industry continue its leadership in multicultural awareness achievement.�
�Gerry, it was great having you as our Keynote speaker. You really connected with the group and hit a home run with your message. I have heard nothing but compliments about your speech.�
�MFHA offers innovative programs that strategically position organizations to maximize the multicultural opportunities for today and the future.�