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by Kate Sark
Choosing a career path — and the financial investment that comes with it — can be daunting . Students need assurance that their education will lead to indemand careers , while businesses struggle to find qualified workers . Recognizing this , Daytona State College ( DSC ) and St . Johns River State College ( SJRSC ) have partnered with the local community to develop workforce programs that align education with industry needs .
Both colleges work closely with local employers to identify workforce demands and create associate degree and certificate programs that equip students with relevant knowledge and hands-on experience . These initiatives ensure graduates are prepared to enter the job market immediately .
Innovating with the Hospitality Beverage Science Program
Florida ’ s hospitality industry is a cornerstone of the state ’ s economy , significantly contributing to employment and economic activity . In 2023 , Central Florida ’ s tourism industry achieved a record economic impact of $ 92.5 billion . In Volusia County , leisure and hospitality is the second-largest employment sector , averaging nearly 30,000 employees .
Understanding the significance of this industry , the Mori Hosseini College of Hospitality and Culinary Management is committed to offering multidisciplinary fields of study that produce skilled graduates ready for careers in hospitality . And to ensure it ’ s a valuable resource , the college collaborates with local hospitality groups to develop programs tailored to workforce needs .
“ Hospitality is a hands-on industry , and we ’ re always exploring opportunities to meet the needs of our students and the industry ,” said Costa Magoulas , Dean of the College of Hospitality and Culinary Management at DSC . With the rise of craft beer and input from the local hospitality sector , DSC created a pioneering program in the state — the Hospitality Beverage Science program .
“ When I approached our president about building a beer lab , he laughed ,” Magoulas said . “ But we were on to something . We developed an eight-course certificate program that was approved by the state and received a $ 1.2 million Perkins grant to build a brew pub .”
“ We don ’ t just build classrooms ; we create state-of-the-art labs ,” he continued . “ We
Costa Magoulas
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2025 | 17 |