May 2007         

Hosseini Center to house DBCC’s culinary program, Southeast Photography

Ever wonder how the best hospitality professionals rise to the top? It starts with training and experience, for years both have been available at Daytona Beach Community College.

Starting with the fall semester, students in DBCC’s Hospitality Management and Culinary Management programs, both under the direction of Michael Harris, will have a beautiful new building in which to master their studies.

“The building will be named the Mori Hosseini Center, in honor of business and civic leader Mori Hosseini, who has a passion for education and is a major financial contributor to the project,” said Joe Petrock, who chairs DBCC’s Board of Trustees and is a member of the DBCC Foundation Board of Directors.

“This is an extraordinary addition to our community, which hosts eight million visitors annually and has a growing need for outstanding hospitality professionals.”

DBCC President Dr. Kent Sharples agrees. “As the standard for quality business and industry goes up, so must the quality of the workforce,” he said. “That’s why it’s so important we provide this kind of training facility for our students. While our
economic base is expanding and diversifying, hospitality and tourism continue as our baseline industries.”

The state-of-the-art building is being constructed at a cost of about $26 million. It offers 62,500 square feet and is designed as a hands-on training center consisting of actual hotel rooms, front office and concierge services, sales, marketing and reservation functions. The design includes three kitchens, high-tech classrooms and much more.

The building will become the new home of DBCC’s popular student-run Café 101, a unique “teaching restaurant” open to the public. Traditionally, it has generated so much lunch business that reservations often are made weeks in advance. When relocated to the Hosseini Center, it will offer expanded seating and lunch and dinner services.

The building also will become the site of DBCC’s internationally-renowned Southeast Museum of Photography. The museum has been well received by patrons and professionals since its inception in 1992. In its new home, DBCC officials expect the museum to move to the next level as one of the premier institutions in the world dedicated solely to the photographic arts. The new museum will include space for public lectures, workshops, children’s activities and educational programs.

The building is being paid for with state grants, Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) funds and private donations.

“The new hospitality and culinary facility at DBCC is critically important to the economic and cultural prosperity of our area and I invite anyone who is able to support it to do so in any way he or she can,” said Hosseini of the fund-raising efforts.

“I am looking forward to the opportunities this facility will bring to our area as we compete with other Florida tourism markets.”

Hosseini is chairman and CEO of ICI Homes, which he founded in 1980. His company is the largest homebuilder in Volusia County and consistently ranks among the nation’s top 100 homebuilders.

He also is engaged in a variety of other industries including lumber, title insurance, cable television, banking and utilities. He is a member of several local, state and national boards of directors. His civic involvement has been recognized with many awards for his service.

He was educated in London before attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and a master of business administration.

All private contributions in support of the new building may be made to the Glenn Ritchey Hospitality Education Fund. Contributions are eligible for a dollar-for-dollar match from the state through the Community College Facility Enhancement Challenge Grant Program.

“This is a wonderful addition to our community and an important resource for our tourism industry,” said Sharon Mock, president of the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The facility will provide students with genuine hospitality settings and situations where they can perfect their skills, preparing them for immediate entry into careers upon graduation,” she said. “This bodes well for our community as it competes in increasingly competitive hospitality and tourism markets.”