On Nov. 23, Niagara College became one of Canada’s first post-secondary institutions to form a student chapter with the Hospitality Finance and Technology Professionals (HFTP) industry association. The chapter celebrated the achievement with a special dinner at the inaugural meeting on Dec. 11, 2018.
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, HFTP is a non-profit association that aims to support financial and technology professionals in the hospitality sector via expert networks, research, certification programs, information resources and conferences/events. HFTP has chapters across the globe, with over 5,000 members worldwide, offering career advancement opportunities, publications, industry research, online, networking tools and more.
“For us, it’s about the students,” said chef professor and faculty advisor Osvaldo Avila. “When Paul [Willie, PhD] came with this idea about creating a chapter here, it’s because we see the potential in our students and how our students are going to excel in their work.”
NC’s HFTP Student Chapter will offer a unique opportunity for its 30 members to network with industry professionals and build connections for their future careers. The chapter is governed by a team of enterprising students in every year of NC’s Honours Bachelor of Business Administration – Hospitality degree program, including president Anna Cherdakova, vice-president Oleksandra Pavlova, treasurer Benjamin Streef and secretary Isabel Burrough.
“Not only do we network, but we also see what is out there, meaning I am working at the front desk but what are other options for me to work in the hospitality industry aside from the front desk?” said vice-president Oleksandra Pavlova, in her third-year of the program.
When establishing the student chapter, faculty and students had to start from scratch. Students hosted an election to establish chapter officers, who then developed the chapter’s bylaws and plan as part of the application process. Next, the application was sent to Austin, Texas for review by HFTP’s global executives.
“Through our first three meetings, our students are learning a lot about formal organizational culture,” said faculty advisor to the chapter Dr. Paul Willie (PhD).
The benefits of student involvement with HFTP has been seen before at NC. Andrew Buwalda, a 2011 NC graduate, attended HFTP Ontario Chapter meetings in Toronto as a student and became the recipient of a $500 HFTP scholarship for his academic performance in accounting, finance, cost control and revenue management. Now a full member of HFTP and the Ontario Chapter secretary, Buwalda is the Regional Director of Finance and Analysis at Skyline Investments in Toronto and has been recognized on the Ontario Hostelry Institute’s 2016 Top 30 Under 30 list.
Members of the new NC HFTP Student Chapter will now have exposure to the same experiences Buwalda had when attending HFTP meetings.
Members will also have the opportunity to acquire industry professional certifications offered by HFTP including Certified Hospitality Account Executive (CHAE) and Certified Hospitality Technology Professional (CHTP).
In winter 2019, Anna Cherdakova, fourth year BBHA student and president of NC’s HFTP Student Chapter will be the first enrolled NC student to sit for the CHAE exam.
Now, with the chapter in full swing, chapter officers will be responsible for recognizing the needs of NC students interested in entering a career in accounting, finance, cost-control. revenue management and technology. Chapter officers have expressed sincere gratitude for the support of the BBHA faculty and the College for the opportunity to bring this idea to fruition.
“We have to think about where we want to take the chapter and the next month’s guest speakers. We have to go out into the industry and ask them to talk to our students,” said Cherdakova. “We would like to definitely grow our chapter. But I think what is more important than growth is the quality of our meetings and the quality of our members.”
