Visit Montgomery recently hosted the MOCO Eats Food and Beverage Conference to provide hospitality professionals with educational opportunities while also supporting MCPS students through a scholarship fundraiser and a student pitch competition.
According to MCPS, “Visit Montgomery, in collaboration with the Foundation for Hospitality and Restaurant Management (FHRM), hosted the MOCO Eats Food and Beverage Conference on Monday, March 31, 2025, at the Rockville Hilton Hotel and Conference Center. The two-day event provided industry professionals with educational breakout sessions focused on addressing issues relevant to their field. Additionally, Visit Montgomery leveraged the event as a fundraising opportunity to support MCPS students. A portion of the funds raised will benefit the FHRM Scholarship, which helps recipients pursue hospitality related post-secondary education.
At the end of the conference, students from Walter Johnson High School showcased their entrepreneurial skills by presenting pitches for a new business. A panel of industry leaders judged the presentations, awarding prizes to the top team.
Supervisor Steve Boden of the Foundations Office emphasized FHRM’s impact on MCPS programming. “The positive feedback from our business partners speaks volumes. These students, through their well-researched and professionally delivered presentations, proved that they are acquiring the necessary skills to excel in the hospitality and restaurant industry. Special thanks to Visit Montgomery and Kelly Groff for organizing this opportunity.”
