Division II

Hospitality &
Food Service

Trained, certified, and properly placed — into the restaurants, hotels, caterers, and venues of Southern California, just as the region enters the biggest hospitality hiring wave in its history.

Why Now

A once-in-a-generation hiring wave

U.S. food service is projected to reach $1.55 trillion in sales with 15.8 million jobs — and roughly three in four operators expect difficulty finding experienced staff. Then add Southern California's event supercycle: the 2026 World Cup already pushed host-metro hospitality hiring up sharply, Super Bowl LXI arrives at SoFi Stadium in February 2027, and the LA28 Olympic Games are projected to need 25,000–35,000 additional hospitality workers, with hotels hiring 12–18 months ahead.

Trained people stay. Untrained people churn.

Hospitality turnover has averaged roughly 80% over the past decade, and replacing a single hourly employee costs $3,500–$6,000. Training and advancement are proven retention levers — good for workers, and good business for the operators who employ them.

Program Tracks

From first certification to shift leader

New to the industry

Hospitality Foundations

A 4–8 week pre-employment program that gets you certified, confident, and placed.

  • California Food Handler Card
  • Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) certification
  • ServSafe fundamentals
  • Guest service, kitchen & front-of-house labs
  • Placement support on completion
Working & advancing

Craft & Service Advancement

Skill tracks for hospitality professionals ready for the next station — or the next title.

  • Line cook and culinary skills
  • Bartending & mixology
  • Banquet, events & barista tracks
  • ServSafe Manager certification
  • Shift-lead & supervisor readiness
Employer partners

Employer Partner Training

Contracted short courses delivered for restaurant groups, hotels, caterers, and venues.

  • Mandated compliance training, handled
  • Team service standards and onboarding
  • Supervisor development for promotion from within
CA Food Handler RBS Certification ServSafe & ServSafe Manager Food Protection Manager
Compliance Training

California requires it. We deliver it.

California law makes key hospitality credentials mandatory — and puts the cost of training on employers. The Academy delivers these required courses as a service to operator partners, keeping their teams certified and their businesses compliant.

Food Handler Card

Required for food employees within 30 days of hire — and since 2024, employers must cover the training time and cost. We make it turnkey.

Responsible Beverage Service

Mandatory statewide for alcohol servers and their managers, with certification required within 60 days of employment.

Food Protection Manager

Nationally accredited manager-level food safety certification, required for supervisory roles and renewed every five years.

Get certified. Get placed. Keep climbing.

Founding cohorts and operator partnerships are forming now — ahead of Super Bowl LXI and the LA28 hiring window.

Get in Touch