Dear Tidewater Alumni Chapter,

Your hard work, dedication, and representation have been the “cornerstone” of culinary arts in the Tidewater Area. As local Alumni of Johnson and Wales University, we share a bond of history and tradition with JWU – and we also serve as culinary leaders in our respective fields. As we continue to grow in strength and numbers, let’s reach out to new Alumni that have chosen the Tidewater Area as their home. Let’s give new Alumni and prospective Chapter members the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and grow with our Chapter. Ultimately, we have set the precedence of cuisine, community and connections – and let’s continue to “raise the bar to greater heights.”

Cuisine
The Tidewater Chapter boasts some of the most talented chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary business leaders in the Southeastern United States. From costal, regional and International cuisines [respectively], our talents indeed “shine” throughout the Tidewater and Hampton Roads areas. We are well represented, and should continue to network and collaborate within various culinary ventures.

Connections
Our connections are unique because we are linked to JWU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the Tidewater community as a whole. Also, our Alumni Association has graduates from all over the World; and JWU has expanded technology connections with degree initiatives online! Therefore, we are part of a Global Initiative of educating some of the best and brightest in the culinary arts field.

Fellow Tidewater Chapter Members, I leave you with five areas in which I believe we can strive for which include:

1. Networking – Let’s continue to network

2. Student Outreach – We can assist JWU with student recruitment and retention; and let’s strive to educate and inform those interested in culinary arts education.

3. Alumni Outreach – Please reach out to new and current Alumni that reside in the Tidewater and Hampton Roads areas. We can [again] gain “strength in numbers” and let’s encourage more local Alumni to be involved in the National Alumni Association and Tidewater Chapter respectively.

4. Community – Volunteerism should be a part of what we represent as a Chapter and support JWU and the students.

5. Connections – Let’s stay connected with Johnson and Wales University as a whole, and JWU Alumni as well. We should be proud of our local presence in the Tidewater Area, as well as our Global presence. Let’s continue to build our connections through the Tidewater Chapter; and continue to strive for excellence in cuisine, community, and connections.

Tidewater Alumni Chapter membership would allow you to actively support the university in many ways such as: assisting with recruitment, sharing your expertise, hiring students and graduates, and overall providing support for Johnson & Wales. The contributions of each alumnus, parents and friend ensure that JWU’s standards improve with each generation.

Please consider becoming more involved in our local Chapter. We are only as strong as our alumni support.

If you have any questions, or would just like to contact the chapter please send us an e-mail at alumni@jwu.edu Thank you and we look for seeing you at one of our upcoming events.

Yours Truly,

Chef Walter Ellerbe ’04
Past President, Alumni Council
President, Tidewater Alumni Chapter