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Dean Mistretta, Associate Professor, Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) & Director of Catering, Johnson & Wales University
Dean Mistretta has 30 + years of experience and expertise in the hospitality industry. He is an Associate Professor at Johnson & Wales University's College of Hospitality in the Department of Food & Beverage Management. He earned an associate degree from Northern Virginia Community College, a bachelor’s degree from Curry College, and a Master's of Business Administration from Johnson & Wales University. He is a Certified Hospitality Educator and a regular presenter at the annual Catersource Conference & Special Event consisting of industry peers where he speaks to catering trends & hospitality best practices.
In addition, he is a member of the International Caterers Association (ICA), the Rhode Island Hospitality Association (RIHA), and the National Restaurant Association (NRA). His career started in the promotions and marketing department of Kent management, a large hospitality company with an extensive portfolio of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs along the eastern seaboard. He then became a nightclub promoter and owner of Twist Nightclub in Providence, Rhode Island. In this role, he managed marketing and day-to-day operations and oversaw club design. In 1998, Mistretta spearheaded the creation of Decadent Catering for Stock food Group, a privately owned hospitality group, and was instrumental in the development of its on-site and off-site catering divisions. In this role, his responsibilities included concept & design, staffing, training, menu planning, marketing and promotions, and setting up internal controls of the day-to-day operations. He remains the active Director of Catering at Decadent Catering while teaching.