"We've had quite a few new restaurants that have opened in Gilroy, and there's more on the way," said Bill Lindsteadt, the corporation's executive director. "They're looking for qualified ... employees. There's a lot more involved in being a waitperson than just carrying food to a table."

The seminars, held in conjunction with the Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Network, the Gilroy Visitors Bureau and Career Advancement Solutions, teach principles of customer service, work attitude and ethics, how to deal with customers and how to handle money.

The classes end with information on how to apply and interview for hospitality jobs and an overview of who is hiring.

Along with jobs in restaurants, the hospitality industry includes working in hotels and motels, amusement parks and entertainment venues.

The seminars are open to both English and Spanish speakers. Lectures are presented in English by bilingual instructors, and class materials are available in Spanish. The classes can be taught in Spanish upon special request.

"It's important to remember that not all of this is front-line work," Lindsteadt said. "Someone who is not that proficient in English can benefit from this training."

The classes will be held twice a month at CAS's Gilroy campus at 7425 Eigleberry St., Suite B, through June 2005. Each seminar is from 8am to 5pm for two consecutive days.

Kirsten Carr, executive director of the visitors bureau, said understanding how to work in the hospitality industry is important, because visitors will remember how they were treated while staying in town.

"From our point of view, when people come here and stay in a hotel or eat at a restaurant and have a great experience, that's what's going to influence whether or not they decide back to come back to Gilroy," Carr said. "And vice-versa is also true."

Creating an enjoyable experience for visitors is not the only benefit of the training program, Carr said, as it also contributes to Gilroy's job market.

A few of the restaurants slated to open in Gilroy over the next few months include Chuck E. Cheese, now under construction on the east side of Camino Arroyo, and both Krispy Kreme Bakery and Pho H-a An Z Vietnamese restaurant in the Pacheco Pass Shopping Center. Other restaurants expected soon include Mimi's Cafe, Sonic Burger and Famous Dave's Barbecue.

Additionally, in response to the several new retail stores that have joined Gilroy in recent years, the economic corporation, the Gavilan College Small Business Development Center and CAS continue to offer free, eight-hour training seminars on working in the retail industry.

The classes began in January and run through June 2005. About 300 students have participated, said Ingrid Thompson, director of workforce and economic development at CAS.

Students include farm workers, high school students entering the workforce and under-employed and displaced employees, Thompson said. Spanish materials and instruction also are available for the retail seminars.

"Once you get into a job and show someone you can be a good worker, the employer often is willing to continue paying for training if it's needed," Thompson said.

Along with the hospitality and retail programs, CAS is offering a class called English for Success. The program, in partnership with San Jose State University, teaches English language skills and computer instruction applicable to a retail workplace environment.

The class sizes are small and taught by SJSU faculty at CAS's Gilroy campus at 7425 Eigleberry St., Suite B. Financing is available. Call 978-7670 for more information.

Other employment information, training and employee placing centers in Gilroy include the Center for Employment and Training at 7800 Arroyo Circle, Gavilan Community College at 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd., Mexican American Community Services Agency at 7400 Railroad St. and the Regional Occupation Program at 7365 Monterey St., Suite G.

Free hospitality training seminars will be offered on the following dates:

- Oct. 29 - 30

- Nov. 12 - 13; 26 - 27

- Dec. 10 - 11

- Jan. 14 - 15; 28 - 29

- Feb. 11 - 12; 25 - 26

- March 11 - 12; 25 - 26

- April 15 - 16; 29 - 30

- May 13 - 14; 27 - 28

- June 10 - 11; 24 - 25

Each seminar is held from 8am to 5pm for two consecutive days CAS's Gilroy campus at 7425 Eigleberry St., Suite B. To register, call the Gilroy Economic Development Corp. at 847-7611 or pick up a registration form from its office, 7471 Monterey St.

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