The RI Hospitality Education Foundation (RIHEF) is proud to announce that Kristie Costa of Warwick has been appointed as Hospitality Job Coach at RIHEF.

Costa brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience and employee training and development to her new role. Since 2002, Costa worked as general manager at On The Border Restaurant in Warwick and South Portland, Maine, where she helped grow sales and revenue, managed a team of 75 employees and developed several dozen employees into supervisor and managerial positions. Prior to joining On The Border, Costa owned and operated TK’s Tavern in Biddleford, Maine. She was also a food and beverage director for the Sheraton Hotel in South Portland. In addition, she has worked for the Holiday Inn and the Marriott, as well as several independent restaurants in Vermont, New York, California, Idaho, Maryland and Maine.

In her new position, Costa will work with candidates to help them prepare for careers in the hospitality industry. She will counsel job seekers on the careers available in the hospitality industry, discussing essential skills and tasks for entry-level jobs in hospitality. Costa will also place candidates in work experience, and build relationships with hospitality business owners and managers, job seekers and representatives from the R.I. Department of Labor & Training.

“We are pleased to welcome Kristie to the RI Hospitality Education Foundation,” said Dale J. Venturini, president and CEO of RIHEF. “Her work ethic, matched with her passion for hospitality and employee development will be an asset for job-seekers and will benefit our members throughout the hospitality industry.”

Costa is ServSafe certified, and a ServSafe proctor.