January 17, 2011 - 5:24am
In 1976, when Warren Erhart graduated from Vancouver Island University, he was a young, enthusiastic business student who already grasped the importance of hard work.
Three decades later, he’s the president and CEO of White Spot restaurants.
When Erhart joined White Spot, there were 27 locations. Currently, there are 64 locations throughout BC and Alberta, and more than 50 Triple O's in Western Canada and Asia, employing over 4,000 people and serving more than 17 million customers annually.
Erhart will receive VIU’s Distinguished Alumni Award Friday, Jan. 28 at VIU’s convocation ceremony. The award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of VIU alumni who have earned provincial or national prominence as a result of their exceptional professional achievements and/or service to society. About 400 VIU graduates will receive their degrees in two ceremonies at the Port Theatre starting at 10 am and 2:30 pm. Renowned ethnobotanist Dr. Nancy Turner will also receive an honorary doctorate.
“I’m honoured and humbled to receive this award,” said Erhart. “VIU provided a solid foundation for my career.”
A graduate of the Hotel and Restaurant Management program in 1976, Erhart went on to create a impressive career in the restaurant industry.
After 15 years of service with Keg Restaurants, including ownership of the Keg in Nanaimo and the largest Keg operation in Ontario, Warren joined White Spot in 1990 as Division General Manager. Within four years, he was promoted to President and has overseen the development of the restaurant chain as one of BC's most popular restaurants.
Recognized as a leader in the restaurant industry, Erhart is quick to recognize others for White Spot's success, "Our people are the best. We accomplish this by hiring the best, training the best, expecting the best, and then creating an environment where individuals can make a positive difference."
Erhart oversaw White Spot's rebranding with a campaign that involved local well known chefs who were invited into White Spot's test kitchens to create new dishes. The ensuing marketing series earned White Spot an international marketing award for the chain in 2007. In the spring of 2009, White Spot featured VIU alumna Melissa Craig (Culinary Arts '98) as their celebrity chef.
White Spot is the first restaurant to offer all components of a full indentured apprenticeship program in-house for their chefs. The Red Seal certification is a nationally recognized symbol of quality and is the standardized certification for Canadian chefs. The comprehensive training program is only available at post-secondary institutions and Warren was instrumental in creating a partnership with VIU's Culinary Institute to train White Spot's chefs in the Red Seal program.
White Spot is very active in the community supporting many charities including Variety, the Children's Charity, KidSport and the Zajac Ranch, which annually hosts hundreds of children with serious and chronic illnesses and disabilities who might not otherwise have a chance to enjoy a summer camp experience.
Erhart also supports VIU through several initiatives including the creation of a student award sponsored by White Spot, supporting employment opportunities for Hospitality, Business and Culinary graduates and speaking to students. He enjoys sharing advice and wisdom with future entrepreneurs.
Erhart, highly respected in the restaurant industry, has presented at numerous conferences. In 2010, he was inducted into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame and he will be the Chairman of the Board for the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association for the 2011/2012 term.
Throughout it all, Erhart has not forgotten his VIU roots. "The skills and learning I received at Vancouver Island University were invaluable,” he said. “VIU has created a great environment for learning and I would highly recommend it for anyone wishing to pursue a career in Hospitality or Business Management."
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Photo cutline: White Spot CEO Warren Erhart will receive the VIU Distinguished Alumni Award at the convocation ceremony January 28.
Tags: In the Community
