FIU's Cassidy named Retailer of the Year: Wine Connoisseur Gains National Recognition

Florida International University's Hospitality and Management alum and lecturer, Patrick "Chip" Cassidy has been named 'Retailer of the Year' by the prestigious magazine, Market Watch Leaders 2000.

"If you listen to your customers and cater to what they want, then you are going to be successful," said Cassidy, who teaches about wine technology at the School of Hospitality and Management, located on the Biscayne Bay Campus. "I am blessed to work and teach in a field I am passionate about."

Since 1984, Cassidy has been known to students as the man who is crazy about grapes. His passion was the driving force behind the development of the school's Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center, a state of the art facility dedicated to teaching students the fine art of wine tasting.

"He is an extremely valuable part of our school," says the Dean of FIU's School of Hospitality and Management, Joseph West. "His expertise in wines is unparalleled in the United States."

His courses include basic and advanced wine appreciation classes. Additionally, he has created the "Certificate for Professional," a program designed to teach professionals in the hospitality industry all aspects of the wine trade. The courses show professionals in the field how to store, serve, and merchandise wine, in addition to the economics of buying and selling wine.

Currently, Cassidy is the wine director for the Coral Gables Crown Wine & Spirits, a Florida-based wine wholesaler.

In 1985, Cassidy was chosen to develop and expand Crown Wine & Spirits's wine business operation. It's been on a steady increase ever since. Today, the wholesaler operates from 22 locations though out Florida's Gold Coast, which blankets the South Florida area. He has turned his passion and savvy for the wine business into sales figures of approximately $ 50 million dollars annually. According to Cassidy, this is a 25% increase from 1993's estimate of $40 million.

For more information about FIU's Hospitality and Management program call 305-919-4500. FIU Biscayne Bay Campus houses the School of Hospitality and Management, which is dedicated to giving students the skills and techniques needed to succeed in the hospitality industry.

Media Contact: Barbara Rodriguez-Branas 305-348-2234