People of The Institute       Instructor Profiles         Stephen Zagor, Program Director, Culinary Management   Stephen Zagor began teaching in The Institute's Culinary Management program in 2001 and was recently named program director. Growing up on New York's Upper East Side, Stephen was most impressed with the venerable '21' Club, owned by close family friend Jerry Berns. Looking back at more than 30 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry, Zagor smiles when he recalls what was close to a family mantra: Never, never go into the restaurant business After taking a BA in Political Science at Tulane, Zagor attended Cornell's School of Hotel Administration; Master's Degree in hand, he cut his wings with stints for the Marriott corporation in DC, Philadelphia, and St. Louis. And, putting family warnings aside, he used this background to strike out on his own---in Houston, Texas. He credits a booming economy, the right concept and a broad-based business plan with leading to a small empire that included a 300-seat restaurant, retail food market, catering business and cabaret with singing waiters Zagor returned to New York in the early '80s to work for Laventhol & Horwath, and later for Coopers & Lybrand, consulting with such diverse groups as top restaurants, corporate dining rooms, amusement parks, and even a zoo. "Being a consultant in this industry is a dream job," says Zagor, "It can be very glamorous… if you can handle the travel." Zagor was general manager of Trattoria Dell'Arte for two years, and in 1995 gave into the ownership bug again, this time opening a combination Italian restaurant/retail market in Greenwich, Connecticut---once more underscoring a popular theme in both his teaching and independent ventures: cross marketing In addition to the professional degree program, Zagor also teaches the Institute's popular three-day "How To Open a Specialty Food Shop" and the new "How to Open an Inn." He's pleased with the opportunity to share his knowledge with his students. "Success is very obtainable in this field," comments Zagor, "and it's great to see our graduates going out and realizing their ambitions." Zagor lives on Manhattan's Upper East Side with his wife and son..