Savannah partner Patrick Connell is quoted in a September 22 article in Savannah Now titled, “Fast Growing USC-Beaufort’s Hospitality a Draw.” He is quoted as saying,

“One initiative that really got me interested in the technical college is their new culinary project down at Bay Street,” said Patrick Connell, who recently joined the board of Savannah Technical College Foundation. “The culinary program is already award-winning. This is only going to enhance its place in the state and in the country for putting out great chefs,” he said.

“I’m general counsel for the Tourism Leadership Council. We are always looking for ways to advance that industry. It really is one of a handful of industries where you can come in at the bottom with very little skill set and work in a kitchen and be a good employee and advance yourself through their programs and one day potentially own a hotel. Those kinds of stories happen in the hospitality industry,” Connell said. By providing students the training to be successful, it will better the industry and “it certainly benefits the city of Savannah,” he said.

Connell said Savannah Technical College’s culinary program will strengthen the industry “because it will provide workers with broader skillsets that come out of knowing how the industry works and how to run a restaurant.”

The University of South Carolina-Beaufort is among the nation’s fastest-growing universities is its involvement in the local communities, according to the article. Its focus on experiential learning is another.

Click on the link to read the full article, “Fast-Growing USC-Beaufort’s Hospitality a Draw.”

About Patrick Connell:

Patrick Connell has successfully litigated a wide range of cases involving catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, professional malpractice, products liability and premises liability. He has significant experience handling trucking and automobile accidents, fire investigations, and natural gas claims.

Land use planning and zoning law is another area of focus for Mr. Connell. He assists clients with government permitting issues at the state, local and municipal levels. Mr. Connell’s practical knowledge of land use law began with his study of landscape architecture at the University of Georgia and his work as a city planner for Athens-Clarke County prior to entering law school.

Mr. Connell has significant experience representing clients in the tourism and hospitality industry and serves as General Counsel for the Tourism Leadership Council, the leading trade organization for the tourism industry in the Savannah area.

He is an active supporter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, having served as Co-chair of the Leadership Committee for Savannah LLS’s Man and Woman of the Year campaigns for 2015 and 2016. He began supporting LLS in 2014 when he was nominated and competed as a candidate for Man of the Year. From 2013 to 2018, Savannah’s annual Man and Woman of the Year campaigns have raised approximately $3 million to fund blood cancer research and patient assistance programs.

Mr. Connell is admitted in Georgia and the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Georgia. He was selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars for 2012 to 2017, and was a member of Leadership Savannah, Class of 2013-2014.