About Us

Our Mission is to offer customized and engaging safety education programs for foodservice professionals to ensure the safety of consumers.

Southern Hospitality Education, LLC was established in 2011 to promote and provide food safety education to local independent restaurants in the St. Louis, MO area. Since its inception, it has never strayed from its mission to offer customized and engaging educational programs for foodservice professionals to ensure consumer safety.

Today, Katkin is proud to be able to help business owners and their employees meet certification and safety education requirements nationwide. In partnership with Illinois Casualty Company, Katkin continues to grow; supporting restaurants, franchises, multi-location food and beverage vendors and associations, breweries, wineries, convenience stores, country clubs, hotels, nursing homes, hospitals, childcare facilities and others throughout the country. Course materials and exams are now available in multiple languages and course offerings are affordable, customizable, and include in person and online learning in all fifty states.

Our Team

Michelle Fieser

Head of Safety Education

Michelle Fieser began teaching safety education in 2011 as a value-added service for her bar and restaurant clients. After realizing there was a need for quality instructors and programs, she formed Southern Hospitality Education, later to be named Katkin. In October 2021, after partnering with Illinois Casualty Company and many of its appointed agents and insureds, Katkin was acquired by ICC. Michelle is now serving as Head of Safety Education for ICC’s Loss Control Department.

Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Mississippi State University. She brings with her both sales and agency experience, as well as more than ten years in developing and delivering safety education programs for the hospitality industry.