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Service
"Strive not to be a Success, but rather to be of Value"- Albert Einstein
One of the most fulfilling aspects of working at the CIA, is the opportunity to serve in the college's wide variety of aspects. This includes committee work, Donation of pastries to the Local Veterans' home in Yountville, and Mentoring Alumni in international competitions. As an Aspiring Associate Professor, I have taken these Leadership roles. Community outreach such a pictured here at the Local veterans' home, where each semester I help to organize 1/4 sheet cakes during my Confectionery Arts classes. As part of the course, I task the class to Inscribe on cakes "Thank you for your service". This, along with other courses, such as Basic and Classical Cakes production cakes, are a happy welcome to the Home. It's definitely is a good feeling to give back to the community. This also includes the Brave and Hard-working Men and Women who Fought to protect this land.
Student Mentorship
Singapore visit
Creating overseas relations relationships with other CIA campus colleges is amazing. During the annual Singapore visit, we normally have a southwest theme dessert station set up and work alongside our Culinary Master Chefs, creating a mouthwatering Pastry and Cuisine buffet. These students have all necessary disciplines. It's Super fun to collaborate with them. Summer 2022, 2023,2024,2025
Student Mentorship
* Team Lead for Tri-Wizards Cup 2023, 2024
*Served as a blind judge in the pastry selection Tri-Wizards cup 2023, 2024
*Mentor for B.A.S.H. (St. Helena's Wine Tasting & Food Pairing Competition) -Mentoring student- Isaac Bravo 2024
*Capstone event in Hyde Park, Mentoring students on their sculptures Via teams 2022 -Student Rylie Mendez- (from the Bachelors' concentration) 2022
*Capstone event in Hyde Park Mentoring students on their sculptures Via teams 2023 - Student Melanie Mcneil - (from the Bachelors' concentration) 2023
*Copa America of Artisanal Gelato. International Competition in Cordoba, Argentina 2025 - Alumni Jake Park 2024
*Recommendation Letters and emails for the following students
*Yessenia Escobedo 2024
*Sinyi Zou 2024
*Ruby Pokras 2024
*Jake Park 2024
*Rylie Mendez 2023
B.A.S.H competition
Final Buffet presentation June 2025
Americas Gelato Cup semi-finals, practice runs and video of cumulative work over the weeks/months leading up to the Actual Competition. Weekends from Nov. 2024-June 2025
Internal Functions and Presentations
*Upcoming Mignardises Presentation for Jaques Pepin 90th. Birthday Celebration - Scheduled to appoint a team of Students to assist with the production- Over 400 guests are booked to come to the event-
- Planned event -October 2025
*Ghirardelli Chocolate re-opening and New Brand Sponsor of the CIA Cafe'. I was appointed to create a Chocolate sculpture tailored made for this event to which I titled "revolution". This piece represents change and evolving nature with earth Like colors surrounding the Greystone campus -Summer 2024
*Created a Bean to Bar tasting Lecture presentation for the returning CIA Singapore Bachelors' students. 1 bon- bon creation as well as a full tasting of couvertures across all types of regions for the students, as well as the teaching chefs-Ecolab theatre Late summer 2022,2023,2024, 2025
*Ghirardelli Chocolate Dessert Trends Presentation- Seminar with all the technical employee staff from the company- Spring 2023
*Produced "Thank you" take away petit fours for our recruiting companies that come every year. -As Externship work placement sites- Professor Tom Wong asked me to lead this project delivery- Spring -2023, 2024
*Created a Mid-Moring Coffee Break, 2 tier platter for Dr. Tim Ryan and congressman Mike Thompson as well as others. This showcased initiative, service and planning outside my contracted teaching hours. -3 different types of chocolates/Petit four Gum/ and Petit Four Sec. -Fall 2022
Singapore bean to Bar Presentation before slide show -Summer 2022,2023,2024,2025
"revolution" Made for Ghirardelli Cafe' sponsor re-launch
Committee Work
Curriculum committee- Committee Chair 2022-2025
Recuiting Faculty
*Served on Hiring Committee for Rachel Ruter,
Tasting Panel -Unsuccessful -Fall 2023
*Served on Hiring Committee for Chef Ryan Lutrell, Lecturing Panel -July 2022 -Successful-
*Served on Hiring Committee Pastry Chef Lauren Haas, Tasting Panel -Fall 2022- Successful-
Internal Functions and Presentations
*Special projects day dessert presentation- showcasing Rational oven baking. I just came back from my Professional development course at Rational, and wanted to apply this good practice, share and teach others how to use our Rational ovens for this application buffet.
The desserts were made for the entire schools' lunch buffet.
-2 students assisted me with the production -March 2024
Graduation speech contribution
*Inspirational Graduation Speech representing the Pastry Students -Fall 2023
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