Timothy Bucci, CEC, CCE, CHE

Press Release

Timothy Bucci, CEC, CCE, CHE, Named National Chef Educator of the Year at 2009 ACF National Convention in Orlando, Fla.

St. Augustine, Fla., July 16, 2009—Timothy Bucci, certified executive chef (CEC), certified culinary educator (CCE), certified hospitality educator (CHE), of Oak Forest, Ill., received the American Culinary Federation, Inc., (ACF) 2009 Chef Educator of the Year Award at the 2009 ACF National Convention held at the Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, Fla., July 11–14.

“I wouldn’t be up here today if it wasn’t for my students,” Bucci said at the beginning of his acceptance speech at the President’s Grand Ball, July 14. “All my students inspire me. They are motivation and just make me want to be a better educator.”

The Chef Educator of the Year Award pays tribute to an active culinary educator whose knowledge, skills and expertise have given culinary students leadership and guidance for the future. The four national finalists were first nominated by colleagues, then chefs in each of the four ACF regions competed at the regional level. At the national competition, chefs presented a lecture and demonstration for a panel of distinguished judges on either a plated entrée or dessert, which included preparation of two portions of the item.

Bucci is an associate chef-instructor at Joliet Junior College in Joliet, Ill. Before joining Joliet Junior College, he was executive chef at House of Hughes, Crestwood, Ill. He holds an associate degree from Joliet Junior College in culinary arts and a bachelor’s degree in restaurant hospitality and institutional management from Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, Ind. He is a member of ACF Louis Joliet Chapter.

As a competitor, Bucci has won numerous awards. He was a gold medalist in individual competition at the 2008 Internationale Kochkunst Ausstellung (IKA) competition in Erfurt, Germany. He also competed at the IKA “culinary Olympics” in Germany in 2004, where he was a silver medalist. Bucci was awarded Educator of the Year from the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago in 2001 and 2004. He is a member of the Indiana Theta Chapter of Alpha Chi Honor Society and an ACF-certified culinary judge.

Orlando was the location of the 2009 ACF National Convention, bringing hundreds of chefs, cooks, students and foodservice professionals to the Sunshine State. The national convention provided attendees with numerous opportunities to advance their professional development and enhance their culinary skills through informative workshops and seminars, cutting-edge demonstrations, a trade show featuring more than 100 exhibitors, national competitions and ACF’s annual national awards.

Sponsors of the 2009 ACF National Convention are: Ajinomoto Food Ingredients LLC; American Lamb Board; Barber Foods; Barry Callebaut; Beef Products, Inc.; BelGioioso Cheese Inc.; Berkshire Pork Products, LLC; Bon Chef, Inc.; Bunge Oils; Butterball Farms, Inc.; Canada Cutlery Inc.; Casa DiLisio Products, Inc.; Chartwells; The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Inc.; Chicago School of Chocolate Molding; CleanFish; Cleveland Range, LLC; Contessa Premium Foods; The Culinary Institute of America; Custom Culinary, Inc.; Demeyere; Diamond Crystal; Dole Packaged Foods, LLC; Dow AgroSciences; Ecolab; Eggland’s Best; GFF, Inc./Girard’s Dressings; Gordon Food Service; Guittard Chocolate Co.; Hass Avocado Board; Hormel; i-COOK Professional; Indian Harvest; The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes; The Investing Chef; J.R. Simplot Company; Johnson & Wales University; Kendall College School of Culinary Arts; La Brea Bakery; Lavazza Italy’s Favourite Coffee; Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America; Nestlé Professional; NEWCHEF Fashion Inc.; Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats; Pasta CHEF®; Pearson Education; Plugra; RC Fine Foods; Riviana Foods Inc.; R.L. Schreiber, Inc.; S & D Coffee; San Jamar; Saputo Cheese; Schwan’s Food Service; Splenda®; Tyson Food Service; Unilever Foodsolutions; U.S. Foodservice; Victorinox Commercial Cutlery; Vita-Mix Corp.; The Vollrath Company, LLC; and Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

The American Culinary Federation, Inc., established in 1929, is the premier professional organization for culinarians in North America. With more than 22,000 members spanning 230 chapters nationwide, ACF is the culinary leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and accreditation. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions, and to the Chef & Child Foundation, founded in 1989 to promote proper nutrition in children and to combat childhood obesity. For more information, visit www.acfchefs.org.

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To arrange an interview or for a high-res photo, contact Leah Craig at (800) 624-9458, ext. 113, or Patricia Carroll at ext. 147. Email lcraig@acfchefs.net or pcarroll@acfchefs.net.

Contact: Patricia Carroll
Communications Director
(800) 624-9458, ext. 147
pcarroll@acfchefs.net

Leah Craig
Communications Manager
(800) 624-9458, ext. 113
lcraig@acfchefs.net

• Timothy Bucci, CEC, CCE, CHE, Named National Chef Educator of the Year at 2009 ACF National Convention in Orlando, Fla.