2011 ACF Northeast Regional Conference

The 2011 ACF Northeast Regional Conference, hosted by ACF Columbus Chapter, is officially part of the history books. Taking place in the Buckeye State, March 20–23, at the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, it was an overall success, with more than 500 in attendance. Chefs, students and foodservice professionals “Experienced the Power of Connection” during the three-day culinary extravaganza. Attendees were provided with numerous opportunities to advance their professional development and enhance their culinary skills through seminars, culinary demonstrations featuring the latest trends and techniques, cooking competitions, meal events, networking and the opportunity to learn about the newest industry products from purveyors from across the U.S. at the trade show. View the photos.

The ACF Columbus Chapter partnered with the Junior League of Columbus for a community service day on March 19. More than 200 parents and children were present to enjoy five healthy eating demonstrations. The chapter’s philanthropic activities continued throughout the conference with an extremely successful silent auction. At the conference’s end, the chapter presented ACF Culinary Team USA with the auction proceeds plus a donation from the chapter for a grand total of $10,000.

The conference’s icebreaker was a face-off between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New Jersey Devils at Nationwide Arena. While the Jackets were shutout by the Devils, 0–3, it was a goal for ACF members. General Session was both entertaining and informative as Alfonso Contrisciani, CMC, GMC, AAC, executive chef at New Albany Country Club & Spa and East Golf Club, both in New Albany, Ohio, discussed organics. Executive Chef David Wolf, CEC, AAC, of the Hyatt on Capitol Square, Columbus, wowed Academy fellows at the American Academy of Chefs Dinner on March 22.

A sincere thank-you to our sponsors and exhibitors, whose support was instrumental to our success, and to the AAC for donating $1,000 to the ACF Northeast Region Student Team winner to assist with national convention travel expenses.

Congratulations to all the award recipients and honorees for their outstanding contributions and goodwill, and to all the competitors for a job well done.

Chef of the Year | Pastry Chef of the Year | Chef Educator of the Year | Student Chef of the Year | Chef Professionalism Award | Hermann G. Rusch Chef’s Achievement Award | ACF Student Team Regional Championship | Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl | Chapter of the Year | Chapter Achievement Awards | President’s Medallions | Cutting Edge Awards | Paella, Please!

Chef of the Year, Sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions

ACF Northeast Region Chef of the Year Award Winner

Todd Kelly, executive chef/director of food and beverage, Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Cincinnati; ACF Greater Cincinnati Chapter

Competitors

Christopher Ropp, CEC, executive chef, Kenwood Country Club, Cincinnati; ACF Greater Cincinnati Chapter
Gregory Skibinski, CEC, executive chef, Western Hills Country Club, Cincinnati; ACF Greater Cincinnati Chapter
Walter Staib, president/owner, City Tavern Restaurant Concepts By Staib, Ltd., Philadelphia; ACF Philadelphia Chapter

Pastry Chef of the Year, Sponsored by Splenda®

ACF Northeast Region Pastry Chef of the Year Award Winner

James Neuman, CWPC, executive pastry chef, Genesee Valley Club, Rochester, N.Y.; ACF Professional Chefs/Cooks Association of Rochester

Competitors

Robert Ellinger, CEPC, owner/pastry chef, Baked to Perfection, Port Washington, N.Y.; ACF Long Island Chapter
Steven Weiss, culinary program coordinator, Blue Ridge Community & Technical College, Martinsburg, W.Va.; ACF Quad State Appalachian Valley Professional Chefs

Chef Educator of the Year

ACF Northeast Region Chef Educator of the Year Winner

J. Desmond Keefe, CEC, CCE, culinary program chair, Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, N.H.; ACF Epicurean Club of Boston

Competitors

Richard Alford, CEC, CCE, associate professor emeritus, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio; ACF Akron-Canton Area Cooks and Chefs Association
Brian Floyd, CEC, executive director, Pierpont Culinary Academy, Pierpont Community & Technical College, Fairmont, W.Va.; ACF West Virginia Chapter
Mark Gage, CEC, CSCE, culinary arts instructor, Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, Jamison, Pa.; ACF Philadelphia Chapter
Stephen Moir, CEC, ACE, culinary arts instructor, Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools, Perth Amboy, N.J.; The ACF Jersey Shore Chefs Association
Brian Peffley, CEPC, CCE, pastry arts instructor, Lebanon County Career and Technology Center, Lebanon, Pa.; ACF Harrisburg Chapter
Paul Rother, CEC, CCE, culinary instructor, Capital Region BOCES, Albany, N.Y.; ACF Capital District–Central New York
Scott Schmucker, CEC, CCE, instructor, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh; ACF Pittsburgh Chapter

Student Chef of the Year, Sponsored by Custom Culinary, Inc.

ACF Northeast Region Student Chef of the Year Award Winner

Caitlin Sive, student, Schenectady County Community College, Schenectady, N.Y.; ACF Capital District–Central New York

Competitor

John O’Connell, CC, student, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, R.I.; ACF Greater Lehigh Valley Professional Chefs Association

Chef Professionalism Award, Sponsored by Minor’s®

ACF Northeast Region Chef Professionalism Award Winner

Charles Gipe, CEC, AAC, executive chef, Hershey Entertainment Complex, Hershey, Pa.; ACF Harrisburg Chapter

Competitors

James Connolly, CEC, regional food service director, Atria Senior Living Group, Nashua, N.H.; ACF Epicurean Club of Boston
John DiSessa, CEC, regional executive chef, Sodexo Health Care Services, Franklin, Mass.; Sodexo Chapter Member
Paul O’Toole, CEC, AAC, executive chef, Deerfield Golf and Tennis Club, Newark, Del.; ACF Philadelphia Chapter
Robert Ohlsen, CEC, CCA, WCC, owner/executive chef, Buck Tavern, Corbin City, N.J.; ACF national member
Michael Williams, CEC, executive chef, Borgata Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, N.J.; ACF Professional Chefs Association of South Jersey

Hermann G. Rusch Chef’s Achievement Award

ACF Northeast Region Hermann G. Rusch Chef’s Achievement Award Winner

Biagio Dente, CEC, AAC, HOF, retired, Pittston, Pa.; ACF Professional Chefs of Northeast Pennsylvania

Competitors

Robert Milam, CEC, AAC, chef-instructor, Boone Career Center, Foster, W.Va.; ACF West Virginia Chapter
Arno Schmidt, CEC, retired, Jackson Heights, N.Y.; ICA–ACF Big Apple Chapter

ACF Student Team Regional Championship, Sponsored by R.L. Schreiber, Inc.

ACF Northeast Region Student Team Regional Championship Winner

Mid Hudson Culinary Association; The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, N.Y.; Lee Cummings, Nicholas Dugan, Thomas Messina, Sean Pera, Prateek Sadhu and coach Brad Barnes, CMC, CCA, AAC

Competitors

ACF Columbus Chapter; Columbus State Community College, Columbus, Ohio; Jay Cotrell, CC, coach
ACF New England Culinary Institute; New England Culinary Institute, Montpelier, Vt.; Michael Gunyan, CEC, CCE, coach
ACF Penn Jersey Metro Chefs Association; JNA Institute of Culinary Arts, Philadelphia; Joseph DiGironimo, coach
ACF Pittsburgh Chapter; Arthur Inzinga, CEC, CCE, AAC, coach
ACF Professional Chefs of New Hampshire; Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester, N.H.; Stefan Ryll, CEC, coach
ACF Rhode Island Chapter; Johnson & Wales University, Providence, R.I.; George O’Palenick, CEC, CCE, AAC, coach
ACF West Virginia Chapter; Pierpont Culinary Academy, Fairmont, W.Va.; Jay Mahoney, CEC, coach
Connecticut Chefs Association; Manchester Community College, Manchester, Conn.; Marc Hussey, CEC, AAC, coach

Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl, Sponsored by American Technical Publishers

ACF Northeast Region Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl Winner

Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, Pa.; ACF Laurel Highlands Chapter: Ellen Cervone, Heather Ferrara, Patricia Firestone, Rebecca Hawk, Adam Peroney and coach Cindy Komarinski, CCC, CCE

Competitors

Southern Maine Community College, South Portland, Maine; ACF Casco Bay Culinary Association; Geoffrey Boardman, CEC, coach
ACF Eastern Long Island Chefs Chapter; Andrea Glick, coach
ACF of Greater Buffalo, Erie Community College–City Campus, Buffalo, N.Y.; Dorothy Johnston, CEC, CCE, AAC, coach
Schenectady County Community College, Schenectady, N.Y.; ACF Capital District–Central New York; Robert Payne, CEC, coach
Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts, Pittsburgh; ACF Pittsburgh Chapter; Mark Clink, CEC, CCE, coach

ACF Northeast Region Chapter of the Year

ACF Harrisburg Chapter, Harrisburg, Pa.

ACF Northeast Region Chapter Achievement Awards

ACF Capital District–Central New York, Schenectady, N.Y.
ACF Columbus Chapter, Columbus, Ohio
ACF Harrisburg Chapter
ACF Pittsburgh Chapter, Pittsburgh

ACF Northeast Region President’s Medallions

Linda Boggioni, CWPC, teaching assistant/adjunct instructor, Columbus State Community College, Columbus; ACF Columbus Chapter
Charles Gipe, CEC, AAC, executive chef, Hershey Entertainment Complex, Hershey, Pa.; ACF Harrisburg Chapter
Cindy Komarinski, CCC, CCE, associate professor, Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, Pa.; ACF Laurel Highlands Chapter
Steven Lautieri, CEC; ACF Rhode Island Chapter
Paul Suplee, CEC, culinary/baking and pastry instructor, Worcester Technical High School, Newark, Md.; Delmarva Chefs & Cooks Association

Cutting Edge Awards

Wilfred Beriau, CEC, CCE, AAC, department chair, culinary arts, Southern Maine Community College, South Portland, Maine; ACF Casco Bay Culinary Association of Portland ME
Patrick Britten, CEC, AAC, corporate chef, Sysco of Northern New England, Westbrook, Maine; ACF Casco Bay Culinary Association of Portland ME
James Connolly, CEC, regional foodservice director, Atria Senior Living Group, Nashua, N.H.; ACF Epicurean Club of Boston
Francine Greff, HAAC, retired, Columbus, Ohio; ACF Columbus Chapter
Michael Miely, CEC, corporate chef, Michaels & Associates, Grand Rapids, Mich.; ACF Columbus Chapter

Paella, Please! Sponsored by Riviana

Meegan Roberts, pastry chef, Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio; ACF Columbus Chapter