The Team - Jerry Vincent
Education
- Bachelors Degree in Hotel Administration from Oklahoma State University
- Masters Degree in Management and Human Resources from Central Michigan University
- Certified Culinary Educator, American Academy of Chefs
Industry Experience
After graduation from college, was employed by American Airlines as a chef in Oklahoma City, Dallas, and Tulsa.
Food Service Director of Our Lady of the Lake College and San Antonio College in San Antonio, Texas. Food Service Director of the St. Johns College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Salesman for John Sexton Company in Dallas, Texas, and promoted to District Sales Manager of the Kansas City Region.
For the past twenty-eight years, Jerry has been employed by Johnson County Community College beginning his career by implementing a food-service operation and a vending operation in 1972. In 1975, he started the Hospitality Management Program and in 1976 the Chef Apprenticeship Program. The Program has grown from nine students in 1975 to a current enrollment of 50 with eight full-time instructors and four adjunct instructors. In August 1994, the Chef Apprenticeship Program. The Program has grown from nine students in 1975 to a current enrollment of 500 with eight, full-time instructors and four, adjunct instructors. In August 1994, the Chef Apprenticeship Program received the national "Awards of Excellence" from the American Culinary Federation. This award recognizes the most outstanding apprentice program in the United States. In July 1997, the Culinary Team place first in the National Hot Food competition held in Atlanta, Georgia,and sponsored by the American Culinary Association. In 1999, the Culinary Team placed first in Chicago with the American Culinary Federation National Hot Food Competition. In October 2000, the Culinary Team represented the United States in the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany. The Team won seven individual gold medals and placed second in the international youth competition.
- S.A.S. and Saudi Airlines in Jedda, Saudi Arabia
- Southern Sun Hotels in Hohannesburg, South Africa
- Alameda Plaza Hotel in Morellia, Mexico
Organizations/Awards
From 1984 to 1992, Jerry was the National Apprenticeship Chairman for the American Culinary Federation expanding the program from 55 cities to 129 cities. He is immediate past Chairman of the American Culinary Federation Accreditation Commission that works with 100 post-secondary culinary programs coast-to-coast.
Jerry received the "Chef of the Year" award from the Kansas City Chefs Association; the "Jessie Alice Kline" award from the Missouri Restaurant Association; the "National Education of the Year" award; the "National Distinguished Service" award; and a Presidential Citation from the American Culinary Federation. Jerry is past Chairman of the ACF-Greater Kansas City Chefs Association. In 1999, he received the "Chairman's Award" from the American Academy of Chefs. In February 2001, Jerry was awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award" bye the Missouri Restaurant Association. This award has been made only one other time in the Association's 85-year history. IN the fall of 2001, the Hospitality Program Instructional Kitchen, Dining Room, and Class Rooms at Johnson County Community College were name the Jerry Vincent Hospitality Suite. Jerry was also honored by having his name added to the Johnson County Community College "Wall of Fame".
Jerry has conducted seminars on "Changing Service Trends" for the Beef Industry Council in Dallas, Houston, Omaha, Wichita, and Kansas City. Upon Jerry's retirement from Johnson County Community College on December 1, 2000, the Missouri Restaurant Association as well as the Kansas City Hotel and Motel Association established scholarship funds in Jerry's name. These scholarships will assist students pursuing careers in the Hospitality Industry. At present, Jerry and his with, Pat, operate a pure-bred Limousin cow-calf operation near Paola, Kansas.