Meet the Chefs of Our Culinary Management Program
Cook at home
with some of Chef Thomas’
and Chef Tina's recipes:
Chef Thomas Kaltenecker, a European-trained chef, is the full-time instructor/executive chef for MCC's Culinary Management certificate program. A native of Austria and a graduate of Higher Federal Institution of Tourism in Semmering, Austria, Chef Thomas is a certified hospitality educator (CHE) through the American Hotel and Lodging Association and a master certified food service executive (MCFE) through the International Food Service Executive Association (IFSEA).
Chef Thomas' teaching style emphasizes hands-on learning so students are able to apply their knowledge and skills learned in class.
In addition, he believes in green technology and plans to order food products from local vendors and local farmers and find outlets for biodegradable waste leftover from cooking lab sessions.
Contact Chef Thomas at (815) 479-7741.
Chef Tina Drzal is a Chef Instructor at MCC. She has worked in many different aspects of the hospitality and travel industry. Chef Tina spent 16 years at United Airlines and traveled extensively around the world. Her fondest travel memories always related to the food, so she finally followed her passion and attended culinary school. In culinary school, she discovered a love for pastry and chose that as her focus. She graduated Phi Theta Kappa and won gold and bronze medals in culinary competitions.
Chef Tina has worked in bakeries, restaurants, a chocolate company, and with her own small company, selling pastries at local farmer's markets. She enjoys her time teaching, as it combines her background in training/teaching with her passion for pastries. She is especially honored to be the featured baker at the Galena Chocolate Fest.
Chef Sandra Johnston, a classically trained chef, is a part-time instructor for MCC's Culinary Management certificate program. She is also the director of Food Services for MCC. Chef Sandra is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York and has numerous years of experience in restaurant, country club, healthcare, test kitchen, and educational food service operations and management.
Chef Sandra combines hands-on learning with varied media application and demonstration to provide a diverse learning environment in which to develop and apply skills and knowledge from the classroom to the hospitality industry. Chef Sandra encourages students to develop their sensory skills through practice and knowledge, as well as their knowledge of current environmentally responsible and sustainable practices being applied within the food service and hospitality industries. She challenges students to be adventurous and try new foods.
Contact Chef Sandra at (815) 455-8793.
Chef Simon Pedersen is a part-time instructor for MCC's Culinary Management program. He is a classically trained chef with experience in many facets of the hospitality industry. He holds two associates degrees from Elgin Community College, one in Culinary Arts and one in Restaurant Management. He received his bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management from Roosevelt University.
His experience cooking, serving and managing in a variety of restaurants has provided him with a well-rounded understanding of front of the house and back of the house operations.
Chef Simon believes in hands-on, practical instruction and that every moment in the kitchen is a moment spent having fun.
Chef Pili Rios has been an educator for over 20 years. She is currently an adjunct culinary arts instructor, both at MCC and Harper College. She decided to become an educator so that she could inspire students to learn.
Chef Pili has received silver and gold medals in ACF culinary competitions. She received an AA in Hospitality Management- Culinary Arts from Elgin Community College, a bachelor's degree in management and leadership, and a master's degree in organizational leadership, both from Judson University.
Her culinary experiences include; cooking for Congress in Washington D.C., Austria and France.