PASSION. SKILL. INTEGRITY.
By Gordon D. Rader, CEC®, CCE®
I’M PRIVILEGED TO
SHARE MY OPINIONS
with my students from atop a
35-year;climb;up;the;ladder,
and although the view is
panoramic, I’m reminded that
there is still so much more to
learn. There has never been a
better time to be a chef, with
so much media attention on
our;industry;and;many;people;embracing;travel.;Our;culinary
landscape has changed for the better, and my students now have
opportunities that I only dreamt of at their age.
Fortunately;for;me,;ACF;certification;has;provided;so;many
opportunities;in;the;education;field;that;I;wouldn’t;have;experienced
without those powerful letters I proudly display after my name. I
worked;for;many;years;in;our;industry;without;certification,;but
the moment I passed the CEC®;exam,;everything;seemed;to;move
forward;quicker.;With;my;CEC®, I was able to begin my teaching
career;here;at;Indian;Hills;Community;College;in;Ottumwa,;Iowa.
Soon thereafter, I received my CCE®.;Our;program;has;advanced;in
so;many;unexpected;and;remarkable;ways.
Our;memberships;in;ACF,;our;accreditation,;and;our;intimate
relationship with the accomplished chefs across the nation who
make up the federation have given my students and me many
advantages.;I;am;often;asked;what;certification;provides,;and
my response is always, much more than what is anticipated.
Certification;should;never;be;taken;for;granted.
Our;responsibility;as;culinary;professionals;lies;in;three;fundamental
areas: passion, skill and integrity. These three words take on
profound;meaning;as;one;travels;on;his;or;her;life;journey,
bringing intense meaning and magical connotations. They unite
us as a community of chefs providing mutual support in achieving
goals and sharing countless opportunities to better ourselves.
Finding;one’s;passion;may;take;time;for;some.;Others;seem;to
embrace;it;from;an;early;age.;Once;passion;is;encountered,;one
must;cultivate;it;by;acquiring;the;skills;required;to;execute;that
Left to right, George Moser, student, Indian Hills Community College (IHCC); Chef
Julian Arranz, Escuela Internacional de Cocina, Valladolid, Spain; Gordon Rader;
and Mark Fisher, CWPC, pastry instructor at IHCC, prepare desserts for the school's
Culinary Arts Scholarship Dinner in January 2012.
passion. A chef can spend a lifetime honing his or her skills, and
as;a;true;professional,;is;never;satisfied;with;the;status;quo.;We;are
bound;by;the;integrity;of;our;profession;and;ACF’s;Culinarian’s
Code. It’s our responsibility to develop these characteristics
throughout our lifetime and instill them in future generations.
I believe, as we change ourselves for the better, we change the
world. So let me ask you some questions that I ask my students:
How much effort are you willing to put into your career? How
many hours behind the line are you willing to spend honing
your craft? How much time will you devote to seeking out those
who share your interests? How much reading and study time
will;you;do?;Are;you;willing;to;travel;and;possibly;sacrifice
time,;leisure;and;financial;gain;to;become;the;very;best?
One;by;one,;my;culinary;students;move;out;into;the;world
with;much;more;than;just;a;piece;of;paper.;As;they;forge;ahead
toward;new;certifications,;learning;experiences;and;lifetime
friendships, they will look back with great pride on our days
together;and;the;experiences;we;shared.;Their;skill,;integrity
and passion for our craft will be the magic that takes them
further in their careers. The best piece of advice that I can give
my students is to always work toward cultivating the best in
you. The power you wield is formidable.
GORDON D. RADER, CEC, CCE IS DEPAR TMEN T CHAIR OF CULINAR Y AR TS AT INDIAN HILLS
COMMUNIT Y COLLEGE, O T TUM WA, IOWA, AND A MEMBER OF ACF OF SOU THEAS T IOWA.
®
CANDIDATES FOR CCE® must submit a
hands-on demonstration video. A candidate
must perform 13 of 16 tasks adequately
and competently to receive a passing score.
The video, with corresponding lesson plan,
should include student interaction. For more
information, visit www.acfchefs.org/CCE
