Culinary & Pastry Arts, Faculty
Martin Brunner CHE, CEPC
Professor, Program Coordinator Baking and Pastry Arts
brunnerm@sandhills.edu
(910) 695-3932
Little 113
Martin Brunner brings old world and local experience to his position in the 草霉视频原创 Community College program, where he has been teaching since 2003. Growing up living over the family bakery business in Hartberg, Austria, he became the fifth generation of family bakers, and trained under an Austrian Master Baker.鈥� In 1991, his family relocated the bakery to the U.S.
His first degree was from SCC, an associates degree in Business Administration in 1997. He also earned as associates degree in Bakery & Pastry Arts from Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, S.C. in 2000. In 2010 Brunner received his bachelors degree magna cum laude in Business Administration from UNCP in Pembroke, N.C. and became a Certified Executive Pastry Chef through the American Culinary Federation (ACF). He has taken advantage of continuing education classes and trained with Swiss and French Chefs to learn sugar artistry and French pastries.
His family has over 60 years in the bakery business. Brunner has also served as lead pastry cook at the Pinehurst Hotel, head baker at the Rococo Bakery in Charleston, S.C., and a pastry cook at Max and Moritz Bakery in Abdereen, N.C.鈥�
The awards earned by Brunner include Baking and Pastry Awards from Johnson and Wales University in 2000 and a bronze medal in the Bread Showpiece category in the ACF competition in Raleigh, N.C. in 2010.鈥�
Chris Currier CHE, CEC, ICE, CIC
Professor
currierc@sandhills.edu
(910) 695-3760
Little 113
Chris Currier came to 草霉视频原创 in 1999 with a strong education and outstanding work experience, starting with earning an associates degree in 1983 in Occupational Studies Culinary Arts at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y.
At the American Culinary Federation, he earned Certified Executive Chef status in 1998. In 2001, Currier became a Certified Hospitality Educator through the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
Currier has won numerous awards including the Best in Show medal in 1993, 1994 and 1998 at the North Carolina Culinary Salon in Charlotte, N.C. He earned first and second places in the North Carolina Taste of Elegance (1994, 1995) and the gold medal and grand prize as Best of Show in the Virginia Tide Waters Chefs Association Culinary Salon (1995).
He was named Chef of the Year in 1994 for 草霉视频原创/Cross Creek Chefs Association. He competed in the 1995 National Taste of Elegance in Chicago and earned a silver medal at the 1996 International Culinary Olympics in Berlin, Germany.
Curriers experience includes serving as executive chef (1991-2003) at the Pine Needles Resort Golf Resort from 1991-2003. Other chef experience has been at the Stouffer鈥檚 Valley Forge Hotel restaurant (Valley Forge, Pa.), Neils Off Premise Catering (Long Island, N.C.), The Newton Squire Inn (Newtown Square, Pa.), The Cellar Door Corporation (Wayne, Pa.), The University Club of Albany (Albany, N.Y.), Whiteland and Strafford Pubs Inc. (Main Line, Pa.)
Currier is the owner of CRC Iceworks, an ice carving company. The National Ice Carving Association certified him as an Ice Carver/Ice Carving Educator in 2010. In 2017 Chef Currier and teammate won the BP World Ice Art Championship in Fairbanks Alaska.
Erin Durkee, CHE
Department Chair Culinary and Pastry Arts, Program Coordinator Culinary Arts
durkeeer@sandhills.edu
(910) 246-4941
Little 105
Erin Durkee is originally from New Orleans and has lived in Italy where she had the unique opportunity to live and work on a vineyard while traveling Europe. She began her career in the arts, earning her Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Studio Art from St. Andrews Presbyterian College. She worked in arts administration for a local nonprofit group in Davidson North Carolina until rediscovering her love of food.
Chef Ducker has been working in the restaurant industry since the age of 17. She returned to school to earn her Associate鈥檚 degree in Baking and Pastry Arts here at 草霉视频原创 Community College. In 2012 she joined the faculty at SCC and in 2013 became a Certified Hospitality Educator through the American Hotel and Lodging Institute. Her specialty is creating desserts that are not only delicious but are crafted with precision and beauty.
Teaching is her favorite way to share her love of food and she finds it incredibly fulfilling to ignite the same passion in her students.
Todd Richter CEPC
Baking & Pastry Arts Instructor
richtert@sandhills.edu
Todd Richter began his adventure in Culinary Arts when he graduated in 1989 from the Culinary School of Kendall College in Evanston Illinois with an A.A.S. degree in Culinary Arts. Having found his passion in pastries, he moved on to a two year apprenticeship in Nashville Tennessee at the Opryland Hotel, a 2,000 room property, as a pastry cook.
Completing a three year pastry apprenticeship in cooperation with the American Culinary Federation at the Mobil Five Star/Five Diamond Cloister on Sea Island, Georgia, Todd was offered a full time position there where he worked for the next eight years. His talents and skills at the Cloister were recognized as he won scholarships to pastry classes and was nominated for Chef of the Year.
In 1999, he accepted a position at the Pinehurst Resort as the Executive Pastry Chef just in time for the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Open Championships. During his tenure, Todd has earned numerous awards such as 3 ACF Bronze medals, 5 ACF Silver medals and 2 ACF Gold/Best in Show medals.
Todd comes to Prestonwood Country Club from his most recent position as Executive Pastry Chef at the Forbes Five Star/Five Diamond Sanctuary at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Among his career highlights he most cherished the recent opportunity of cooking at the James Beard House in New York City and the Forbes Five Star Summit which was held at his home venue, the Sanctuary. Todd was awarded ACF/North Carolina Pastry Chef of the Year for 2013.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chef Angela Webb
Culinary Instructor
webba@sandhills.edu
When it comes to food, Angela Webb鈥檚 philosophy is quite simple. 鈥淔ood is essential for life, but good food, prepared well is essential for good living.鈥�
A long story鈥ery short
In 2006, after many years in corporate sales and marketing for companies such as Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Showtime and Prudential Securities, Angela enrolled at the French Culinary Institute (now, the International Culinary Center). After graduation, she honed her skills at Michelin and Zagat rated restaurants in both New York and Florida. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked with high-end caterers, A Taste of Pace and Lucques Catering. Through her own company Angela鈥檚 Table, she provided her client with personal chef services and private event catering. In 2010, she expanded her business to include wine sales and consulting by offering wine tasting and food and wine pairing seminars. Angela received her degree in history from Florida Gulf Coast University. She is a member of Phi Alpha Theta Historians鈥� Honor Society and a board member of Slow Food Charleston.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chef Deborah Davies
Culinary Instructor
daviesd@sandhills.edu
Little 239
Chef Davies holds an Associate in Applied Science Culinary Arts degree from 草霉视频原创 Community College. Locally she has worked at Forest Creek Golf Resort and, for the past 2 陆 years, for Chef Mark Elliott in Garde Manger, production team and catering operations.
An EXTREMELY proud Marylander, Chef Davies earned an Associate of Science degree in Nursing from Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville, NC. She then went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UNC Pembroke.After twenty years of working as a registered nurse, she went back to school to become a culinarian.
Chef Davies lives with her husband, Keith, a dog and a cat in Whispering Pines. She has 3 adult children and 8 grandchildren. She is also a NASCAR superfan.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chef Felicia Everts
Culinary Instructor
(910) 695-3796
evertsf@sandhills.edu