Culinary Arts Faculty and Staff

Meet our very talented and accomplished faculty and staff

Chef Michael McGreal, Department Chair

Location: JCTR-2010
Phone: (815) 280-1239
Email: mmcgreal@jjc.edu

M.Ed. Robert Morris University
B.S. University of St. Francis
A.A.S. Joliet Junior College
Chef Training Trade-Washburne Trade School
Certified Executive Chef
Certified Culinary Educator
Certified Hospitality Educator
Certified Hotel Administrator
Certified Food Service Management Professional
Master Certified Food Service Executive
Chefs Move to Schools Advisory Board
Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition, Consultant and Trainer
2011 Awarded ACF Presidential Medallion
2010 NISOD Excellence in Teaching Award
2006 University of St. Francis Outstanding Professional Achievement Award
2006 ProStart Mentor of the Year
Author: Culinary Arts Principles and Applications
Author: Culinary Math Principles and Applications
Author: 50 Effective Knife Techniques
Author: National Apprenticeship Training Program for Cooks

Angela Alwood, Operations Support Specialist

Location: JCTR-2004
Phone: (815) 280-1255
Email: a ngela.alwood@jjc.edu

Culinary Arts Faculty

Dr. Eric Bell
Dr. Eric Bell, Professor of Culinary Arts Management
Email: ebell@jjc.edu
Phone: (815) 280-1236
Office: JCTR-2012
- Doctorate of Educational Leadership from St. Francis University
- Master's in Business Administration from Indiana University (minor in marketing)
- Bachelor's of Science from Purdue University in Restaurant, Hotel and Institutional Management
- Tips certified Trainer
- Level 1 Sommelier
- Certified Hospitality Educator
- ACF Hospitality member
Chef Paul D. Bringas
Paul Bringas, Professor of Culinary Arts
Email: pbringas@jjc.edu
Phone: (815) 280-1241
Office: JCTR-2007
- Bachelor's of Arts from Governors State University (2013)
- Associate of Applied Science from Joliet Junior College (2006)
- Certified Executive Chef
- President ACF Louis Joliet Chapter (2012-2014)
- Coach of the Hot Foods Competition Team
  - 2014 Illinois State Champion Gold Medal
  - 2014 Regional Silver Medal
- 2008 Louis Joliet Chapter Chef of the Year
Chef Tim Bucci
Tim Bucci, Professor of Culinary Arts
Email: tbucci@jjc.edu
Phone: (815) 280-1223
Office: JCTR-2009
- Bachelor's of Science from Purdue University, Calumet
- Culinary Arts Program at Joliet Junior College
- Certified Executive Chef
- Certified Culinary Educator
- Certified Hospitality Educator
- Food Service Management Professional with the National Restaurant Association
- Master Certified Food Service Executive
- One of six American Culinary Federation Certified Judges in the state of Illinois
- World Culinary Olympic gold medalist in the 2008 Culinary Olumpics
- World Culinary Olympic silver medalist in the 2004 Culinary Olympics
- 19 Gold Medals, 16 silver medals, and four bronze medals in American Culinary Federation Sanctioned Competitions
- Co-captain of the gold medal winning Student Hot Foods team
- 2008 Louis Joliet Chapter Chef of the Year
- 2008 ACF Central Region Educator of the Year
- 2009 National American Culinary Federation Educator of the Year
- 2010 Coach of the Student Hot Food Team Regional Champions
- 2010-2012 Member of Culinary Team USA; represented USA in two international competitions: Villeroy and Boch Culinary World Cup in 2010, earned two gold medals and 3rd place in the world
- 2012 - Competed in the World Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany; earned two silver medals, second place in the world in our cold program and sixth place out of 37 teams overall
- 2011 Coach of the National Student Team Hot Food Champions
- 2011 Coach of the National Student Culinarian of the Year
Chef Andy Chlebana
Andy Chlebana, Professor of Culinary Arts
Email: achleban@jjc.edu
Phone: (815) 280-1235
Office: JCTR-2009
- B.S. Hospitality Management, University of Phoenix
- A.A.S. Culinary Arts, Joliet Junior College
- Certified Executive Pastry Chef
- Certified Culinary Administrator
- Certified Hospitality Educator
- 2015-2016 Pastry Chef Culinary Team USA
- 2015 ACF Culinary Classic - First Place
- 2015 Food Network Spring Baking Championship - First Place
- 2013 Dessert Professional Magazine Top Ten Pastry Chef in the United States
- 2012 Dubai World Hospitality Championship - Second Place, Gold Medal
- 2012 Team USA Coupe du Monde Captain - Fourth Place
- 2011 Pastry Live National Showpiece Championship-Most Excellent (best overall)
- 2011 Food Network Challenge, Sugar and Candy Fashion - First Place
- 2008 Central Region Pastry Chef of the Year ACF
- 2008 ACF National Pastry Chef of the Year
Chef Mark Muszynski
Mark Muszynski, Professor of Pastry and Baking
Email: mmuszyns@jjc.edu
Phone: (815) 280-1237
Office: JCTR-2007
- Certified Executive Pastry Chef
- Epicurean World Master Chef Society
- Bachelor's of Science Hospitality Management, University of Illinois
- Hotel Consult de Cesar Ritz, Switzerland
- Voted Best New Pastry Chef in the USA in 1998
Javier Reyes Gutierrez

Javier Reyes Gutierrez, Culinary Arts Purchasing Specialist
Email: frreyes@jjc.edu
Phone: (815) 280-1262
Chef Kathryn Sopko
Chef Kathryn Sopko, Assistant Professor of Culinary Arts
Email: ksing@jjc.edu
Phone: (815) 280-1229
Office: JCTR-2006
- Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership, Lewis University
- Departmental Honor Award, Organizational Leadership, Lewis University
- Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts, Joliet Junior College
- Silver Medalist, ACF Student Team Competition
- Certified Executive Chef, ACF
- Certified Culinary Educator, ACF
- Certified Culinary Administrator, ACF
- Certified Hospitality Educator, AHLEI
Chef Kenneth Thompson
Kenneth Thompson, Professor of Culinary Arts
Email: kthompso@jjc.edu
Phone: (815) 280-1254
Office: JCTR-2006
- B.P.S. Culinary Arts Management-The Culinary Institute of America
- A.O.S. Culinary Arts-The Culinary Institute of America
- American Culinary Federation Certified Executive Chef
- American Culinary Federation Certified Culinary Administrator
- Pro-Chef Level 3 Certificate-The Culinary Institute of America