Culinary Staffing Agency Expands to Meet Shortage of Culinary Staff Throughout the Region
(Sept. 21, 2017) –New England’s largest temporary and permanent culinary staffing and training agency has announced the hiring of George O’Palenick as Senior Business Advisor. In his role, O’Palenick will assist in building upon Snapchef’s unique workforce development apprentice program, as well as its “earn and learn” Fast Track Culinary curriculum.
O’Palenick has a rich and distinguished career in all facets of the foodservice industry. He holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Food Service Management from Johnson & Wales University (JWU), where he was Associate Professor at the university’s College of Culinary Arts for more than 30 years, and actively involved with curriculum development. O’Palenick was named 2004 Educator of the Year by the American Culinary Federation (ACF) and was named the Federation’s National Chef of the Year in 1995.
Prior to joining JWU, O’Palenick was owner and executive chef at G.A. O’Palenick Catering in western New York. Currently, he is serving as Northeast Regional Vice President of the American Culinary Federation and has been an active member of the ACF Board of Directors for the last four years.
O’Palenick is a Certified ACF Culinary Judge and a Certified Lead ACE Certification Evaluator. He has taken Gold, Silver & Bronze Medals at the ACF Boston Food Show, numerous 1st and 2nd Prize Ribbons from the New York Food Show, and Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the IKA International Culinary Olympics. He is also a member of the Honorable Order of the Golden Toque.
“As a culinary educator, one always looks for the “window of opportunity to pass your knowledge onto those who will follow,” says George. “Snapchef” has given me the opportunity to learn and help others grow.”
Snapchef is expanding rapidly in response to the acute shortage of qualified culinary workers throughout the region. The company currently employees more than 1,500 staff, and places between 200 – 300 snapchefs per week, on a temporary basis, to a range of food service establishments including restaurants, caterers, hospitals, universities, sports stadiums, corporate cafeterias and more.
Snapchef provides each of its new employees with a mandatory 5-day basic training module that qualifies them for entry-level kitchen positions. To further their education and careers, Snapchef staff have the opportunity to complete the company’s unique, 14-module “Fast Track” culinary training and education curriculum over the course of two to three years.
This program allows staff the ongoing opportunity to work in the industry and earn income as they pursue in-depth culinary education and training to further their career progression, while at the same meeting the needs of the industry.
About Snapchef
Snapchef is a chef-owned and operated company specializing in temporary and permanent culinary staff placement. Clients include major universities, hospitals, five-star hotels, sports arenas, restaurants, caterers and corporate cafeterias. Daniela and Todd Snopkowski, owners of Snapchef, were awarded the 2015 Small Business Person of the Year Award for Massachusetts by the SBA in recognition of its positive impact on the small business sector and its workforce development efforts in Massachusetts.
Snapchef is a chef-owned and operated company specializing in temporary and permanent culinary staff placement. Clients include major universities, hospitals, five-star hotels, sports arenas, restaurants, caterers and corporate cafeterias. Daniela and Todd Snopkowski, owners of Snapchef, were awarded the 2015 Small Business Person of the Year Award for Massachusetts by the SBA in recognition of its positive impact on the small business sector and its workforce development efforts in Massachusetts.
