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: angela.alwood@jjc.edu

Culinary Arts Faculty

  • Dr. Eric Bell

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    Javier Reyes Gutierrez, Culinary Arts Purchasing Specialist
    Email: frreyes@jjc.edu
    Phone: (815) 280-1262

  • Chef Kathryn Sopko

     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

    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