Dorsey Culinary Academy Opens With Ribbon Cutting In Pontiac

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in Pontiac on Saturday, May 7th celebrating the opening of Dorsey Schools’ (second) Culinary Academy in conjunction with the Pontiac Regional Chamber and the city of Pontiac’s 150th anniversary celebration.

Pontiac Mayor Leon B. Jakowski highlighted the need for a trained work force to stimulate business growth in Pontiac.

Patricia Fischer, president and CEO of Dorsey Schools, said, “We believe in Pontiac. We would like to be part of making Pontiac the gem of Oakland County.” 

William Mullan, Oakland County Media and Communications Officer, representing L. Brooks Patterson, presented a County of Oakland Declaration plaque to the culinary academy.

After the ceremony, guests in attendance were treated to a buffet lunch of creations by Dorsey culinary arts students.

Dorsey Schools anticipates great employment opportunities to be available for students who are being trained with work-force ready skills. Dorsey's Waterford/Pontiac Culinary Academy currently has 94 students. The first graduation is planned for September 23.

The Academy opened its doors last September, modeling its program after the very successful Culinary Arts Academy in Roseville.

Chef Milos Cihelka, who is a Certified Master Chef and founded the Michigan Chapter of the American Culinary Federation, recently joined the culinary faculty at Dorsey. He is also an internationally recognized culinarian.

Since Dorsey opened their first Culinary Arts Academy two years ago, the program has graduated 109 students, with 89 percent of them finding employment at restaurants, casinos, hospitals, bakeries and catering companies.

The ribbon cutting event was coordinated by Dawnaree Demrose of the Pontiac Chamber of Commerce and Rita Clark of Dorsey Schools.

Dorsey Schools is committed to preparing individuals for promising career opportunities, technologies and certifications for the culinary, medical, business, legal and computer fields.

Dorsey Schools serves the Detroit metropolitan area with six convenient suburban locations; Farmington Hills, Madison Heights, Roseville, Southgate, Waterford/Pontiac and Wayne/Westland as well as a location in Saginaw.


The Oakland Press
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/05/08/news/local_news/doc4dc7269cbf290793854895.txt?viewmode=fullstory