ProChef Success Stories – Igniting Inspiration

"The CIA is the best thing that ever happened to me." Steve Hickman

ProChef Level III Success:
Executive Chef Steve Hickman, C.E.C.

Steve Hickman knows what it means to work hard. From humble beginnings as a dishwasher to executive chef of the Hillsdale Community Health Center in Hillsdale, MI, his 20 years in the business has been a challenging and rewarding venture. "I never received formal training in the culinary arts, so I had to work from the bottom up," he said. "My training came from working in private restaurants, a major hotel chain, and country clubs."

Today, Steve looks to the professionals at The Culinary Institute of America for continuing education. "It wasn't hard for me to decide what school to attend for professional development," he said. "I wanted to come to the top school in the country, and for me that meant the CIA. I've learned a lot from the chef-instructors because they are very flexible, and with each new course they share different views and expertise."

Since 2004, Steve has participated in more than 20 professional development courses at the CIA. Like many experienced chefs, he knows that staying current in the industry is essential to his success. "At the CIA, I've had the opportunity to experiment with other cuisines, fine tune my skills, attain a solid level of confidence, and meet people from all over the world in every facet of the industry," he said. "Professional development courses have definitely been beneficial to my career."