For Michael Matthie, an appetite for success and a passion for the hospitality industry are taking him places. After leaving his home in Jamaica in February of 2010, Matthie came to Florida and enrolled at the Miami Job Corps Center.  Here he aspired as a student of Culinary Arts and attended classes to earn his GED.  In the summer of 2012, Matthie received the good news that he’d been accepted into the Treasure Island Advanced Culinary Training program in San Francisco, California.  The program’s courses, ranging from Baking and Food & Beverage to Advanced Pastry and Fine Dining, offers instructional insight and hands-on training in the culinary & hospitality fields.  Matthie, who was often recognized for his leadership qualities at Job Corps, is well equipped for his new challenge at Treasure Island.  For starters, he not only excelled with the essentials and art of cooking in the kitchen, he also earned ServSafe Food Handler and First Aid Certificates. Also notable was the honorary award he received for Excellence in Event Catering on behalf of the center’s Community Relations Council. Chef Ivor Wilson, the Food Service Supervisor at MJCC, critiqued Matthie’s culinary credentials for his student Training Achievement Record prior to his completion of the program. Wilson said he is proud of Matthie’s accomplishments and knows he has the core skills and perseverance to succeed in the trade. Matthie also credits MJCC’s OCT Coordinator Carmen Bassetti , who played an instrumental role in guiding him through the Advanced Training application process and his GED Instructor, Michael Rackley, for encouraging his academic accomplishments. “I was proud to have been accepted to Treasure Island and I’m ready to begin learning more about hospitality, cooking styles and careers in culinary arts.  I’m willing to put forth the work and eager to begin a new experience,” said Matthie.  While he plans to work as a Line Chef after graduating, his long term goal is to become a Chef in a Fine Dining establishment.  Job Corps salutes this emerging talent for his many accomplishments and for serving as a role model to other aspiring young chefs!

Staff Writer- Lori Trujillo