In 1972, nine chefs met to form the Chefs/Cooks Association Laurel Highlands Chapter of the American Culinary Federation. The meeting took place at the Laughlintown Hotel, which is now known as the Ligonier Country Inn, located on Route 30 in Laughlintown, PA. The attendees and forefathers of our chapter were President Romeo Lupinacci, Vice President Bob Lilly, Treasurer Vince Steiger, Secretary Marshall Bailey, and members Jack Braun, Manfred Sander, Jim Stark, and Baron H. Galand.

In 1978, the chapter began it’s partnership with Westmoreland County Community College, which started a culinary arts apprenticeship program. The program initially became accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission in 1987, and today the program has an exemplary status.

Awards

1983 ACF Chapter of the Year

1992 National Kraft Award of Excellence for Apprenticeship

1998 ACF Regional and National "Little Oscar Award"

2010 Northeast Region Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl Champions

2011 Northeast Region Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl Champions

2012 Northeast Region Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl Champions

2013 National Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl Champions

ACF Laurel Highlands Chefs of the Year

1975 Harry Stewart, CEC, AAC

1976 Baron H. Galand, CEC, AAC, HOF

1977 James Timko, CEC, AAC

1978 Manfred Sander, CEC, AAC

1979 Richard Kazmersky, CEC

1980 Marshall Bailey, CEC, CCE, ACC

1981 Charles Kelly

1982 Bruno Marroncelli, CEC, CCE

1983 Lawrence Galley, CWC, CCE

1984 Thomas Peer, CMC, CCE, AAC

1985 Marshall Bailey, CEC, CCE, AAC

1986 Gregory Malley, CEC

1987 David Henderson, CEC, CCE

1988 Thomas Bogler, CEC

1989 Ronald A. Tarquinio, CEC

1990 William Hunt, CEC

1991 Stephen Wardega

1992 Michael Vernon, CC

1993 Thomas Schwendeman, CWC

1994 Randall Shook, CC

1995 Keith A. Coughenhour, CEC

1996 Carl Dunkel, CEC, CCE

1997 Cindy L. Panigal, CWPC

1998 Marlene Scatena, MA, RD

2000 William R. Hoffman, CEC

2002 Martin Thomas, CEC

2003 Steven Hill

2004 Mary B. Zappone, CCE, AAC

2005 Cindy Komarinski, CCC, CCE

2006 Pamela Stewart and Linda Pershing

2008 Regis Holden, CEC, CCA

2010 Tammy Fuchs, CEPC

2011 Paul K. Haines

2012 Tim Fetter, CEC, CCA

2017 Matt Moore