New director at MCCC Culinary Arts Institute

TOWAMENCIN » The Culinary Arts Institute at Montgomery County Community College has appointed a new director.

Executive Chef John De Pinto, who has served as the institute’s business manager since 2013 has been named to fill the post. The Culinary Arts Institute is located at 1400 Forty Foot Road in Towamencin.

According to Gaetan T. Giannini, MCCC Dean of Business and Entrepreneurial Initiatives, De Pinto had a “highly successful career” before joining the college.

“John’s extensive experience will bring great value to the county’s culinary community as well as benefit Montco’s students,” Giannini said in a press release.

In the institute’s first five years, De Pinto helped increase admissions while reducing operational costs and raising productivity, according to the college. In 2015, he received the college’s Mustang Award “for services above and beyond expectation.”

De Pinto’s professional background includes culinary consulting, catering and food service. He Pinto has also taught at and managed local institutions, including The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia, where he was a chef instructor; and at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, where he was the regional executive chef. While at Lehigh, De Pinto was responsible for all the hospitality needs of the Dalai Lama during his 2008 visit to the university.

Working with food is some

By Digital First Media

SUBMITTED PHOTO Executive Chef John De Pinto was recently named director of The Culinary Arts Institute of Montgomery County Community College in Towamencin.