Chef Instructors

Our chef instructors have the ability, knowledge, experience, and motivation to professionally train and inspire our students. Each chef instructor brings more than 10 years in the foodservice industry to the table.

fab food chicago

Chef Instructor Ched Pagtakhan shares crawfish Étouffée recipe.

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Grocery hacks

Chef Instructor Ched Pagtakhan gives tips and tricks for saving money on groceries during these hard times.

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just encased

Chef Instructor Ched Pagtakhan and cousin Samuel Chee settle Just Encased food truck at the Dallas Farmers Market.

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Ethan Starr

Ethan Starr

Program Director

Chef Ethan Starr has over 16 years of experience in the culinary industry where he specialized in fish fabrication and sushi. He has worked at several DFW restaurants including Shinjuku Station, Sushi Zushi, Kona Grill, and Max’s Wine Dive. Most recently, Chef Starr was Head Sushi Chef/Kitchen Sous at Tokyo Cafe. Over his time in industry, Chef Starr has gained valuable experience in restaurant operations and supervisory management.

Ched Pagtakhan

Ched Pagtakhan

Culinary Operations Manager

Chef Ched Pagtakhan graduated from Triton College in Chicago and received his A.A.S. degree in Culinary Arts. He has over 22 years of diverse industry experience that includes management positions in luxury hotels, resorts, fine dining restaurants, high volume catering, corporate dining and culinary education. Chef Ched has been teaching culinary arts for over 11 years and was awarded the “2014 Culinary Educator of the Year” by the American Culinary Federation, Windy City Chapter for his work as Head of the Culinary Program at Triton College. He also owns and operates a local food truck business, Just Encased LLC, which focuses on scratch-made sausage sandwiches with distinct flavor profiles.

Rosemary Headshot

Rosemary Pagtakhan

Culinary Instructor

Chef Rosemary Pagtakhan attended Kendall College in Chicago and received her A.A.S. degree in Culinary Arts. She has over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry ranging from hotels, bakeries, senior care and education working in both front and back of the house. Chef Rosemary loves cooking and teaching both savory and sweet foods. Her background stems from French cuisine and pastries and includes different areas of hospitality management. 

Our Faculty & Staff

Denise Fullmer

Culinary Instructor

Chef Denise Fullmer joins The Culinary School of Fort Worth with over 40 years working in Food Service. Throughout her career, she has enjoyed teaching cooks of all levels, she has competed both nationally and internationally, and she has enjoyed working independently with all who have an interest in Food Arts. She has served as Coordinator of Live Healthy Forest Park and as an Advisor for various Community Colleges. Chef Fullmer has been a personal chef, private caterer and food writer, and she has over 20 years experience teaching Culinary Arts and Food Service at the college level. More than anything, she strives to instill in her students a genuine passion for cooking while motivating them to explore their industry interests as individuals.

Administrative staff

The faculty at our school have the heart of a teacher with a high appreciation of excellence and a passion for the culinary industry.

Scott Wade

Scott Wade

President

Scott Wade is president of The Culinary School of Fort Worth. He and the team at The CSFTW are committed to leveraging the school’s capital for the good of its students, alumni and the local culinary community as a whole.

Scott received his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University. He has a background in operations, management and finance. He enjoys investing in his local community by serving as an elder at Fort Worth Presbyterian Church and serving in the past on the board of Covenant Classical School and as a trustee for The Fort Worth Employees’ Retirement Fund.

Scott is grateful to have three sons and a wonderful wife. His favorite pastime is heading down to Rockport, TX with the family where they enjoy the beach and some good salt-water fishing.

Peter Ramos

Peter Ramos

Financial Aid Coordinator

Peter is the Financial Aid Coordinator at The Culinary School of Fort Worth. He was born and raised here in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and then went on to obtain his Master of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Arlington. He has over ten years of experience in banking and finance as well as ten years of experience in the restaurant industry. He has a passion in helping others achieve their dreams of becoming a chef. In his free time, he volunteers at his church and at his son’s school. Peter enjoys cooking, history, and gardening, but most of all he loves spending time with his wife, young son, and his chihuahuas.

Danielle Rueter

Danielle Rueter

Director of Compliance & Financial Aid

Danielle is the Director of Compliance at The Culinary School of Fort Worth. She grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and loves calling it home.

Danielle graduated from Saint Petersburg College in Clearwater, Florida and returned to Texas in 2013. She has a background in office management, compliance, and financials in both the electronic recycling and automotive industries.

She enjoys travelings, spending time with her wonderful family and friends, and loves being involved in the local culinary community.

Holly Anderson

Holly Anderson

Operations Manager

After three decades of working in public schools as a teacher and administrator in the Fort Worth community, Holly took a leap into postsecondary education, from children to adults.

Though she did not grow up in Fort Worth, she and her husband Mike have called it home for thirty years and raised all three of their children here. She reads to learn and to dream. She is a collector of stories and is passionate about hearing the stories of the people she meets every day. She lives the truth that you are never too old to change your story, to live a better story, and to learn something new along the way.

Michele Reichman

Michele Reichman

Admissions

Michele has lived all over the country, but she has lived in Fort Worth for 18 years and worked in administration for 30 years. She is active in her church: singing in the choir and mentoring ladies. In her free time she loves baking, making greeting cards, sewing and traveling with her husband Al. They have one daughter and a son-in-law.

Cristina Tapia

Cristina Tapia

Marketing Coordinator

Cristina Tapia was born and raised in Fort Worth. Her involvement in the Culinary Program at Green B. Trimble Technical High School guided her to pursue the food service industry. With the help of the Texas Restaurant Association(s) and the Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival scholarships, she was able to attend the University of Houston. In 2021 she received her bachelor’s degree in Restaurant Management with Magna Cum Laude honors. She enjoys cooking cultured Mexican food from Guanajuato and learning something new every day.

Taylor Nevitt

Taylor Nevitt

Kitchen Coordinator

Taylor Nevitt is a Fort Worth native and alumni of The Culinary School of Fort Worth.  She has always had a passion for cooking. In high school and while attending CSFTW, she worked as an instructor at Young Chef’s Academy. She’s also previously worked as a cook for a Fort Worth country club, as a preschool teacher, and as an assistant manager for an ice cream shop. Currently, she works for Just Encased Food Truck and has for five years. Taylor’s very excited to be back at CSFTW to help the students have the best learning experience possible.

Jason Avelson

Jason Avelson

Director of Apprenticeship

Chef Jason Avelson attended Tarleton State University and received his Bachelors of Applied Arts and Sciences with focuses in Education, Nutrition, and Business. He is a veteran of the Armed Forces and graduated at the top of his class from The Culinary School of Fort Worth. Chef Avelson specializes in student focused learning and southern comfort classics. Chef Avelson is a Certified Chef de Cuisine® and Certified Culinary Educator®. 

Advisory board

Our advisory board is composed of business leaders in the food service industry. They possess expertise in their sectors that commit to our mission statement. Their input on our Professional Culinary Program ensures our curricula remain relevant and our students graduate with the skills and techniques needed for the industry.

Samantha Traweek

Head Chef

Zeno’s on The Square

Ched Pagtakhan

Owner

Just Encased Food Truck

Richard Miller

Talent & Culture Manager

Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Russel Kirkpatrick

General Manager

Reata Restaurant

Ginger Blazek

Director of Business Development

Fresh Ideas Management, LLC

Patrick Mitchell

Corporate Culinary Ambassador

Ben E. Keith Foods

Zen On The Square
Just Encased Logo
MCC Logo
Reata Restaurant Logo
Leaf Logo
Ben E Keith Co Logo