Top Iron City Chef Competition

Fourth Annual Iron Chef Competition Held at Jefferson State

Pictured are competitors in the Iron Chef Competition. First row: Justin Fowler, Tony Jackson, 2nd row: Brian Lucas, Chef Angela Schmidt, Chef Joseph Mitchell, Brett Brewer, Chef Jeremy Downey and assistant, Ashley Peterson, Christina ElMurr, 3rd row: Cory Harrell, Chef Brittany Garrigus, Chef Sean Butler.

Jeremy Downey, executive chef of Vestavia’s popular Bistro V, was the winner at Vestavia Hills Rotary’s fourth annual Iron City Chef Cook-off at the Jefferson State Culinary Institute.

Downey’s initial menu of beef tenderloin, crab-stuffed shrimp, scalloped potatoes and double fudge brownie with peach ice cream won rave reviews from the sell-out crowd and placed him in a cook-off final with runner-up Chef Brittany Garrigus.

Within 30 minutes, each chef created an entrée and dessert from surprise ingredients, and Downey was selected the winner by a panel of four judges.

Downey’s sous chef, Christinia El Murr, won a $1,000 scholarship for her assistance.
Garrigus, a Jefferson State Culinary Institute graduate, is executive pastry chef at The Club.

Iron Chef Runner-up Chef Brittany Garrigus (L)
(The Club) and winner
Chef Jeremy Downey (bistro V).

 Guests enjoyed gourmet dishes prepared by the four competing chefs and student assistants, an extensive wine-tasting presented by Western Supermarkets and live Dixieland and jazz music by Sweet Licks.

A silent auction and raffle offered fine art, fine jewelry, a luxury vacation, a scholarship to the Viking Cooking School and other prizes.

Leading planners for the event were Rotarians Kent Howard, Josh Watkins, Scott Huner, Ted Strong and Joseph Mitchell, director of the Culinary Institute.

Among the more than 300 guests were:
Ray and Martha Hester, Larry and Alice Lee, Joe and Nell Staab, Joe Perez, Iraj Sooudi, Mona Fisher and Greg Ruff, Terry Cook, Martha and Ray Hester, Josh and Ann Watkins, Kent and Lisa Howard, Liz and Wayne Pate, Debbie and Ron Musgrove; Ted and Christy Strong, Todd Jackson, Glenn Rinsky, Todd Taylor, Lee Mathews, Jalona and Jay Patton, Kent and Lisa Howard, Scott and Sherry Huner, Becky and Bob Bradley, Nancy Selman, Scott Selman and Patti and Steve Lynch.

Winner Chef Jeremy Downey

and assistant JSCC CHI student, 

Christina ElMurr, receives $1000 scholarship.

Proceeds from the charity event will support the Vestavia schools’ math and debate teams, local disaster relief and Rotary International’s “End Polio Now!” campaign.

The Over the Mountain Journal 

New ACCS Leader

Alabama State Board of Education selects Heinrich to lead Alabama Community College System

The State Board of Education recently voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Mark A. Heinrich to lead the Alabama Community College System.

Dr. Mark A. Heinrich

Currently the president of Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, a position he has held since 2008, Heinrich had his second and final interview before the board on Thursday.

“I am truly humbled by the great level of confidence the Alabama State Board of Education members put in me today,” said Heinrich, upon learning of the board’s decision. “I love the Alabama Community College System and I believe in the work that we do. I am looking forward to meeting this new challenge head on and getting to work,” he added. “We have a lot of work ahead of us but with the support of the individuals within the System and at the Department of Postsecondary Education, we will get it done.”

Heinrich holds a doctorate in counseling from The University of Alabama, and earned B.S. and M.A. degrees in psychology from Tennessee Tech University. His higher education career spans more than 30 years, during which he’s held leadership roles in academic, student service and technical/vocational areas. During the time he was completing his graduate degree at The University of Alabama, Heinrich served on Coach Paul Bear Bryant’s staff as an academic counselor and tennis coach.

Before returning to Tuscaloosa in 2008 as president of Shelton State, Heinrich worked for Carson‐ Newman College in Jefferson City, TN as a faculty member and administrator. In addition to positions in academia, he worked as a private practitioner in psychology and serves on numerous community and academic boards.

Following today’s vote, Gov. Robert Bentley spoke of Heinrich’s ability to lead the System, saying, “We heard from two phenomenal candidates today. It was a very difficult decision, but when it came down to it, Dr. Heinrich had the knowledge and the experience that we were looking for to move this System forward. The job of being chancellor is no easy task but I know Dr. Heinrich is up for the challenge and he will get the job done.”

The Alabama State Board of Education selected candidates from Alabama, California, and Kansas as finalists for the position of chancellor of the System from among eight applicants who were recommended by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), the organization hired to conduct and guide the chancellor search.

Dr. Blake Flanders, vice president of Workforce Development for the Kansas Board of Regents, and Dr. Gregory Gray, chancellor of Riverside Community College District in California, were also selected for a second interview. Dr. Gray withdrew his name prior to the final interview.

The board complimented Flanders on his interest in the system and the perspective he provided based on his professional experiences. “I want to thank Dr. Flanders for going through the search and interview processes and I wish him all the best,” said Gov. Bentley.

Stephanie Bell, District III representative and vice president of the board, spoke of her confidence in the process that led to the board’s decision. “We have had the opportunity to interview outstanding individuals from across the country, making the decision more difficult than we anticipated. I believe that ultimately we have an outstanding chancellor who will work to bring people together and unite the System in a way we have not experienced before.”

Following today’s interview process, Gov. Bentley appointed a sub‐committee of the board tasked with negotiating the chancellor’s contract, which will be brought before the board on September 20.