Triton Chef Takes His Culinary Journey to the Obama Presidential Center

RIVER GROVE, Ill. — When Chef Manuel Uribe first stepped onto Triton College’s campus as a high school student in 2008, he never imagined where his culinary journey would take him.

Now a faculty member in Triton’s Hospitality Industry Administration (HIA) program, Uribe is helping lead food operations at the recently opened Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, where he has cooked for former President Barack Obama and helped create opportunities for Triton students to follow in his footsteps.

The experience has been surreal for Uribe, director of community engagement for Bon Appétit Management Company, which oversees food operations at the Presidential Center. Uribe was part of the team that fed guests during the center’s dedication ceremony in June, a star-studded event featuring celebrities, global leaders and several former U.S. presidents.

I never would have thought when I started my journey at Triton College as a student in 2008 that I would one day be in a room of presidents.

Despite the high-profile guest list, Uribe is accustomed to the fast-paced nature of the food-service industry and the pressure of keeping operations running smoothly. For him, the Presidential Center’s dedication was simply another day in the kitchen.

“At the end of the day, I get more nervous cooking for my immediate family,” he said.

Uribe credits Triton faculty with helping him develop his culinary skills and find a career path.

“Triton really helped me get my career started,” he said. “As a student who wasn’t born in this country, I couldn’t see a future where the opportunities I’ve had would come my way.”

After graduating from Triton, Uribe worked in restaurant and hospitality management throughout the Chicago area before returning to his alma mater in 2016 as a Culinary Arts faculty member.

Today, Uribe draws on his classroom experience and continued work in the food-service industry to prepare students for the realities of the field. By remaining active in the industry, he can adapt his curriculum to reflect the skills and knowledge employers are seeking.

“The world is changing, so just because I did something in the field 10 or 15 years ago doesn’t mean it’s still happening,” he said. “I want to make sure that the students are primed.”

That preparation goes beyond teaching students how to cook. Uribe wants them to understand the wide range of opportunities available in the hospitality and food industries.

“My goal isn’t simply to teach students how to cook, but to prepare them for a career.”

That career-focused approach is central to Triton’s HIA program, which provides hands-on training for careers in culinary arts, baking, restaurant management and hotel management.

Learn more about the HIA Program at Triton College by visiting triton.edu.

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Media Contacts:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper | melissacooper@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3496
Hunter Oberst | hunteroberst@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3820

ABOUT TRITON COLLEGE:
Triton College, located at 2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove, is a public institution of higher education dedicated to student success. Recently recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the Top 200 community colleges in the nation, Triton offers more than 130 degree and certificate programs that prepare students to pursue meaningful careers, transfer to four-year universities, and thrive in a global economy. Guided by our mission—Valuing the individual, educating and serving the community—Triton serves nearly 17,000 students annually on its 110-acre campus in River Grove, Illinois. Our dedicated faculty and staff provide high-quality, accessible and affordable educational opportunities that empower students and strengthens the communities we serve. Triton College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of The Illinois Community College Board. Illinois is home to 45 colleges in 39 community college districts. Learn more at triton.edu.