Judges

Jim earned an Associate’s degree from the New England Culinary Institute in 2004 and immediately went to work at the restaurant A Single Pebble until 2009, learning to cook classic Chinese.  During this time Jim also attended classes at the University of Vermont and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Food Science, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in the same field.  His work on goats’ milk yogurt will be published in the Journal of Food Science later this year.  In 2009, Jim took a job at the Inn at Shelburne Farms where he is working as the Chef de Cuisine during the summer seasons.  This winter he is working as a chef trainer in the South Burlington School district where he is teaching staff new cooking techniques and introducing new menu items to the students.  In addition to cooking, Jim is also a security supervisor for Green Mountain Concert Services where he has worked for many large events including Phish and Barak Obama’s visit to Vermont. Jim is also an avid forager in the summer months and skier during the cold season.  He lives in Milton with his girlfriend and their two dogs. 

Jason is food activist, educator and entrepreneur, psychologist, father, husband and partner.  Most of the time, he is working to devise plans and projects where he can combine his many interests.  He runs a small business with his wife, FolkFoods, LLC., and can often be seen teaching fermentation and traditional food preparation classes with one or both of his boys in tow.  As part of the nonprofit mental health practice, Networks, Inc., Jason has a special interest in educating and supporting family's health and resiliency through mealtime routines and rhythms. 

Over the past 10 years, Gretchen's goal has always been to create healthy learning opportunities for people around her.  She has spent eight years teaching physical education and has started her fourth year overseeing the Woodstock Elementary School's meal program. Gretchen loves working with their students and staff to teach them about the benefits of eating nutritious and local foods by getting them involved in gardening and cooking. In the spring and summer you can find her in her garden, and in the winter you can find her on the nordic ski trails with her ski team skiers, her husband and children, Micah (age 3) and Ada (age 7). 

Since 2004, Barbara has been a deputy commissioner for the Vermont Department of Health.  She oversees the Divisions of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, and Alcohol/Drug Abuse Programs within the Department. She has led the Department’s effort to develop a comprehensive approach to working with community prevention and public health. Barbara's career spans 35 years of service at the state and local level and she is a nationally-recognized leader in the field of community-based prevention. She began her professional career working with communities in the Chicago area, focusing on developing healthy environments for families in city neighborhoods. Barbara began working for the State of Illinois in 1988 managing community prevention services for the Department of Human Services. She held a similar position in the State of Oregon, within the Health Division of the Department of Human Services (1997-2004).

Joel has wanted to become a chef since he was first exposed to the original Iron Chefs, Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, and Morimoto, at the age of nine. Another significant influence was his aunt who cooked vegetarian dishes with him for the holidays. An international cooking class during Joel's sophomore year in high school was the final spark. From then on he was unstoppable, taking every cooking class offered and paying close attention to his classmates from Twin Valley Union High School who were participating in Jr Iron Chef VT. Following graduation Joel attended culinary school at the New England Center for Arts and Technology and then landed a job cooking at The Hermitage Club in southern Vermont. Joel is looking forward to judging at the competition and hopes to be on the floor competing with his own team some day.