Sessions of 2025 Summer Conference: Joseph Kalfus

Mr. Kalfus, Joseph

Culinary Program Director and College Dual Enrollment Faculty Liaison

Education M.A. Ed, Career Technical Education Northern Arizona University B.S. Hotel and Restaurant Management Northern Arizona University Biography Chef Kalfus' experience in the hospitality field spans 30+ years. Beginning with working in independent restaurants as a teenager. Chef Kalfus went on to earn a degree at Northern Arizona University in Hotel and Restaurant Management. With that degree he had the opportunity to work for Marriott Properties (Fairfield Inn and Camelback Inn). He also spent time operating restaurants, spending 9 years working for The Old Spaghetti Factory. There he learned the skills needed for managing all aspects in hospitality related fields, working as a Kitchen Manager, Dining Room Manager, and General Manager. Chef Kalfus has spent the last 20+ years teaching culinary and hospitality at both the high school and college level. During this time, he returned to Northern Arizona University to earn a Master's Degree in Vocational Education. Chef Kalfus has had the opportunity to teach across the Maricopa County Community College District System, spending time at Estrella Mountain CC, Scottsdale, CC, Mesa CC, as well as Phoenix College. Additionally, Chef Kalfus spent four years teaching for Le Cordon Bleu as an Associate Online Professor of Hospitality Management. Since 2014, Chef Kalfus was the Culinary, Commercial Baking, and Hospitality Program Director at the East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa, Arizona. There he also coached the FCCLA culinary competition team. Chef Kalfus joined the residential faculty at Estrella Mountain Community College's Culinary Institute during the summer of 2021. Since the summer of 2023, Chef Kalfus has been the campus-wide dual enrollment faculty liaison, overseeing academic and CTE dual enrollment opportunities with high school partners.