Stephanie Gutierrez

“When I first started college, I wanted to be a head chef at a restaurant. After being in school, I changed my mind. I then had a drive to be a caterer.

"I want to be my own boss and have my own kind of business. At El Centro’s Culinary and Hospitality Institute, I’m learning how to plan a menu and use time management in the kitchen.

"Now with SkillsUSA, it’s teaching me to get where I want to go. The competitions are massive, and they teach the job skills that will help me in the real world. When you’re involved with SkillsUSA, it feels like a family. I first joined because I just wanted friends, but I didn’t know that it would teach me so much. I’ve developed workplace skills, personal skills and technical skills grounded in academics.

"You get to learn how to be, like, a genuine person and have integrity because you’re learning about yourself by being pushed out of your comfort zone.

"Growing up, my mom told me, ‘If you do tasks at 95% and have that 5% left unfinished, what’s the point?’ So, every single thing I do, I give it 100%.

"My mom means everything to me. I take her advice to heart.

"Going into the culinary field, I work at a really nice restaurant. I get to cook for, like, really famous clients, like Mark Cuban. I made sushi for him and the Dallas Mavericks. I also got to cook for the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I get to do really cool stuff for my job using my CTE, career and technical education. When I get home to Dallas, I’m going to celebrate our accomplishments by making fresh pasta. Ravioli with ricotta and pesto, plus Parmesan cheese on top.”

Stephanie poses with Mark Cuban after he visited her restaurant. 

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