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September 22, 2020Baker and Entrepreneur Takes on Teaching Roll at Capital Region BOCES
He once founded and ran for more than a decade The Placid Baker in Troy, but now Chris Snye is sharing his knowledge and skills with the next generation of bakers and chefs.
Snye is the new Culinary Arts and Hospitality Tech teacher at Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School’s Schoharie Campus, succeeding Nancy Iannacone who retired at the end of the 2019-20 school year.
“Being able to pass on skills and techniques to the next generation of culinary professionals is extremely rewarding,” said Snye.
The chef and entrepreneur started teaching his fall after working for a couple of years as Farm to School Coordinator /Culinary Manager in the Capital Region BOCES Shared Food Service Department.
He sold his bakery in 2015 to spend more time with his family.
Snye’s culinary resume starts at Paul Smith’s College where he earned a culinary degree before starting work in “fine dining establishments throughout the Adirondacks and other states.”
“I realized my passion for baking and pastry arts at The Lake Placid Lodge, a Relais & Chateaux property. I started honing my baking and pastry skills working with other talented pastry chefs and eventually created and opened my own bakery, The Placid Baker, which operated three years in Westport, NY and later for eight years in Troy before I sold it. (it continues to operate under that name),” Snye said.
The Placid Baker was not only a bakery, but also a deli and lunch operation so he was able to use his full facet of culinary skills while operating the facility.
As to his move to teaching, Snye said he is “excited.”
“When I saw the position at CTE Schoharie I was excited to share my knowledge of the Culinary Arts to aspiring chefs and students that are interested in the food service industry,” he said. “I enjoy seeing students thrive in a hands-on environment that is inclusive and fun.”
