The faculty, staff and administration of Victory Trade School are dedicated to helping the students achieve their goals, and support them in their interpersonal growth in a Christian environment. After completion, we work diligently to help our graduates secure appropriate jobs and assist them in finding affordable housing. We maintain contact with the students as necessary and continue to offer them the tools needed to live stable and productive lives.
Victoria Queen
President
As president of Victory Trade School (VTS) Victoria was challenged to plan, develop, organize, and open Victory Trade School and its social enterprise learning laboratories; the Cook’s Kettle, a neighborhood restaurant, The Branch Bistro & Catering, and The Vine, a greenhouse to help with sustainability of the restaurants. As a vertical extension of the school, the PREP program was created to prepare students for the next step into the Culinary Program, or for the future with life skills and a solid biblical foundation. The New Life Program mirrors the PREP program as women learn life skills and child development while immersed in biblical studies. As VTS gained accreditation through NCA-CASI, certification through the Missouri Department of Higher Education, and a Participation Agreement with Title IV to accept Pell grants it became necessary to offer a GED program to help men and women be eligible to enter VTS or the diploma equivalent to be able to get a job.
Victoria is a certified instructor for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. She also serves as an online instructor for City Vision College and has worked as an adjunct professor of business for Ozarks Technical Community College and the Federal Medical Center for Prisoners.
With Marriott Education Services, Victoria worked at Florida State University and then Missouri State University as Director of Catering. She developed a system of "area treatments", traveled as a catering specialist, and served on corporate sales teams for Marriott. Victoria has owned/operated two different restaurants and managed a country club. For ten years she was the Director of Hospitality for a private liberal arts college.
Victoria is currently completing her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration through Saint Louis University, after comprehensive exams in the fall of 2011; she will be ABD (all but dissertation). Her educational background includes a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelors of Science (BS) in Business Management, with a minor in Psychology. She has continued her studies through Acton University’s Free and Virtuous Society and Harvard Business School Social Enterprise training. Other educational training includes Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Jim Collin’s Good to Great Level 5 Leadership, Ruby Payne’s Understanding Poverty, Entrepreneurship, Auxiliary Law Enforcement, Serv-Safe, ProMgmt, ManageFirst, HACCP and a Private Pilot Certification.
Victoria is involved in the community as the Chairman of the Executive Board for the Community Alternative Sentencing Program (CASP) and through membership in the Chamber of Commerce, North Springfield Betterment Association, American Culinary Federation, and Commercial Club. She serves nationally as the Sr. Consultant for the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. For two years her articles were published in Rescue Magazine and she now serves on their Publisher Review Board.
Chef Roland Parny
Executive French Pastry Chef and Bakery Instructor, The Branch Bistro & Catering
Born in the center of France, Chef Roland Parny attended Saint Amand-Montrond Cher culinary school in Central France. Before working at Mississippi State University, his culinary experiences have included Capetown, South Africa, The Cordon Bleu and the Opera, Paris, France. He was instrumental in the inception and start-up of the national bakery-café chain, La Madeleine and was owner/operator of his own restaurant, Chez Roland of Natchez, Mississippi. He retired from Mississippi State University as Instructor & Coordinator in Culinary Research and Development of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion. In 2009, he established Chef Roland Enterprises, LLC to provide a variety of culinary services such as private training and culinary tours to Central France. Presently, he is employed with the Victory Trade School Culinary Program as Executive Baking/Pastry Chef.
Chef Brian M. Romano, CEC
Cook's Kettle Restaurant
Chef Brian is a graduate of the Academy of Culinary Arts with a Culinary Arts Degree, and a B.A. in Restaurant & Hospitality Management from the New England Culinary Institute. He has been a member of the American Culinary Federation since 1997 and was certified as an Executive Chef in March of 2003. Chef Brian is currently working towards Certified Culinary Educator.
Chef Romano has been cooking professionally for over 20 years, working in resorts, conference centers, and restaurants in Maryland, North Carolina, Colorado, and Missouri, as an Executive Chef and a Food & Beverage Manager. He has lived in Columbia, Missouri for the past five years, where he worked as the Executive Chef at the Mizzou Arena with the University of Missouri Athletic Department and at the Village Wine and Cheese Restaurant. Recently moving to Springfield, Missouri, Chef Brian is enjoying his position as a culinary educator at Cooks Kettle Trade School.
“To me, food is life. It brings friends and family back to the table. My passion is to create a great dining experience. I enjoy creating new recipes and varied menus, combining world flavors and infusing them with unique cuisine combinations. It’s a privilege preparing an exquisite meal for others”, says Chef Brian.
Chef Brian finds great satisfaction through training young aspiring chefs. In his words, “It is a pleasure to pass on what I have learned, not only professional knowledge and culinary skill, but also a legacy of serving others.”
Tony Turner
Dean of Students
Tony serves the student body of Victory Trade School. Daily he will work with the students helping them develop the skills they need to thrive and empower them to take responsibility for their lives. Tony’s undergraduate work was completed at MSU and has received a Masters of Arts in theology from Reformed Theological Seminary. He has been in Springfield since 1994. Tony began his career at South Gate Baptist Church in Springfield as the director of Student Ministries. He stayed in this position for nine years. In 2000, Tony felt a calling to start a church on the north side of Springfield, this church is called NorthBridge Church. Tony serves there bi-vocationally as the teaching pastor. Tony enjoys adventure and activity. He is a certified scuba diver, black belt in the martial arts and an accomplished water skier. He also enjoys reading and traveling with his bride.
Kyle Kearbey
Chair of PREP Education
Kyle leads the PREP department at VTS. He graduated Drury University with his Bachelors of Criminology and Lincoln College with his AA. Throughout college Kyle was a swimmer and received scholarships to Lincoln to swim. He felt a strong call on his life to learn more about the Word of God, which led hiim to attend Ozark Christian College to study theology as well. Kyle has been involved in Christian minisry for a number of years, including college ministry, youth ministry, preaching / teaching and community group / life group leadership. His passion is his family, and working with church leadership in a community setting to reach Springfield. His goal is to see the Gospel of the Kingdom of God moved forward in men and women, through learning in an academic setting where Christ is represented daily by instructors and staff. He enjoys table tennis and watching a good movie.
Becca Brotherton
New Life Program Coordinator
Becca received a Bachelors degree from Southwest Baptist University in Business Administration in 2001. After college she went to work at an International Boarding School in South Korea for six years. She worked in the Residential program for three of those years, living with the students and guiding them through the basics of school and life. She also worked as the Student Life Director where she led weekly Chapels for the students, organized and took part in service trips around Asia and mentored/discipled the students at the school. She loves working with students and seeing them grow and learn. She has always had a heart for missions, whether that be overseas or in the States and uses every opportunity to take part in ministry operations.
She is a member of River Bluff Fellowship where she serves as the Head of the Missions and Evangelism Team and also works with the elementary age children in the Children’s Ministry.
Chef Cindy Partin
Garde Manager & Instructor, The Branch Bistro & Catering
Chef Cindy owned and operated an Italian Restaurant in Tucson, Arizona for 10 years. She has worked as a garde manger chef at Lowes Ventana Canyon Resort for 6 years also in Tucson. After taking time off from her culinary career to go back to college for an accounting degree, she then spent the majority of the next 18 years as a bookkeeper. But, the food industry kept calling back.
Chef Cindy was hired as a garde manger instructor for VTS at the opening of the Branch Bistro. She hasfound it to be challenging as well as extremely rewarding. Chef Cindy feels Blessed that God has given her this opportunity
Chef Partin is happily married with a grown daughter and two wonderful grandchildren.
Holly Betts
Registrar
Holly received her Bachelors degree from American Intermittently University in Business Administration in 2006. She is from North Carolina and relocated to Springfield in 2008. Holly serves as the registrar for the school and her duties include keeping records, transcripts, class scheduling, etc... She is the central hub of information at Victory Trade School!
Cory Jefferson
Front of House Instructor
Cory is an ACF certified Culinarian, a certified nutritionist and is currently working on his B. S degree in Hospitality Management from Sullivan University. Cory started his culinary journey at the age of 13 working for a Bed and Breakfast. After several years he expanded into fast food and catering food establishments. At the age of 18 the church he attended selected him as the youth pastor where he worked for almost 6yrs until he completed college. He continued working in ministry and food service working his way up to Director of Food Services for a retirement community in Springfield MO. Cory’s next position was Food Service Director for a college. With a strong desire to use his talent in the culinary arts and his passion for ministry, Corey applied to Victory Trade School and began educating others and ministering to their lives simultaneously.
Matt Carleton
Executive Assistant
Matt serves as the Executive Assistant to Victory Trade School as a whole. He works to provide help and support to the entire staff so that they are effective and efficient in leading the school. Matt is currently working on completing both his Administration Management and Entrepreneurship degrees from Missouri State University. He feels called to plant a church in the Springfield area and will be pursuing a Masters degree from seminary when he graduates. Matt loves to read and fish in his spare time and is looking forward to being married in a few months.
Justys Renegado
Chair of GED and Candidacy
Justys superintends the operations of the Candidacy and GED programs. After graduating in 2008 from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary with an M.Div / emphasis on Expository Preaching, traveling through the pristine frontiers of Alaska as a Tour Director, and doing pastoral ministries in the Bay Area of California, Justys accepted the invitation in 2008 to return to Springfield, MO in order to serve within a pastoral capacity alongside his colleague and long-time friend, Jordan Hansen, senior pastor of the young adult church, 20Twenty. Utilizing his degree in communication, Justys coaches and coordinates the communication channels of 20Twenty and is the director of the Preaching League, a ministry chapter that services local ministers in the development of their craft as Gospel communicators. As an avid blogger, he hopes to one day become a published writer.
