Chef April Goess is managing director of CIA Texas, the San Antonio campus of CIA. She oversees all associate degree programs in Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry Arts, professional development courses, conferences, classes for food enthusiasts, and the campus’s restaurant operations.
A Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE), Goess also brings her passion for teaching to the CIA’s Saturday Kitchens program, where she leads hands-on cooking classes for food enthusiasts on a wide range of culinary topics.
Goess began her CIA journey in the Admissions Department at CIA’s New York campus, where she spent four years before relocating to San Antonio in 2008 as part of the founding team that launched the CIA’s Texas campus. She served as director of education for seven years before assuming her current role in 2017.
Her culinary career spans coast to coast, including roles as Executive Chef at California’s historic Eureka Inn, where she managed three restaurants including the Wine Spectator Award-winning Rib Room; Sous Chef at the acclaimed Benbow Inn in Garberville, CA; and General Manager of Crew Wine Bar in Poughkeepsie, NY.
A proud CIA alumna, Goess earned her associate degree in Baking and Pastry Arts in 2001 her bachelor’s degree in Baking and Pastry Arts Management in 2003, and her master’s degree in Food Business in 2021. As a student, she volunteered with the CIA faculty team at the 2000 Culinary Olympics in Germany, contributing to the creation of intricate pastry showpieces.
She remains actively engaged in the hospitality education community through her involvement with the Eta Sigma Delta honor society, the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE), and the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. She also serves on the Technical Committee of SkillsUSA, advising culinary competitions nationwide.
When she’s not on campus, she fuels her passion for the culinary arts by exploring new restaurants and traveling to exciting food destinations with her friends and family. She also enjoys gardening and remains dedicated to serving the community through volunteering.