Chef Robert Pekar joined the faculty of Johnson & Wales University where he teaches classes in desserts, cake decorating and baking formula technology. Prior to joining the faculty at JWU, Pekar worked as pastry chef at Top Notch at Stowe Resort in Vermont and was executive assistant pastry chef at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Mich. He has won numerous awards from the Societe Culinaire Philanthropique and the American Culinary Federation.