Karen Schley has been teaching at ICE since 1995. In addition to her teaching duties, she writes and teaches some of ICE's proprietary classes, works in the special events division, caters small parties, and works as a private chef. Before ICE, Schley was the kitchen manager of Word of Mouth, a café and catering company, for six years. Her extensive career also includes years as poissonier at Maxim's, where she also did some pastry work, Seagrill and hotels such as the Intercontinental and the Polo Lounge at the Westbury Hotel. Because she has worked in almost every aspect of the food industry, Schley can teach and discuss whatever aspect of the business students want to learn, in what she calls a real give-and-take relationship. "I like meeting new people on a monthly basis, the diversity of students we get here," said Schley about teaching. "I like teaching people new things, new ideas. When it comes together for them, I feel I made a contribution."

While she does not cook much at home, Schley's favorite cuisines are Italian, for its simplicity, Asian and Indian. In the latter two, she enjoys the layering of flavors and of spices and the complexity created by the balance of sweetness, sourness and heat.

On April 9, Schley joined the select group of couples united by ICE, as she married a former chef assistant of the special events division she met seven years ago.

2005