New Food Service, Pioneer College Caterers, Welcomes Students Back for Spring Semester
When Wyoming Catholic College’s long-serving and beloved chef, Bruce Liu stepped away into retirement at the end of the Fall semester, it marked the end of a partnership nearly as old as the College itself. In fact, when he departed to a standing ovation at this December’s Gaudete Dinner, he had been the College’s primary chef and head of its food services for over eleven and a half years, having moved to Lander in March, 2011. “The College has been greatly blessed to have Bruce with us for so many years,” says President Glenn Arbery. “We are deeply grateful for the many contributions and sacrifices he made for us and our students over the years, and we wish him all the best in his retirement.”
As always, the end of an era marks the beginning of a new one, and the conclusion of Chef Liu’s time at Wyoming Catholic signals the arrival of a new food service provider in the College’s Frassati Hall: Pioneer College Caterers.
Lucas Preble, Vice President of Student Affairs at the College, says that “We’re pleased at the chance to partner with Pioneer, and are confident that this new partnership will be an excellent one for the College. These folks have a long history of successful service at institutions like ours, and they’re committed to meeting the needs of our college community. At the same time, we believe that their experience and the size of their network will give us access to additional resources and opportunities for our students.”
Based in Olathe, Kansas, Pioneer grew out of the need for “a college food service management company that is a good partner-in-service to Christian colleges and universities. It was founded to “provide for the food service needs of faith-based colleges and universities through a keenly-focused vision of unparalleled client service and an intimate knowledge of the faith-based college environment.”
Rick Rollino, the College’s Chief Financial Officer, says that “Pioneer was one of a number of campus dining providers that responded to our RFP, but they quickly separated themselves from the pack as the best option for the task. Their focus on faith-based institutions made them a natural fit, and their willingness to work with us in maintaining our existing culture and enhancing our other auxiliary services (such as WCC Catering and Crux Coffee) made them an easy and obvious choice.”
Scott De Lair, who will be working as the Food Services Director, says that “We are thrilled to be a part of this community. My crew and I have been hard at work here in Frassati Hall these last few weeks, preparing for the return of the students. I’ve been enjoying my interactions with these young people a great deal, and look forward to putting my skills to use in fostering the traditions and vibrant campus life that’s such a hallmark of this place.”
Scott brings over twenty years of food service experience to campus. Born in the northern Adirondacks in New York, he grew up hunting with his family, and the opportunity to experience the Wyoming outdoors is part of what drew him to this position. He has worn many hats in his career: contractor, volunteer fireman, fishing lure manufacturer, home and auto insurance salesman, and landscaper, to name just a few. He met his wife, Sabine, at college, which he originally attended with the goal of becoming a pastor. They have been married for 26 years and have two children, Noah, and Sophie. (Sabine will be joining Scott on the Pioneer team in Lander later this year, once Noah and Sophie complete their current semesters back in Pennsylvania.)
Welcome to Wyoming Catholic College, Scott and Pioneer!
