Rick Moonen
Rick Moonen Seafood
Las Vegas, NV USA
"Find your passion, because that's what you are going to be best at, and that's what's going to make you kick the covers off in the morning. "
Career Roadmap
Rick's work combines: Business, Food, and Being Creative
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap QuizSkills & Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Culinary Arts/Chef Training
Culinary Institute of America
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Says that growing up as one of seven children, it took him a while to find his own unique self-identity.
2.
He went to a local college for two years, where he kind of just floated around, tried to find what he liked, what felt right.
3.
Started volunteering in the kitchen at a nursing home and he knew that he'd found his passion.
4.
Enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America; says that moving away inspired him to make a clean break and reinvent himself.
5.
That reinvention started on his very first day of classes; despite his crippling fear of public speaking, he stepped up as a group leader.
6.
After school, he stuck around to work at the Institute's restaurant, which is where he really started pushing himself to be a better chef.
7.
Says that the pressure and excitement of the hectic kitchen environment has always felt like home.
8.
Tells road-trippers they'll be "fine" doing anything, but if they decide to pursue their passions, that's when they'll truly succeed.