Chef Barnard’s life-long passions for culinary science, baking, and chocolate are augmented by a broad perspective of the hospitality industry acquired through a career in accounting and financial management. His professional career began in public accounting with a focus on gaming, restaurant, and food service-related clients. This was followed by a decade of executive management positions within the travel and tourism industry. A native to the state, he served as assistant finance director for the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority in northern Nevada for 15 years prior to relocating to Las Vegas.

Chef Barnard is a William F. Harrah College of Hospitality alumnus, holding a bachelor of science in culinary arts management, Summa Cum Laude in 2000 and a master of science in hotel administration in 2009. He has been a part-time instructor with UNLV for the past 19 years and was a faculty member at the International Culinary School (Henderson, NV) for 9 years.