From Kitchen to Code
I'm Eric "Hunter" Petross - a justice-impacted individual with 20 years of fine dining leadership experience, now learning web development at Justice Through Code (Columbia University). My chef background gives me unique skills in organization, quality control, and working under pressure that translate perfectly to coding.
My Mission
To prove that second chances work. I'm building web development skills while leveraging 20 years of leadership experience from fine dining. Every project is a chance to show that justice-impacted individuals bring unique value to tech.
My chef background taught me mise en place (everything in its place), working under pressure, leading teams, and maintaining quality standards. These skills translate perfectly to writing clean, organized code and managing development projects.
Work With MeChef Skills = Code Skills
Organization, attention to detail, working under pressure, team leadership, and quality control - skills that make me a reliable and dedicated developer.
20 Years of Skills That Transfer
Fine dining excellence translates directly to code quality
Mise en place
Organized code structure
Everything in its place before service = Clean, maintainable code
86'd items tracking
Error handling
Managing outages in real-time = Graceful error management
Expediting orders
Project management
Coordinating multiple orders = Managing parallel development
Recipe costing
Resource optimization
Managing food cost = Optimizing application performance
Health inspections
Code reviews
Meeting strict standards = Writing clean, compliant code
Service pressure
Debugging under deadline
200+ covers on Saturday night = Production fixes at 2 AM
The Bottom Line
Every restaurant professional knows what kitchen leadership means. It means showing up no matter what, fixing problems in real-time, managing chaos with grace, and delivering excellence repeatedly. That's not just experience—that's your competitive advantage.
Organizations I've Learned From
These organizations have shaped my journey and continue to inspire my work
My Core Values
These principles guide my approach to development and every project I take on.
Authentic Journey
My story is real - from 20 years leading kitchen teams to learning code. Every project reflects genuine growth and dedication.
Chef-Level Standards
Mise en place, attention to detail, and working under pressure - chef skills that translate perfectly to clean, organized code.
Team Leadership
Two decades of managing teams, coordinating service, and ensuring quality - skills that make me a collaborative developer.
Learning-Focused
Currently a student at Justice Through Code, constantly growing my skills and applying new knowledge to real projects.
About Me
A justice-impacted individual with 20 years of leadership experience, now building a career in web development through education and real projects.
Eric "Hunter" Petross
Web Developer & Student
Justice-impacted individual transitioning from 20 years in fine dining leadership to web development. Currently learning at Justice Through Code (Columbia University) while building real projects and gaining freelance experience.
Expertise:
Connect with Eric Petross
Applied AI Solutions Engineer and freelance instructor with hands-on experience in web development, database management, and AI content creation. Continuously developing skills through ongoing education and practical projects.
Real Credentials & Experience
These are my actual credentials and experiences - no fabricated claims, just honest representation of my journey and current learning path.
Justice Through Code Student (Columbia University)
The Last Mile Program Graduate & Regional Ambassador
ReEntry Campus Program Education Advocate
The Moth Freelance Instructor
Outlier AI Content Writer
20+ Years Fine Dining Leadership
Associate Degree in Progress (CCRI)
Interactive Web Portfolio
Ready to Work Together?
I bring 20 years of leadership experience, a strong work ethic, and growing web development skills. Let's discuss how I can help with your project.