Appointments announced for Hotel at Kirkwood Center

Two more key staff members have been appointed for the new teaching hotel at Kirkwood Community College. As with many others in the new facility, their duties will include student teaching as well as guest services.

General Manager Lee Belfield announced that Kasi Tenborg has been hired as Restaurant and Beverage Manager at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. She was previously employed at Zins in Cedar Rapids.

Justin Billings was appointed Banquet Chef at The Hotel. Billings was previously with the Cedar Rapids Marriott.

Belfield saluted the two additions as “more home runs” for his rapidly forming team of hospitality professionals.

“Justin and Kasi are both graduates of the Kirkwood Hospitality Arts programs and have lived and worked at great success stories since graduating. They both bring that combination of laser-like focus on guest satisfaction and a tireless work ethic. They will return their learning experiences in like fashion for our future students,” Belfield observed.

Tenborg is a native of North Liberty and a graduate of Iowa City West High School. She graduated with two Kirkwood degrees in 2006, in Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts. In addition to her work at Zins as a sous chef, Tenborg taught Kirkwood classes as an adjunct faculty person the past year.

Justin Billings grew up in rural Delhi, Iowa and graduated from Maquoketa Valley High School. He graduated from Kirkwood's Culinary Arts program in 2002 and served as a cook at BBQ This! and Zins, as well as the Marriott for just under a decade.

More information on The Hotel at Kirkwood Center is available at the college Web site:

www.thehotelatkirkwood.com