A class of 2021 graduate of Capital Region BOCES is hoping her passion for baking combined with the skills she learned in the Career & Technical Education Center will provide her with the recipe for business success.
Culinary Arts & Hospitality Tech graduate Natalie Vogel recently opened Short&Sweet, a pastry business based in her Guilderland home. She is focusing mostly on preparing cakes, cupcakes and pastries and has a steadily growing list of events she has served, including bridal showers, birthdays and a wedding.
“Though small at this time, the operation is growing, Vogel said, and she is hopeful of soon opening a pastry food truck to put its growth into high gear.”
“I feel like it would be fun to travel with the truck and get the business traction. You don’t see too many pastry food trucks, and I think it would fill a nice void,” she said.
During her two years at BOCES, the petite teen with a big personality had a large presence on the Career & Technical Education Center – Albany Campus. She served as vice president of the SkillsUSA organization, organized coat drives, took part in food drives and competed in local and state culinary competitions while at BOCES.
“BOCES is a really great opportunity for anyone who is interested in culinary or just learning some important skills,” she said.
Vogel said the training she received at BOCES gave her a great base from which to grow.
“I got a good amount of experience with events at BOCES. It gave me as a young person a taste of what the culinary field would be like and helped me grow. I couldn’t imagine doing this without having gone to BOCES,” she said.
Her former teacher Paul Rother praised the ambitious student.
“Natalie has an amazing eye for detail,” he said, adding he wished her well in her endeavors.
The Culinary Arts and Hospitality Tech program is one of more than two dozen programs offered by Capital Region BOCES to high school students looking to enter a trade. More than 100 students are currently enrolled in the program; more than 1,300 students are enrolled in Capital Region BOCES Career & Technical Education programs this school year.
For more information on Capital Region BOCES programs, visit https://www.capitalregionboces.org/career-technical-education/courses-programs/.