Bernd Gronert has been a baking and pastry instructor for Trident Technical College for more than six years, beginning as a part time instructor prior to becoming fulltime. Chef Gronert maintains his educator status along with his industry activities which include owning and operating three Rococo bakery stores in Charleston, Florence, and Summerville. In his native Germany he served apprenticeships in both pastry arts and culinary arts. He later opened a sugar design school in Germany which was in operation  until he joined the  Johnson & Wales University faculty in Providence, Rhode Island  and moved to the United States to teach chocolate, sugar artistry, advanced decoration. He also taught for the Charleston and Miami campuses. While still in Germany, Chef Gronert completed his Masters in Pastry Arts education and all related  requirements for teaching in his field.