Returning to His Roots, GTCC Alum Daryl Pobanz Inspires the Next Generation of Culinary Titans

GTCC Chef Instructor Daryl Pobanz stands in the same culinary labs where he once trained as a student, now guiding the next generation of aspiring chefs.

Daryl Pobanz’s journey to becoming a full-time culinary arts instructor at Guilford Technical Community College is a return to his roots, demonstrating how transformation, passion, and a strong desire to give back can come together. Nearly two decades after he first walked onto campus as a student seeking direction, he has returned to the very kitchens that shaped his future — this time to inspire the next generation of chefs.

Pobanz’s path was anything but conventional. He dropped out of high school at 16, with little guidance, and found himself working a series of manual labor jobs. He knew he wanted something more and had always enjoyed cooking, finding it more fulfilling than construction or moving furniture. That interest led him to GTCC’s culinary arts program.

“I came to campus and didn’t know what I was doing,” Pobanz recalled. “But I met a lot of great instructors who became mentors and saw potential in me. Before, there were a lot of crappy situations, and my experience at GTCC made a huge impact on me.”

This transformative experience ignited a fire in him. He earned his associate degree in culinary arts in 2005 and dove headfirst into the industry. His career has been rich and varied, spanning all facets of the culinary world. He helped open restaurants around Greensboro, honed his pastry skills, and even opened his own restaurant in 2008 before venturing into catering.

Despite his love for the fast-paced life of a chef, the birth of his family prompted a shift in priorities. “As much as I loved it, I wanted to be home more and be a present parent,” he said. This desire led him to pursue a degree in sports nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

His passion for teaching began to emerge as he taught community nutrition classes at the YMCA and a local hospital. Teaching people to eat healthy led him to want to teach people how to cook. An opportunity arose to teach as an adjunct instructor at GTCC, and he eagerly accepted, even while serving as the director of culinary training at Providence Culinary Training in Winston-Salem.

“I loved the job at Providence, but my heart was really at GTCC,” Pobanz said. For years, he remained deeply connected to the college and the local culinary scene, serving as a board member and now as president of the local American Culinary Federation chapter. So, when a full-time instructor position opened up at GTCC, he knew it was time to come home.

“It’s such a special opportunity to now be in that position those chefs were in — the ones who helped inspire me and transform my life as a young adult,” he said. “I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s the best thing ever.”

Today, Pobanz teaches a range of classes, from introductory culinary courses for first-year students to global cuisine. He brings his unique personal and professional experience into the classroom, relating to the struggles many students face while showing them a clear path forward.

“My personal experience with the school has had a huge impact on my style of teaching, and I like to think I’m passing on the tradition,” he said. “I think it’s helpful that I can relate to some of the common struggles that students have. That experience offers me the opportunity to reach them where they are.”

One of Pobanz’s primary missions is to strengthen community outreach and job placement for students. Leveraging his extensive connections with local restaurants and businesses, he aims to build a direct pipeline from the classroom to employment, benefiting both the students and the Triad’s vibrant food scene.

“I take that very seriously, and I hope to pass on the legacy and the high-level skill that’s been put into this school,” Pobanz said of his new role. “It’s an honor to be following in the footsteps of these great instructors. I want to take it in whatever direction it wants to go. I’m very humble and proud.”

For Daryl Pobanz, becoming a full-time instructor at GTCC is both a personal milestone and a way to give back to the community that changed his life. By supporting students as his mentors once supported him, he aims to pass on a legacy of inspiration and possibility.