Title: Pit Master, Business Owner
Company: Gocki’s Smokin’ BBQ
Location: Greenfield, IN
Career History: Owner/Pit Master, Gocki’s Smokin’ BBQ, Greenfield, IN (2020-Present);
Voice Communications Engineer IV, CBTS, Fishers, IN (2011-2020);
Field Service Technician/Systems Installer, G3 Technology Partners, Indianapolis, IN (2006-2011);
Field Service Technician/Systems Installer, Dugdale Communications, Indianapolis, IN (2002-2006);
Senior Customer Systems Engineer, Avaya Communication (1992-2002)
Scott Wilgocki, Pit Master and Business Owner at Gocki’s Smokin’ BBQ, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of food services.
After more than 25 years of professional experience as a technician and engineer for numerous telecommunications-based companies, Mr. Wilgocki decided to devote his career to his ever-reliable side job—catering, barbecuing and producing high-quality and delicious meals to people. Since 2020, he, alongside his wife, Pat, has been running a strong food truck business with Gocki’s Smokin’ BBQ, whose specialties include smoked meat, unique rubs, sauces, and coleslaw, and a potato salad recipe that was passed down by his grandmother. Since people could not go out and eat at restaurants at the start of the pandemic, he strived to bring the cuisine to their neighborhoods—in addition to catering at weddings and other large events.
Reflecting on what he has been able to accomplish, Mr. Wilgocki—whose responsibilities within the business include cleaning, shopping, servicing, marketing, bookkeeping, and cooking everything homemade—is extremely proud, of both chasing his dream and defying many odds. A high school dropout, he did not have a formal education, and yet it did not keep him from learning, working hard, and establishing himself as a sought-after professional. He served as a senior customer systems engineer at Avaya Communication from 1992 to 2002, a field service technician and systems installer at Dugdale Communications from 2002 to 2006, and a field service technician and systems installer at G3 Technology Partners from 2006 to 2011. All the while, he had been operating a catering business out of a real passion for cooking and serving, which led to many people encouraging him to do it full-time. He was active as a voice communications engineer for CBTS from 2011 up until 2020 when he was laid off, at which point he decided to take their advice. After discussing it with his wife, they bought a food truck and equipment and their new journey began.
Looking ahead, Mr. Wilgocki aims to expand the business and hire employees so that he would no longer have to operate it himself. Outside of his primary endeavors, he has donated 10 percent of his sales to Geist Montessori Academy and regularly contributes to Cherish, a child advocacy organization.