Raised on a family farm in Iowa, Joe Gerstandt has that certain kind of sensibility you can’t help but notice. His unique approach to speaking, extensive community involvement, and personal experiences illustrate Joe’s passion for reaching out to and relating to people. Listen to Joe speak, and you’ll see that he draws from his days as a United States Marine... read full bio
Aaron Ross, a pioneering author and businessman, has permanently altered the landscape of sales and company expansion. The sales bible of the Silicon Valley, Ross is best known as the author of "Predictable Revenue: Turn Your Business into a Sales Machine With The $100 Million Best Practices of Salesforce.com," which has topped Amazon's telemarketing list for more than two years.... read full bio
Naveed Jamali is a former American spy, and author of How to Catch a Russian Spy, an autobiography chronicling his work as a double agent for the FBI against Russian military intelligence. Currently, he is a Senior Fellow in the Program on National Security at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a special contributor for the Military Times and a reoccurring... read full bio
Internationally reputed for his innovative, groundbreaking cuisine, Jean-Georges Vongerichten has emerged as one of the country's leading chefs. Acclaimed by critics as 'formidably gifted,' a 'residential genius' and the 'enfant terrible of modern French cooking', his culinary vision has consistently set new standards and helped define today's generation of cooking. The Mercer Kitchen, at the stylish Mercer Hotel in SoHo,... read full bio
Diners may recognize Egyptian-born Michael Mina from his appearances on shows like Hell’s Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay, plus appearances at prestigious food events; however, it’s his outstanding Japanese-French-California fusion dishes, such as hamachi sashimi with blackberry and purslane or duck breast with figs and forbidden rice, that make him a true star. They have earned his Michael Mina restaurant, in... read full bio
Simon currently works in the capacity of International Ambassador for Plymouth Gin (and if you've heard of one, you've most likely heard of the other) and overseas the On-premise portfolio specialist team for Pernod Ricard USA. Over the past seven years, this role has taken him across the globe training the experts and first-time barkeeps alike as well as directing... read full bio
François Payard is a third generation French Pastry Chef. He cultivated his passion for the art of pastry as a child in his grandfather’s acclaimed shop on the Riviera, Au Nid des Friandises. François grew up surrounded by the delicious classic French pastry in the tradition carried on by his parents and grandparents for over fifty years. François traveled to... read full bio
Born and raised in the heart of Mexico, the son of a Japanese father and a Mexican mother, Katsuji Tanabe has worked inside LA's most acclaimed kitchens, from the four-star Bastide Restaurant to Beverly Hills' Mastro's Steakhouse. Tanabe owns MexiKosher Restaurant, the first authentic Kosher Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles and arguably the first of its kind in the entire... read full bio
Ilan Hall is an American chef, best known as the winner of the second season of the Bravo television network's reality series Top Chef. Hall is a native of Great Neck, New York. As a teenager, Hall worked at Marine Fishery, a seafood store in his hometown of Great Neck and was later trained at Italy's Lorenzo de' Medici Apicus... read full bio
Best known for her role on Top Chef Season 4, Antonia Lofaso is one of America's most loved chefs and shows off her culinary skills with her feisty Italian personality on Top Chef: All Stars. Most recently Lofaso has gone from television personality to business owner and is currently executive chef and owner of Black Market in Studio City, California.... read full bio
Los Angeles native Brooke Williamson has carved out an impressive resume full of leading roles and professional achievement, such as being the youngest female chef to ever cook at the James Beard House and a runner-up on Top Chef season 10 in Seattle. As the co-owner and co-chef, along with husband Nick Roberts, of successful ventures including Hudson House in... read full bio
Star of the A&E reality series, Wahlburgers, Chef Paul Wahlberg is one of nine siblings, which include his famous younger brothers, actor Mark Wahlberg and musician/actor Donnie Wahlberg. While Mark and Donnie spent childhood day-dreaming of their inevitable rise to fame as performers, Paul spent his time in the family kitchen with his mother Alma. When he was 16, he... read full bio
Guy Savoy is the Head Chef and owner of the eponymous Guy Savoy restaurant in Paris and sister restaurant in Las Vegas, both of which have earned several Michelin stars. He apprenticed with the Troisgros brothers for three years, after which he opened his own restaurant in New York, and then in rue Duret, Paris. Gordon Ramsay, who was trained... read full bio
Renowned French chef Pierre Gagnaire owns the restaurant of the same name, at 6 rue Balzac in Paris, and is also Head Chef of Sketch in London. The former specializes in modern French cuisine, and has earned three Michelin stars. Both restaurants have been included in the S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants by industry magazine Restaurant, with Pierre Gagnaire... read full bio
Tim Allen is a Michelin-starred chef whose restaurant, The Wild Rabbit in the UK, serves locally sourced, seasonal food in a relaxed and welcoming setting. Prior to joining The Wild Rabbit, Tim was Chef Patron at Launceston Place in Kensington, which earned a Michelin star and 4 AA rosettes during his time there. He was previously sous chef at the... read full bio
Runner-up on the fifth season of Bravo's Top Chef, Stefan Richter was born in Finland, but spent the majority of his childhood in Germany where he began culinary training in his early teens. He worked his way through various European and Asian kitchens. He joined master chefs Grant McPherson, Sotta Kuhn, Jacques Torres, Jean Philip Maury and Marc Poidevin as... read full bio
During his outstanding eight year career with the New York Knicks, John Starks was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, became an NBA All-Star, and was awarded the Leagues Sixth Man of the Year. He averaged 14.1 points per game, while leading the Knicks in three point goals (982). In addition, he remains 11th in total points (8,489), 8th... read full bio
Laura Schwartz' super-charged presentations are centered on being prepared for partnerships, while turning the optional into opportunity. Laura reminds us all, you never know when the next conversation will be the conversation to change your life or that of someone else. As the Director of Events for the Clinton Administration, she created and executed more than 1,000 White House events... read full bio
The Executive Chef of Le Cirque in Manhattan, Tom Valenti has been honored with several awards for his signature comfort food. He has been named Best New Chef by Food & Wine Magazine, Best Chef of New York Nominee by the James Beard Foundation, and one of the Top 10 Chefs of the Year by New York Magazine. Chef Valenti’s... read full bio
Chris Smith, The Diabetic Chef, knows a thing or two about how to make great-tasting food that fits perfectly into a diabetic meal plan. Chef Chris Smith was diagnosed with diabetes at age 24, when he was a student at the Culinary Institute of America in New York. Since then, he's been teaching others how to make delicious food that... read full bio
