Shaquell Davis
(she/her)

Shaquell is a Native New Yorker: born in Manhattan and raised in both Queens and the Bronx. She grew up in the kitchen working alongside her grandmother, mother and cousins. Shaquell’s passion is making food, and she loves to hear and see people enjoying what she makes. She lives by the motto “One Team One Dream” and truly believes that anything is possible with collaboration and positivity.

Lindsay Gulics
(she/her)

Lindsay has spent the last decade working and growing within the food and beverage industry in New York and New Jersey. A Certified Sommelier, Lindsay has worked in beverage curation roles at various restaurants in NYC. She deeply believes in the transformative and healing power of narratives and how that can play out in hospitality settings.

Sally Park
(she/her)

Sally is a California-raised Korean American with an extensive background in Food & Beverage. Sally has grown to value experience and passion over anything else. When she isn't working on food & beverage operations, Sally enjoys taking hip-hop dance classes, cuddling with her cats, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Veronica Zapata
(she/her)

Veronica is from Peru and is passionate about the work she does in the hospitality industry. With extensive restaurant leadership experience, Veronica has spent years coaching and developing those on her team side-by-side. Veronica misses spending time swimming in the early hours of the morning at the YMCA, but Covid-19 has helped her discover a new passion: Yoga.

Liz Dean
(she/her)

Liz has over ten years of experience in operations, leadership development, management, team building, training, and education in a variety of fields in the service and hospitality industry. Liz is passionate about using her work to develop and empower the teams she works with to create and cultivate inclusive, diverse, and welcoming community spaces.

Ilana Herzig
(she/they)

Ilana is a queer arts & culture writer from California based in Brooklyn whose work been featured in The Brooklyn Rail, The Los Angeles Times, Hyperallergic, & The Los Angeles Free Press among others. Ilana's exploration of the artistry of food and its entwinement with cultural heritage, social justice, and identity began while working as a line cook/barista. As Editor in Chief of Lunch Rush, Lunch Group’s newsletter, she endeavors to curate and amplify voices that articulate and reimagine the F&B industry through artistic, abolitionist, innovative, and interdisciplinary lenses.

Raina Robinson
(she/her)

Raina is a cook, grower, and creator from the Bronx, NY. She strives to share her knowledge of food and agriculture with others and hopes to one day open a farm, café and education center on the farmland her grandmother grew up on. Raina is adamant that graciously digging one's hands into the soil and preparing a meal from a fresh harvest can transform lives in ways large and small.

Alexa Diffee
(she/her)

Alexa is a Learning and Development expert, specializing in curriculum development and training execution. She is passionate about creating learning and growth opportunities that are equitable and accessible to all. She lives on the coast of North Carolina with her husband and is currently striving to become an expert in surfing.

Dana Heyward
(she/her)

Dana is a New York native currently based in Brooklyn. Her big dream is to one day have an education-based equitable and inclusive experimental food lab and space (á la NOMA). In the meantime, Dana is dedicating her energies into learning and working on ways to change the food landscape for the better.

Jake Stavis
(he/him)

Jake is a lifelong New Yorker and loyal member of the Beyhive who has dabbled in service as a fishmonger and barista, and written for publications including Paper and Esquire. He recently completed a PhD in art history, though he wouldn’t necessarily recommend it! Jake coauthors a weekly newsletter about food and culture called Digestivo.

Gabi Zegarra-Ballon
(she/her)

Gabi is a Midwesterner living in Brooklyn with a deep affinity for state fairs. She became passionate about food while growing up watching her mom cook and bake, her infatuation with the movie Ratatouille and the smell of freshly baked bread. Gabi cares a great deal about people and creating equitable spaces that build community.