SUPPORTING FUTURE LEADERS

IN FOOD & HOSPITALITY

Collage of student chefs and food dishes

ABOUT US

We believe in the power of food & hospitality to transform young lives.

We believe learning to cook is the first step in this journey. Culinary arts teaches problem-solving, creativity, innovation, time management, and analytical skills. Knowing how to boil water and cook an egg is not enough. True power comes in preparing, cooking, presenting, and serving a meal to others.

We believe confidence in the kitchen leads to confidence in the workplace. That’s why we’ve been saying, “Yes, Chef!” to young culinary hopefuls for nearly four decades.

Through our programs and vast network of industry partners, we are creating clear pathways for the next generation of sous chefs, executive chefs, hospitality workers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and food entrepreneurs.

OUR STORY

Founded in 1990 by culinary educator and cookbook author Richard Grausman, and in partnership with board co-chair Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Culinary Careers Program (C•CAP) is a national workforce development non-profit dedicated to training and supporting the next generation of food & hospitality leaders.

Map of US showing locations of C-Cap's impact

We serve communities across Arizona, Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Long Island, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Maryland. Our unparalleled network of industry contacts includes renowned chefs, hospitality leaders, restaurants, and hotels.

Our methodology works, and to date we have uplifted close to 400,000 students and awarded $76 million in college scholarships. Many of our alumni are enjoying successful careers at award-winning restaurants and 5-star hotels around the globe.

OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Christina Grdovic Headshot

Christina Grdovic

Executive Director

Bio

Christina Grdovic brings a wealth of experience in building and nurturing high-impact business partnerships across food, hospitality, and media. She served as Head of Partnerships and Content at Wonder, where she successfully attracted celebrity chefs and renowned restaurant partners and established a leading content studio for producing all chef and restaurant media. Previously, as Publisher at Food & Wine, Grdovic led sales and marketing efforts, orchestrated global food and wine festivals, and launched the Top Chef partnership with Bravo. She also served as Chief Partnership Officer at Goldbelly and, advises female-founded start-ups.

Jennifer Solomon Co-Executive Director

Jennifer Solomon

Chief Business Officer

Bio

Jennifer Solomon’s career spans business, entrepreneurship and nonprofit. Prior to joining the C·CAP leadership team as CBO, she served on C·CAP’s Board of Directors for eight years. She is the former CFO of Greyston, a social enterprise (B-Corp) and social services organization where she was named “CFO of the Year” by Westchester Business Journal, and the former COO and Chief Development Officer of The Art Students League of New York. Before pivoting to nonprofit, Jennifer spent more than a decade on Wall Street as a leading global consumer products equity analyst.  

Maliha Adams
Director of Communications & Events

Victoria Backle
Executive Assistant

Emily Caraballo
Education Associate, C•CAP Alum

Lisa Fontanesi
National Program Director

Natalie Guzman Patricio
Communications Designer

Katie Lane
Director of Operations & Special Projects

Angie Marin
Director of Adult Programming & Alumni Relations

Pam Marino
Accounting Clerk

Cynthia Medina
Development Manager

Johnathon Paddock
Finance & Program Associate

Viviana Pagoada
Social Media & Events Coordinator, C·CAP Alum

Jill Smith
Director of Apprenticeships

Rick Sederholt
Apprenticeship Counselor

Michelle Wider
Controller

Lori Wright
Apprenticeship Coordinator

I BELIEVE IN

C·CAP'S MISSION OF
PROVIDING KIDS A PATHWAY

TO A CAREER...

– Chef Carla Hall

REGIONAL TEAMS

ARIZONA

Kevin Barko (Program Director)
Amy Barko (Program Coordinator)

CHICAGO

Anthony McPhee (Program Director, C·CAP Alum)
Lizzet Proa (Program Coordinator)

HOUSTON

Troy Williams (Program Manager)

LOS ANGELES

Ruby Propst (Program Director)
Eliana Lopera (Student & Professional Development Coordinator)
Jennifer Zide-Essex (Program Coordinator)

MIAMI

Troy Williams (Program Manager)

NEW YORK

Lynn Miller (Program Director)
Than Htut Phoo (Program Coordinator)

PHILADELPHIA

Alyssa Termini (Program Director)
Kevine Dupree (Program Coordinator, C·CAP Alum)

WASHINGTON DC / MARYLAND

Yvette Williams (Program Director)
Troy Williams (Culinary Coordinator)

Prawn with mustard on plate

NATIONAL BOARD

Director Bios

Richard Grausman, Founder & Chair Emeritus • Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Co-Chair - Chef, Marcus Samuelsson Group • Jeffrey B. Samuels, Co-Chair - Partner, Paul Weiss • Maria Castro Vainer, Vice Chair & Treasurer - Managing Director, Investments & Advice, JP Morgan Wealth Management • Barbara Fairchild, Secretary - Former Editor-in-Chief, Bon Appetit Magazine

Ed Brown - CEO, Restaurant Associates • Ben Davison - Managing Director, BDT & MSD • Marco De Feo - Vice President of Marketing, Filippo Berio USA • Kelly Esten - Chief Marketing Officer, Toast • Beatriz Garcia - Managing Director, Teneo • Diana Getchius - Vice President of Human Resources, Union Square Hospitality Group • Deborah Grausman - Actor/Singer/Voice-Over Artist • Doug Hsieh - CEO, Avero • Patty Intrator - Independent Consultant • Heather Molin - Managing Director of Investments, Wells Fargo Advisors • Smita Reddy - Partner, Global Clients, Edelman • Alexandra Shapiro - Former Executive Vice President, NBCUniversal

ASSOCIATE BOARD

Member Bios

Catherine Silver Smith, Chair • Casey Hyken, Vice President • Kavi Bansal • Valentine Lysikatos Carey • Jordon Ferber • Jennifer Grausman • Cesar Gutierrez, C·CAP Alum • Logan Horowitz • Thomas Isaacs • Samantha Kaczmarek • Addie Liang • Raven Briana McMillan • Lisa Mou • Pranjal Shah • Primal Shah • Ola Wadley, C·CAP Alum

NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP
ADVISORY COUNCIL

Matt Stein, Council Chair • Nick Guerrieri • Andrew Helmandollar • JoAnn Holland • Jim Janosik • Adam Laor • Randall McNamara, EdD • Patricia Nadzieja • Jason Schwartz • Louis Shaban • Rebecca Tillman • James Valentino

C·CAP ARIZONA
ADVISORY COUNCIL

Dina Altieri • Christopher Gross • Lenard Rubin • Louis Shaban • Walter Sterling • Armando Suarez • Mark Tarbell • Khari Towns

C·CAP CHICAGO
ADVISORY COUNCIL

Robin Bauer • Chef Morgan Bellalves • Audrius Moss • Marshay Wallace, C·CAP Alum 

C·CAP DC
ADVISORY COUNCIL

Charles Bluemle • Jerome Grant • Kareem "Mr. Bake" Queeman • Leah Schuler • Nicholas Tang • Sarah Tucker • Sarah Wade • Courtney Willis

C·CAP HOUSTON
ADVISORY COUNCIL

Chef Aaron Bludorn, Council Chair • Andrea Bonner • Chester Chambers • Warren Luckett

C·CAP LOS ANGELES
ADVISORY COUNCIL

Barbara Fairchild, Council Chair • Matthew Allnatt • Eric Boardman • Cisca Brouwer • Caryl Chinn • Terrie Cooper • Gina Christian • Lisa Detanna • Nicole Dunn • Anthony Greco, C·CAP Alum • Andrew Harris • Elissa Phillips • Jayne Portnoy • Rafael Perezchica, C·CAP Alum • Art Sezgin

C·CAP MIAMI
ADVISORY COUNCIL

Marco de Ceglie • Karen Brenker • Michael Cheng • Chef Haydee Collado • Marcela Guzman Galan • Victoria Pesce Elliot • Chef Norman Van Aken

C·CAP PHILLY
ADVISORY COUNCIL

Tom Hunton, Council Chair • Jennifer Cho • Qamara Edwards • Dr. Dean Hammer • Dr. Carol Scheffner Hammer • David Kipphut • Andy Marin • Kelly Roses • Kriti Sehgal •  Scott Swiger • Amy Zitelman

C·CAP PHILLY
CHEFS COUNCIL

Andrew Boxer • Angelina Branca • Dr. Jonathan Deutsch •
Adam Dlitz • Tova Du Plessis • Elijah Milligan •
Joy Parham-Thomas • Keith Pretlow