
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.

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 $73 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

Tanya Steel
Co-Executive Director
Bio

Jennifer Solomon
Co-Executive Director
Bio
Maliha Adams
Director of Communications & Events
Victoria Backle
Executive Assistant
Emily Caraballo
Education Associate, C•CAP Alum
Natalie Guzman Patricio
Associate Director of Communications
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
Jill Smith
Director of Apprenticeships
Rick Sederholt
Apprenticeship Counselor
Michelle Wider
Controller
Lori Wright
Apprenticeship Coordinator
REGIONAL TEAMS
ARIZONA
Kevin Barko (Program Director)
Amy Barko (Program Coordinator)
CHICAGO
Anthony McPhee (Program Director, C·CAP Alum)
Lizzet Proa (Program Coordinator)
LOS ANGELES
Lisa Fontanesi (Program Director)
Eliana Lopera (Student & Professional Development Coordinator)
Ruby Propst (Program Coordinator)
NEW YORK / LONG ISLAND
Lynn Miller (Program Director)
Than Htut Phoo (Program Coordinator)
PHILADELPHIA
Alyssa Termini (Program Director)
Ligia Richter (Program Coordinator)
WASHINGTON DC / MARYLAND
Yvette Williams (Program Director)
Troy Williams (Program Coordinator)

NATIONAL BOARD
Richard Grausman, Founder & Chair Emeritus • Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Co-Chair - Chef, Marcus Samuelsson Group • Jeffrey B. Samuels, Co-Chair - Partner, Paul Weiss • ID Aruede, Co-Vice Chair - COO & CFO, Whitney Museum of Art • Maria Castro Vainer, Co-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 • 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 • Alexandra Shapiro - Former Executive Vice President, NBCUniversal • Smita Reddy - Partner, Global Clients, Edelman
ASSOCIATE BOARD
Catherine Silver Smith, Chair • Casey Hyken, Vice President • Kavi Bansal • Valentine Lysikatos Carey • Tracie Carmel • Ben Davison • Jordon Ferber • Jennifer Grausman • Cesar Gutierrez • Logan Horowitz • Thomas Isaacs • Samantha Kaczmarek • Raven Briana McMillan • Katherine Milgram • Lisa Mou • Primal Shah • Pranjal Shah
NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Matt Stein • 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
Angile Faison • Robin Bauer • Chef Morgan Bellalves • Chef Perry Hendrix
C·CAP DC
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Charles Bluemle • Kareem "Mr. Bake" Queeman • Franz Corrales • Nicholas Tang • Jerome Grant • Sarah Tucker • Ellis McCue • Mykel Winterstine
C·CAP LOS ANGELES
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Barbara Fairchild, Council Chair • Matthew Allnatt • Eric Boardman • Caryl Chinn • Terrie Cooper • Gina Christian • 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 • 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 • Kelly Roses • Dr. Dean Hammer • Dr. Carol Scheffner Hammer • David Kipphut • Kriti Sehgal • Andy Marin • Scott Swiger • Amy Zitelman
C·CAP PHILLY
CHEF COUNCIL
Andrew Boxer • Angelina Branca • Dr. Jonathan Deutsch
• Adam Dlitz • Tova Du Plessis • Elijah Milligan •
Keith Pretlow • Joy-Parham-Thomas