Based in the historic Riverside-Avondale district of Jacksonville, Florida, photographer Agnes Lopez of Pose Well Studios has been trusted to provide headshots, editorial, and commercial images for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies, magazines, and national broadcast personalities to aspiring models and small business owners.

Anne-Maartje Oud is a respected authority in the field of effective communication, group dynamics and human behaviour. In 2006, she founded The Behaviour Company based in Amsterdam. With more than two decades of dedication to consulting, teaching and providing solutions to communication challenges, she is an invaluable speaker and advisor.

Her expertise spans a wide range of disciplines, including presentation techniques, negotiation skills and how to effectively handle difficult conversations. She is a unique behavioural analyst certified and trained by former FBI agent Joe Navarro. She is not only certified and trained on the subject of nonverbal communication and body language, but she is also the only one who has completed his five-year apprenticeship program and is certified as a behaviour analyst.

Big Rich is the epitome and embodiment of what community support looks - and acts - like! Describing himself as a "Small Businesses Crusader", he's the mastermind behind Food Trucks of 904 and truckfindrapp He is so very passionate about promoting Duval's local Eats, Food Trucks, and small businesses and he's a great guy to boot!

Bill Delaney is a writer, editor and higher education professional from Jacksonville whose work focuses on the culture and history of the First Coast. He is co-owner and editor of the publications Modern Cities, TheJaxsonMag.com and Edible Northeast Florida Magazine. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of North Florida.

Bill Marler is a food poisoning attorney who champions the cause of children and other people sickened by E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria and other foodborne illness across the US.

Celebrity Chef Amadeus, winner of Food Network’s Extreme Chef Mexican Showdown, traveling host of nationally acclaimed Extreme Food Fights, and host of the Southern Passion Lounge on Blog Talk Radio, is a native of Jacksonville, Florida with roots in North Philly and San Tulsa Puerto Rico. He attributes his eclectic culinary flair to his mother and grandmother with whom he spent lots of time in the kitchen. He got his professional start as a cook in the US Navy. From there he has traveled the world learning of various food cultures and has had the opportunity to cook in some of the best restaurants in the country.

A two-time winner of Top Chef—and the only contestant to win back-to-back seasons—Buddha Lo is celebrated for his precision, creative vision, and commitment to pushing culinary boundaries at the highest level.

Chef Curtis Duffy is a world-renowned, Michelin-starred chef and co-owner of Ever restaurant and After bar in Chicago. 

Professional Chef with years of fine dining, high volume, and catering experience. Owned and operated a successful food truck for the last 5 years. Looking to grow my new business and private chef clientele throughout Florida and beyond.

Chef Dennis is the bestselling author of Hip Asian Comfort Food, and Let’s Eat,  is the 2018 winner of General Mills’ Neighborhood to Nation Recipe Contest and a frequent volunteer for community events such as Caring Chefs, which raises money annually to benefit Children’s Home Society. He and his wife Elizabeth are the proud parents of two boys.

Chef John Benhase is a culinary figure in Savannah, Georgia, known for his work at Common Thread and involvement in other local projects like Little Light. He's also a member of the Food Fab Four who co-founded Starland Yard. Benhase has a background in diverse locations including Durham, NC and various cities before settling in Savannah, GA. 

Chef-owner, Jojo was born in the Libertad Tayug, Pangasinan, Philippines, he has over 21 years of culinary experience since he immigrated to the United States in 1995. 

As a founding member of Jax Filipino Chefs, Jojo has been an integral part of the movement to show Northeast Florida that Filipino food is #morethanlumpia and continues the global Filipino Food Movement here on the First Coast. 

With over 20 years of professional experience in the food & beverage industry, Top Chef Season 7 Contestant Chef Kenny Gilbert has run just about every area of Food & Beverage Divisions at the AAA Five Diamond and Mobile Five Star levels. His passion for fine dining is complemented by his vast experience across the entire spectrum of the culinary industry. From banquets to pastries, club and restaurant design to bar and lounge concepts, Kenny’s innovative and creative approach to the restaurant and hospitality industries is unmatched. 

Born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, Manuel (Manny) Barella took a leap from law school to pursue his true passion for cooking. His natural talent and drive led him to kitchens like Sea Island Resort in Georgia, five-star Calistoga Ranch, and Napa’s Michelin-rated Solage Resort. 

A taste for adventure brought him to Boulder, where he worked at James Beard award-winning Frasca Food & Wine and later became Sous Chef at Uchi in Denver, eventually rising to Executive Chef/Partner at Bellota. Named a James Beard semifinalist in the Emerging Chef category in 2022, Manny also serves as the President of the Hispanic Chefs Association in Colorado, focusing on authentic Mexican cuisine and fostering culinary talent. 

Chef Maricel is on a mission to put Filipino food on the global table—one class, one tasting, and one recipe at a time. Everything she creates is rooted in her Filipino heritage and shaped by a deep love for Asian flavors. Whether it’s teaching how to roll lumpia, serving a kamayan-style feast, or sharing a home-cooked recipe, her goal is to make Filipino food feel familiar, joyful, and unforgettable. Through Maricel’s Kitchen, she offers hands-on cooking classes, intimate chef’s table experiences, and now her new cookbook, Maricel’s Simply Asian Cookbook—all designed to share culture, history, and heart through every bite.

Born in Montreal into a family that immigrated from Italy, food has always been at the forefront of every conversation, and every argument.

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A chef for 19 years, Massimo perfected his art under the mentorship of Daniel Boulud, and then crossed the pond to learn from René Redzepi at NOMA. Upon his return to Montreal, Massimo joined the Le Mousso team as executive chef.

Massimo went on to guide his team to win Restaurant of the Year (Les Lauriers de la Gastronomie Québécoise 2018) and to be named one of the top ten restaurants in Canada (Canada's 100 Best 2019). As a result, he won the One to Watch Young Chef Award (Canada's 100 Best 2019).

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Massimo's current project, Cabaret l'Enfer, was named #2 best new restaurant in Canada (2023) by Canada's 100 Best. 

Massimo recently appeared on Top Chef Season 22: Destination Canada (2025)

Chef Melanie Cuartelon is a second generation Filipino American born and raised in North Florida (Orange Park). Her passion for the kitchen stems from her mother and her grandmother. Seeing them cook and bring joy to others through food brightened Melanie’s eyes, knowing that in her future, she would be no more than 10 feet away from a kitchen!

She is a graduate of Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island for Baking and Pastry in 2007, finishing her schooling at the Rosen School for Hospitality at UCF with a Bachelor of Science in Restaurant/Food Service Management in Orlando, Florida in 2009.

Olivia’s culinary journey began in her native France, where she learned to cook as a teenager. Her father, Daniel Binn, was a businessman, art collector and foodie, who introduced his daughter to the world of fine dining. The budding chef further explored the fundamentals of French cookery from a family friend, who was the chef to Jacques Chirac, the former President of France. Weekends were spent in the countryside in Périgord, where Olivia was taught how to stuff geese and make foie gras. 

Motivated to shine a light on the happenings of the Jacksonville food scene and to prove to herself that she can complete on a national level, Chef Rebecca was a contestant on Chopped Sweets on the Food Network in 2020 and came home with the title of Chopped Sweets Champion. This experience whet her appetite for TV appearances. She went on to be a competitor on The Dr Seuss Baking Challenge on Prime where she was a finalist and received praise for her pallet and artistic style as she was dubbed the ‘flavor queen’ by the judges. 

Chef Rebecca continues to bring her sweetness to the Jacksonville area through food centric collaborations, and cooking classes. Stay tuned for what she will be dishing up next! 

Sara Bradley hails from Kentucky and is the chef and proprietor at freight house, a unique southern inspired restaurant and bourbon bar located in Paducah, Kentucky. Chef Sara grew up surrounded by strawberry fields and pit bbq in Paducah, ky, eating elaborate meals with her family every night. sara’s jewish mother and Appalachian father exposed her to a wonderful culinary upbringing. she developed her skill set under the tutelage of Michelin star chefs, John Fraser at Dovetail, as well as David Posey and Paul Kahan of blackbird, before opting to return to her roots to indulge in the flavors the ohio valley and western kentucky have to offer.

A North Carolina native, Savannah Miller started working in hospitality during her teenage years and quickly fell in love with the fast-paced environment. She decided to pursue a professional career in cooking and, after attending the New England Culinary Institute, was quickly fast-tracked into an internship on the opening team at Matthew Jennings’ Boston restaurant Townsman. After almost four years of focusing on New England cuisine, Savannah decided to continue her career closer to home and joined Chef Michael Lee to help open M Tempura in Durham as his Chef De Cuisine in 2018. During this time, she spent four years running the kitchen for a 30-seat tasting-menu restaurant and learning all about Japanese and Korean cuisine. She pulls inspiration from what is locally available and believes deeply in supporting the ecosystem of purveyors in the surrounding area. 

Chef Soo Ahn is a Michelin-starred executive chef currently at Adalina, a modern Italian restaurant in Chicago. He gained national recognition as a contestant on Top Chef Season 21. Before his culinary career, he was a professional golfer.

Wesley Nogueira was born in 1987 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A few years later he moved to the states and resided in Philadelphia, PA. His Filipino mother raised his younger brother and himself by ingraining hardworking values derived from his Filipino and Brazilian backgrounds. Wesley was very fond of the kitchen at a young age and found himself always being around his mother and her friends while they cooked simple Filipino dishes. At the age of 15 he moved to Jacksonville, Florida with his mom and brother. While there, Wesley attended Robert E. Lee Senior High School and University of North Florida. While in college he worked at a few family owned restaurants but it was not until the birth of his daughter Khloe where he was determined to turn an everyday job of cooking into his passionate career. Wesley decided to drop out of college and pursue a career in the kitchen.

I am the Host and Creator of the Who Are You? Podcast. We produce hour long interviews with local business owners, nonprofits, friends, artist, musicians and more to learn their backstory’s of how they chose their profession/passion, what where some of their tough moments in their journeys and overall promote the guest/buissness.

Dr. Bryan Quoc Le is a food scientist, food industry consultant, and author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered. He has worked with multiple clients in the food industry, including individual entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies. His current and previous clients include TurtleTree ($30 Million, Series A), Black Sheep Foods ($4.5 Million, Early Stage VC), ZoomEssence ($2.6 Million, Venture Round), Stratix Labs ($800K, Series A), Plant Perks, Tres Agaves, Wilderton, Ample Hills Creamery, Silver Hills Bakery, and Renude.

A creative writer and cultural storyteller exploring the Italian-American identity through a series of literary fiction novels and children’s books. Ms. D’Arcangelo’s books are shaped by a deep love of family, food, immigration, community, and, of course, pizza.

Erin Clarke is the creator of the popular recipe website Well Plated by Erin. She has established herself as a go-to resource for nourishing, yet delicious, meals that are easy enough for an average weeknight, special enough for a date night, and comforting enough to earn picky-eater approval. She is an active runner and a healthy-living enthusiast, and has been known to show up on friends' doorsteps with a pan of enchiladas in one hand and a pitcher of sangria in the other. 

I'm Heather Zeitzwolfe, the Savvy Frugal Vegan, a business coach, podcast host, and Vegan CPA. I'm dedicated to empowering vegan entrepreneurs to thrive in the mobile food industry. 

Meet Scott and Jennifer, partners in love for 17 sweet years. Scott, the engineer and airbrush artist, joins forces with Jennifer, the cake and fondant queen; creating a symphony of flavor and artistry since 2016. Together they turn celebrations into sweet memories!

Jeremy Wagner is a best-selling author who has been published in numerous periodicals and has also published various works of short fiction with major and independent publishers in the last decade such as: Perseus Books, St. Martin’s Press, Bantam, Necro Publications, Death’s Head Press, Riverdale Avenue Books/Afraid Books Ravenous Books, and others.

 John T Edge, author of House of Smoke: A Southerner Goes Searching for Home, writes and hosts the television show TrueSouth which broadcasts via the SEC Network and ESPN and streams via ESPN, Hulu, and Disney. A widely published magazine writer, he serves Garden & Gun as a columnist. Twice winner of the MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award, Edge wrote The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South. 

As an avid traveler myself, I have lived abroad gaining experience and insight for over seven years. I have been to over 60 countries and lived on five continents learning languages and fostering relationships. I have an incredible appreciation for the world and a passion to help others discover more of it too!

Proprietor of two Culhane's Irish Pub's located at Tinseltown and Atlantic Beach established 2005. Recently launched their own 5 Sisters Spirit Vodka locally here in Northeast Florida. All three businesses are family-owned and operated by the Sisters. 

Culhane’s currently ranks top 10% restaurants in the USA by Travelers Choice, won multiple Best Irish Pub awards, and featured on the Food Network's Diner’s, Drive-in’s and Dives. Culhane’s is also honored to have been recognized by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and Awarded as a Beaches Business Leader 2014. 

Mary Jane was recently awarded 2020 North Florida Woman-Owned Business Person of the Year by SBA of North Florida!

Megan duBois is a freelance travel journalist with stories published online and in print at outlets including Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Insider, Delish, Where Magazine, The Points Guy, FamilyVacationist and more.

Michael Muser is a 30-year veteran of the restaurant industry and an accomplished sommelier. Food and Wine Magazine named him a Sommelier of the Year in 2014

Rob McKittrick is an American filmmaker who directed the 2005 independent film "Waiting..." starring Ryan Reynolds. He also wrote the sequel to the film, "Still Waiting..." (2009)

Staudt-Killea began her 21-year tenure at Waste Not as a volunteer in 2003 and incorporated the group as a charity in 2004. She retired from Waste Not in 2024.

Through executing our mission, we learned that rescuing food + helping people are outcomes that we are proud of. It's what sets us apart. We go beyond fighting hunger. We prevent isolation through the engagement of our senior volunteers. We provide support and resources to our partners in the fight to end hunger. We work as part of a collective force aimed at ensuring that our mission and our vision are realized. 

I’m Scott Johnson, the host of What Was That Like. I’m curious. I like to ask questions. When I hear that someone has gone through a really unusual ordeal, I naturally want to know more about it. This podcast gives me the opportunity to ask those questions. I live in Safety Harbor, Florida, where I record every episode of the podcast from my home office and studio. If you live in this area, you will probably see me out biking most mornings.

Vickie Lan is an award-winning communicator and host of the Speculative Sandbox podcast. She also dabbles in voice acting on the side! When she’s not storytelling, she’s fixating on one of many hobbies, including reading, knitting, baking, sketching, drinking (tea!), and competitive dog grooming. One of those is made up. 

Yumna Jawad is an entrepreneur, social media influencer, and recipe developer. She is the founder of the popular Feel Good Foodie brand with over 9.5 million followers on her social media platforms where she shares healthy-ish recipes with feel-good ingredients.

She’s the founder of the packaged overnight oats brand Oath. A graduate from the University of Michigan Business School with 10 years of experience working in Marketing prior to starting Feel Good Foodie, she now lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband and two kids – Carine & Adam.