Meet the Chefs
Chef Tawnya Brant
Team Leader for Team Indigenous Chef Tawnya “Katsítsyo” Brant grew up and resides on Six Nations in Ontario. She began her culinary career as a...
Chef Matthew Deaton
Team Leader for Whole Hog Team For Matthew, the journey to becoming a professional pitmaster and chef is rooted in a passion for food instilled in...
Chef John Haney
Team Leader for Whole Hog Team Longtime Pitmaster, John Haney is the owner of Alveron BBQ Company as well as Fabricator of some of the best whole...
Chef Bryan Kyzar
Team Leader for Kill Team My name is Bryan Kyzar. I was born in southern Louisiana. I am a father, a carpenter, and teacher. I believe that as a...
Chef Blair Machado
Team Leader for Team Goat Blair Machado is the owner of Farmstead Co., a sustainable butcher and farm consultant company in Charleston, South...
Chef Dave McClusky
Team Leader for Ring Leader Mohawk Chef Dave Smoke McCluskey is the owner of Local Pop Catering: A Local Chefs Collective, ring leader of...
Chef Scott McDaniel
Team Leader for Hash & Rice Team I’ve been involved in barbecue one way or the other for most of my life, but I really got the bug back in the...
Chef Toby Melancon
Team Leader for Team Cracklin' Heading up Team Cracklin' and Co-Leading Team Boudin, Army Vet and Lafayette, Louisiana native Toby Melancon joins us...
Chef Greg Mueller
Team Leader for Porchetta Team Greg Mueller is a WORLDCHEFS-certified master chef, and the Director of Culinary Innovation at REC TEC Grills. In...
Chef Kristian Niemi
Team Leader for Team Rooster Chef/Restaurateur Kristian Niemi is a pioneer in Columbia’s burgeoning food and beverage industry, having opened some...
Chef Tripp Rion
Team Leader for Boudin Team He’s no ordinary hash slinger! Tripp Rion is your essential chef consultant that’s trusted by the food industry. Tripp’s...
Chef Hipolito Sanchez
Team Leader for Team Goat Hipolito Sanchez is the Pitmaster/Owner of Slow Motion for Meat in Chicago, Illinois . Affectionately known as "The Mayor"...
Chef Sophina Uong
Team Leader for Team Veggie Chef Sophina Uong writes: "My culinary story embodies a rebel spirit of collaborative cooking tradition, innovation,...
Chef Jack Waiboer
Team Leader for Team Rooster To call Jack Waiboer a live fire cooking expert is a grave understatement. Coming to us from Charleston, SC, Jack's...
Tom Wiedmeier
Team Leader for Team Oyster The Augusta Boucherie is honored that the Savannah Riverkeeper has come onboard as an event sponsor. In doing so, they...
Meet our Cook Team Members
Chef Yineska Hernandez
I'm a student at Helm's College. I'm already done with the school and I completed Culinary Associated degree. I'm also pastry chef and I do custom...
Chef Truck Carlson
SFC (RET) John “Truck” Carlson is a native Georgian and a Veteran of 30 years in the military. He spent 8 years in the Marine Corp (Both Active and...
Chef Aracelis Hernandez
I’m native from Puerto Rico but I love Karin cuisine I love to embrace my cultures and other cultures through my dishes and all I want you is to...
Chef Andy Andersen
Chef Andersen has had a passion for cooking ever since he was a little boy helping his mother prepare meals for the Family. Growing up in a small...
Chef Rick Powless
I am Haudenosaunee (Oneida Nation of the Thames), Bear Clan. I am an Indigenous Chef and have spent over 20 years in the food service industry....
Chef Garrett Macfalda
Longtime Athens area chef, with a focus on farm to table and vegetable-forward cuisine through service industry advocacy pop ups and special events....
Justin Seymour
I have been cooking competitively for over 10 years. I have accumulated first place finishes in ribs, chicken, pulled pork, Bloody Mary, chicken...
Chef Kyle McCloud
Chef Kyle grew up on a small farm in rural Michigan, working in small restaurants and diners. Following an 11 year stint in the Navy, Kyle moved to...