Over 30 years of combined food and food management experience began only a few short months after Jeff graduated from culinary school and opened his first food business; an 80-seat restaurant which he owned, operated, and built from scratch. This first business was the launching pad for other businesses including a successful wholesale bakery that Jeff also built, owned, and operated for 9 years.

In between the years that Jeff owned his businesses, he managed and worked in the kitchens of restaurants and a private club and became the executive pastry chef of a retail bakery with multiple stores and a wholesale division. He also furthered his culinary skills with advanced courses in France and Switzerland.

Jeff’s 20 years of experience teaching in culinary schools led him to his position as the Program Director and Lead Instructor for the Professional Pastry and Baking Arts Program at the Institute of Culinary Education where he managed a large team of Chef Instructors, instructed students, and advised alumni in their careers and food businesses.

Watching graduating students struggle with many aspects of starting a food business, Jeff became a founding partner of Food Startup Help, assisting companies with all aspects of the food industry ranging from food product inception through manufacturing and many other essential services. Jeff, along with his partners, has co-authored, “Food Business, Idea to Reality”, a book on how to bring food products to market and Launchafoodproduct.com, a learning platform for food entrepreneurs.

In conjunction with assisting food startups with the operational aspects of getting their companies off the ground, Jeff also founded Z Commercial Capital, a financial brokerage company that helped startups find the capital they need for launching their businesses and for their stages of growth.

Additionally, Jeff has volunteered as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for SCORE to help those starting businesses in the food field.

Jeff was currently the Chief Product Officer for RAIZE, a gluten free, no sugar added, low carb baking company and is responsible for total product development, procurement, and production.

Jeff is currently the Business Development Officer for BDR Bakery Corp., where he is responsible for the growth and development of a product line for a multi-generational baking company into a new production facility with a focus on establishing and increasing online sales.

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