Q: How long have you been with the team? A: I started with our company in 2013.

Q: Tell me a little about your background in hospitality, how did you get into the business? What are some of your professional highlights thus far? A: I started in our company as lead line at Tasty and Alder, moving to Toro Brovo for four years. Returned to Tasty and Alder as the P.M. chef. Joining the Shalom side of our company as the head chef at Shalom Y'all west. Since then I have helped open our vegan concept Mamma sesame, and opened Yalla in August. I moved to Portland from Tacoma Wa where I worked at a Argentinian steak house named Asado. I worked there with two of my sisters and a brother in-law. I moved to Portland when I was 22 to open Trader Vic's as the lead sous chef. It was a much bigger project than I have ever done and learned a lot. Afterwards I moved to Irving street kitchen and grew into the kitchen as a career. I have also worked at various places around the Portland area until I found myself working with Jon and Kasey.

Q: Where are you from? A: I grew up out on the Key peninsula outside of Tacoma Washington.

Q: Favorite meal on earth? A: My favorite meals always include a grill, friends, and lots of great food and company. 

Q: What’s a little known fact about you? A: I love being in the woods. I spent most of my childhood in the woods from dawn till dusk. Usually sitting in an old apple tree with friends foraging fruits from the forest around our house.

Q: When did you start working with Sesame Collective?
A: May 2021

Q: How and when did you start working in restaurants?
A: 17 years, I started at age 13 doing prep and dishes for a restaurant my mom was a chef at.

Q: If we went to Happy Hour what would you order?
A: At least two dozen oysters.

Q: Do you have a favorite hobby?
A: woodworking, gardening, skiing, and being outside

Q: What kind of pets do you have, if any? What are their names?
A: I have two very large dogs, Maple; a couch potato pitbull boxer mix, and Maverick; a ball obsessed German Shepard. I also have a black cat named Aborigine.

Q: What does your perfect day off look like?
A: Mushroom hunting with my dogs!

Q: How long have you been with Sesame Collective?
A: April 2023

Q: How and when did you start working in restaurants?
A: Started as a short order line cook at a beach café at 16. Been in the industry ever since.

Q: Where are you from?
A: San Luis Obispo, CA

Q: If we went to Happy Hour what would you order?
A: House Rosé or anything sparkling.

Q: What's something you're surprisingly good at?
A: Mario Kart 64

Q: Who is someone you admire and why?
A: Sir David Attenborough. "It's surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth."

Q: What does your perfect day off look like?
A: A round of golf in the morning followed by a big meal to top off the night.