Meet the Committee
Meet the Taste of the Nation Committee
The 2009 Taste of the Nation Committee is made up of innovative, well-respected leaders from the culinary, business and nonprofit worlds.
Our Chair
Chef Mindy Segal
HotChocolate Restaurant and Dessert Lounge
Our Co-Chair
R.J. Melman
Hub 51/R.J. Grunts/Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
Our Committee
Bridget Albert
Master Mixologist, Southern Wine and Spirits
Beverage Chair
Cara Baiocchi
Talent Intelligence
Volunteer Chair
Melissa Burstein
Account Manager, TeleRep
Ticket Sales
Mike Cacicio
President, Make It Happen Ltd.
PR/Marketing
Chrissy Cox
Account Manager, Wagstaff Worldwide
Marketing and Public Relations Co-Chair
Jason Cox
Associate Director, Andersonville Chamber of Commerce
Auction/Operations
Anne Crays
Vice President, Shoebuy.com
Marketing and Public Relations Co-chair
Andrew Ettenhofer
Director of Sales, Fig Media
Ticket Sales Co-Chair/Operations
Hillary Goldberg
Healthy Kids Cook Off Co-Chair
Joel Hassler
Rasmussen Diamonds
Auction Committee
Heidi Hedeker
Chef Instructor, Kendall College
Chef Chair, Healthy Kids Cook Off
Emily Heller
Independent Creative Director
PR/Marketing
Gina Marino Kalish
Proprietor, Ravenswood Event Center
Operations Chair
Christopher Koetke
Dean, Kendall College
Restaurant/Chef
Michael Kornick
Chef/Owner, mk the restaurant
Restaurant/Chef
Jenn Miklos Kovacs
Director of Development, National Restaurant Association Education Foundation
PR/Marketing
Lauren Liebovich
Publicist
Operations Co-Chair/Healthy Kids Cook Off
Gabrielle Martinez
Creative Principal, Event Architects
Healthy Kids Cook Off Co-Chair
Kyle McHugh
Proprietor, Drinks Over Dearborn/The Boozehound
Beverage
Kristin Meyer
Principal, Capitol Commercial Real Estate
Auction Chair, Sponsorship Co-Chair
John Meyer
Principal, Capitol Commercial Real Estate
Auction and Sponsorship
Elissa Narrow
Pastry Chef
Restaurant/Chef Chair
Jennifer Paulson
Chef, The Prepared Kitchen
Healthy Kids Cook Off
Debbi Peek
Mixologist, Bacardi USA
Beverage
Carl Segal
Vice President, Potbelly Sandwich Works
Operations Co-Chair
Ben Smock
President, Toque and Bottle
Finance Co-Chair, Operations
Chuck Sudo
Food Editor, Chicagoist.com
Hunger Messaging Chair
Nicole Thurman
Nestle Waters North America
Ticket Sales Chair
For Share Our Strength
Anna Batcke
Midwest Field Manager
