professional chefs

Nea Hahn, Whisk & Arrow

Nea grew up in Brazil and came to the Fox Cities by way of Atlanta, California and Philadelphia.  She attended the International Culinary Center, the former French Culinary Institute, for Pastry Arts.  She adores making jams and candies, transforming chocolate into delectable bonbons, pairing together batters and buttercreams and creating scrumptious cakes.  Whisk & Arrow was born to make people happy.  There's nothing more rewarding to Nea than watching smiles unfold after a bite of something delicious.  While Whisk & Arrow is known for French macarons and over-the-top custom cakes, she claims strawberry bonbons are one of her favorite items to both make and eat. Nea also loves everything chocolate!

Bryce Knickelbein, Becket's  

Bryce, Becket’s Head Chef, is Classically French Trained. He has been cooking professionally for the last 13 years in kitchens throughout the Midwest. Over that time and during his tenure at Becket’s in particular, he has come to love and respect all aspects of food.  Bryce is supported by his beautiful fiancé Amanda and their 2 children Callan (2 years) and Hayden (9 mos.). 
 
Adam Borndahl

Adam is Becket’s Executive Sous Chef, and has been cooking professionally for 7 years. His love for food came from his high school culinary classes. His biggest culinary influences are classic Frech and Japanese cuisines. Adam also enjoys foraging for wild foods, growing his own produce, working with local foods, and has 2 dogs… Chowder and Cheddar.

Colton Roberts, Fress

celebrity chefs

Jay Bush, BUSH'S Baked Beans Brand Ambassador

Jay Bush's dad, Condon Bush, the grandson of Bush Brothers and Company founder A.J. Bush, got him interested in the family business when he was knee high to a pinto bean.  He remembers fondly pretending to make bean recipes at a very young age but admitted his recipes did not quite measure up to the Secret Family Recipe for BUSH'S Baked Beans.  Today Jay enjoys helping people across the country share the delicious taste of BUSH'S Baked Beans.  Above all he works hard to keep Duke, his best friend and loyal spokesdog, from selling the Secret Family Recipe to what he thanks are the best-tasting Baked Beans around.

Beth Flaherty, Community Volunteer and Co-chair Imagine Fox Cities   

Beth Flaherty has focused her professional and volunteer efforts on public interest issues including children, women, the arts, the environment and poverty.  After receiving her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and law degree from the University of Wisconsin, she practiced law in Boston, D.C. and Milwaukee.  She served as a board member and board chair of the Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region, the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, the Fox Valley Symphony and the Fox Cities Building for the Arts.  She currently serves on the Boards of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region and the Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust and on the Advisory Committee on Public Affairs at Lawrence University. Beth and her husband Dan have four children and reside in Appleton. 

Todd & DeDe Heid, Heid Music