Chefs Helping Chefs

Your One Stop Shop for Your Training Needs

Meet the Team

 

Jeff Rotz CEC®, WCEC, CCE®, AAC® Founder/Project Director of Chefs Helping Chefs, LLC

Jeff Rotz, CEC®, WCEC, CCE®, AAC®, is the Founder and Project Director of Chefs Helping Chefs, LLC. Born and raised in New York City, Chef Rotz began his hospitality career in the Catskill Mountains and later joined the US Navy in 1971, where he participated in the Cook’s Apprenticeship Program. He retired from the Navy in 1993 after 22 years of service, earning numerous awards and commendations. Following his military career, Chef Rotz moved to Florida to teach culinary apprenticeship programs.

In 1997, he became the first professional Chef to teach Commercial Foods/Culinary Arts in a traditional high school setting at Eustis High School. Chef Rotz has held leadership positions in the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Gulf to Lakes Chapter and is a three-time recipient of the ACF Presidential Medallion, along with several other awards. He was also named Teacher of the Year for Lake County School District in 2005-2006.

Chef Rotz founded Chefs Helping Chefs to guide culinarians through the ACF Certification Process. Over the last five years, he has trained over 4,500 Food and Beverage team members at hotels and resorts across Mexico and the Caribbean. Currently, Chef Rotz focuses on uplifting West Indian chefs and cuisines through his “Train the Trainer” and “Certification Boot Camp” programs, promoting international hospitality standards and increasing employability in the Caribbean.

Anton Werner Doos III A native of Switzerland with over 45 years of culinary expertise, Tony had an early interest in culinary arts from his foster dad, a chef at the local railways. So it was an expected move when in 1973 he progressed to culinary apprentice and also studied at the Hotel School Montana in Luzern, graduating with a Swiss federal chef’s certification and a BS in food service mgmt. During the mid to late seventies, his early chef studies as Commis and Chef de Partie brought him to several properties in Switzerland and England. In the summer of 79 he accepted a sous chef’s position at the prestigious Coral Beach Club in Bermuda. Additional appointments in some of the most famous hotels there, from Executive chef to F&B manager, opened the doors to enter the US with Marriott Resorts. He held positions from food production manager, Executive Chef and F&B director. Opportunities in the early stages of the expansion of that company afforded Chef Doos the chance to show his talents as task force chef in opening hotels from the east to the west coast. Five years later he accepted the position of F&B director at the Buccaneer Hotel in St. Croix, USVI. What was to be a three-year appointment tuned into 30 years of Caribbean experience. His next appointment as Corporate F&B director for a startup company led to ownership of eventually a portfolio of seven restaurants and the Anchor Inn Hotel.

By the late ’90’s and after having established himself as the authority in food on St. Croix, he answered the call to establish a viable culinary program at the local technical school. By the mid-twenties he sold the last of his company assets and became the chair of the FACS department at the CTEC. He is the adviser to the VI culinary team, State director for SkillsUSA, received multiple community awards, won equally as many culinary competitions, and is an active promoter for the advancement of contemporary Caribbean cuisine. To the later he has partaken in the Caribbean Junior Culinary Challenge in Barbados since its inception. Chef Doos volunteers as a judge at Caribbean culinary competitions and with his consulting company, trains and advises companies throughout the region. Tony is an ACF certified executive chef, the President and founder of the ACFVI cooks and chefs’ association, President of the local BBQ society, and member of many more community projects.

Chef Kimberly Brock Brown, CEPC®, CCA®, AAC® – Past-President, American Culinary Federation

Chef Kimberly Brock Brown, CEPC®, CCA®, AAC®, is a 37-year veteran of the culinary industry as a Certified Executive Pastry Chef®, culinary instructor, culinary competitor, entrepreneur, author, and TV personality. A native of the Chicago area and longtime resident of Charleston, South Carolina, Chef Kimberly is the founder of Culinary Concepts, LLC, offering catering corporate chef, personal chef, and consulting services.

For more than the past three decades, Chef Kimberly has remained an active member of the American Culinary Federation (ACF), of which she was elected president in 2021 for a two-year term. Prior to that, she served two two-year terms on the ACF board as Vice President, Southeastern Region, which is the second largest ACF region representing eight Southeastern states as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. Chef Kimberly became the first woman chef of color elected to the ACF board in 2017, and she is the first woman chef of color and first pastry chef to have been elected ACF president.

Chef Kimberly’s journey as a professional chef began in 1981 while completing an ACF-accredited apprenticeship program at Dallas’ El Centro College, where she was later inducted into the college’s Chefs Hall of Fame in 2015. During her career, Chef Kimberly has worked as an executive chef and pastry chef in the hospitality, healthcare, and corporate settings, and she has served as an adjunct professor at Trident Technical College and Johnson & Wales University, both in Charleston. The award-winning chef has also participated in a variety of ACF-sanctioned competitions, has served on the ACF’s Southeast Region ethics committee for several years and was instrumental in the development of ACF’s Certified Culinary Administrator certification.

The self-published author of “Here I Am! Chef Kimberly’s Answer to the Question ‘Where Are the Female and Minority Chefs?†Chef Kimberly remains dedicated to supporting women, minorities and other members of the culinary community and beyond. She spent 10 years as a guest chef for two local television shows, WCIV (ABC 4) TV’s “Lowcountry Live” and WCSC (CBS 5) TV’s “Coffee With†cooking segment, and she remains a regular speaker at a variety of industry events and conferences.

  Chef Matthew Dennis, CEC®

 Richard Crisanti, CEC®, WCEC, CCA®, AAC® Experienced Executive Chef with a demonstrated history of working in the hospitality industry. Skilled in Catering, Food & Beverage, Microsoft Excel, Hospitality Management, and Customer Service. Strong operations professional with a Associate’s degree & Bachelors Degree in Management focused in Culinary Arts/Chef Training from Johnson & Wales University

Dave Durante, CEC, CCA

Bio for Gary R. Klinefelter, CEC®, WCEC, CE, CCA®, AAC® Gary R. Klinefelter, CEC®, WCEC, AAC®, CE, AAC® started his culinary career at the age of 14 by working in the kitchen of a small privately owned restaurant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At a young age, Chef Gary was fascinated by the hospitality business and worked several positions in prominent Pittsburgh hotels before starting his formal ACF Apprenticeship training. After graduating at the top of the class and earning the “Apprentice Chef of the Year†designation as well as many medals for his competitive work, Klinefelter moved on to Hidden Valley Four Seasons Resort as the Executive Sous Chef where he continued to hone his skills. At the age of 23, Chef Gary accepted his first Executive Chef position and began his lifelong career path as a leader, coach and mentor. Throughout the years, Klinefelter has gone on to accept other appointments in Country Inns and Country Clubs as well as Beach Resorts and Hotels throughout the United States and the Caribbean, most notably The Buccaneer Resort on St Croix, US Virgin Islands where he was Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage and the AAA Four Star Four Diamond 998 room Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida where he was Executive Chef of Outlets. Klinefelter is considered to be an industry leader in the art of dry aging meats and has created several in house butcher shops and dry age meat rooms for leading resorts and Celebrity Chefs in the United States. As a past member of the US Virgin Islands Culinary Team, Chef Klinefelter has represented the island of St Croix St Croix in the “Taste of the Caribbean†where the team had earned 3 Gold Medals, 5 Silver Medals, 5 Bronze Medals and received several overall team Silver Medals. Chef Gary describes his cooking style as “Eclectic World Cuisine†with an emphasis on Caribbean flavors and fresh, local sustainable food products with regionally inspired cooking techniques which are demonstrated through the 100% scratch kitchens which he leads. Klinefelter who serves as the Vice President and one of the Founding Fathers of the Virgin Islands Chef’s and Cooks Association is a Certified Executive Chef, World Certified Executive Chef through WACS, Certification Evaluator, Certified Culinary Administrator and a Fellow of the American Academy of Chefs. Currently Chef Gary is the Executive Chef of Gulf Stream Bath and Tennis Club in Delray Beach, Florida where he continues to be a mentor to his many J-1 Cultural Intern Students as well as his regular team. Chef Klinefelter has done continuing education studies at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, The Greenbrier, in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, and The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman Island. Klinefelter has led many community fundraising projects including the American Liver Foundation Flavors of Pittsburgh, Chef’s Helping the Homeless, The Ultimate Dinner Party for the Children’s Home, St Croix Culinary Juniors and the Givin’ the Dream Foundation. Awards Received:

• Winner – SOBE Food and Wine Festival Bloody Mary Brunch 2016 Judged by the cast of “Choppedâ€
• Silver Medal ACF Professional Category – Taste of Elegance Pork Competition – 2015
• People’s Choice Award – Expo Al Fresco / Taste of Hollywood – 2015
• Silver Medal – Overall Team – USVI – Taste of the Caribbean – 2013
• Silver Medal – Seafood Category – Taste of the Caribbean – 2013
• Silver Medal – Best Use of Cheese – Taste of the Caribbean – 2012
• Silver Medal – Overall Team- USVI – Taste of the Caribbean – 2012
• Taste of St. Croix Champions Cook-Off – First Place Winner – 2012
• Winner -“Peoples’ Choice Award†Taste of St. Croix 2012
• Third Place “Best Entrée†Taste of St. Croix – 2012
• St. Croix Food & Wine Experience – Cuisine on the Green Champion – 2011, 2012 & 2014
• Best Dish†Whirl Magazine 2010
• Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – 2010
• Gold Medal A.C.F. Pittsburgh Chapter Soup Competition -1998
• Gold Medal A.C.F. Pittsburgh Chapter Braised Meat Competition – 1998
• Silver Medal A.C.F. Pittsburgh Chapter Sanctioned Culinary Salon – 1996
• Silver Medal A.C.F. Pittsburgh Chapter Salads Competition – 1995
• Silver Medal A.C.F. Pittsburgh Hot Food/Cold Competition – 1995
• Silver Medal U.S.X. Tower Ice Sculpting Competition – 1995
• A.B.E.L. Award for Hot Food Displayed Cold – 1994
• First Place and Best of Show C.C.A.C. / A.B.E.L. Food Show – 1993

Professional Affiliations and Certifications:

• Certified Executive Chef – American Culinary Federation
• Fellow – American Academy of Chefs Honor Society
• Founding Father /Vice President – A.C.F. Virgin Islands Chefs and Cook’s Association
• Education Chair – ACF Virgin Islands Chefs and Cooks Association -2013 – present
• Executive Chef / Board of Directors – Givin’ the Dream Foundation 2013-Present
• American Culinary Federation, Member since 1993
• Member – United States Virgin Islands Culinary Team 2011 – 2014
• Team Coach / Manager – St. Croix Culinary Juniors

Chris Ghita Chris Ghita is a Grenadian national from very humble beginnings who was raised in Venezuela and later returned to his place of birth in Grenada after spending his younger years in Venezuela. After earning his high school diploma, Chris Ghita joined the hotel industry in 1993 as a waiter at the Indigos hotel and the Rex Grenadian before joining Spice Island Beach Resort as a Senior Waiter. After working tirelessly as a waiter and showing true passion and dedication, he gained experience in several positions such as steward, maintenance technician, houseman and front desk agent. Committed to growth, Chris Ghita then spent several years shadowing his superiors and was promoted to Head Bartender, Food & Beverage Supervisor, Maître D, and Food and Beverage Manager. Chris Ghita was able to move through the ranks by not only shadowing his superiors but also understanding that education and training was vital to his growth of holding a General Manager’s title one day therefore, he did not pass up the opportunity to go through extensive training in Sweden, Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne, Florida and much more. Chris Ghita holds a bachelor’s degree in International Hospitality Management and Tourism and an MBA Business Administration. He also holds diplomas from St. George’s University in Hospitality Management and French Wines and Wines of the World and Restaurant and Bar Organization. At Gothenburg University, he spent four years studying Culinary Arts and he is also an American Hotel Lodging and Education Institute Certified Hospitality Department Trainer and Hotel Administrator. His hard work, education, experience and talent then led him into earning the position of Assistant Manager at Spice Island Beach Resort. At the age of 29, Chris Ghita left Spice Island Beach Resort to manage Mount Cinnamon Beach Resort, a 21 boutique hotel in the capacity of General Manager. He then spent two years and then went to St. Lucia to manage The Village Inn Spa. Committed to not spending more than 2-3 years at a property he then went on to manage Palm Island Resort in the Grenadines where he left after three years to manage Galley Bay Resort and Spa in Antigua but was first the Hotel Training and Development Manager. After two and a half years he went on to manage the Sandals White House in Jamaica, a 360-bedroom hotel in South of Jamaica and he also served as Hotel Manager at Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean in Jamaica. Chris Ghita now currently serves as General Manager at Ocean Terrace Inn where he has been focused on training and development, hospitality development, Succession planning for Hotel Employees, environmental sustainability, corporate responsibility and partnership and also the adoption of the Irishtown Primary School. Chris Ghita took Ocean Terrace Inn to “CHIEF 2017†at the Hyatt hotel Regency Miami and placed most sustainable hotel in the entire Caribbean. The Ocean Terrace Inn under the leadership of Chris Ghita has just been certified by the UK based Organization “Hospitality Assured†the only hotel in St. Kitts to have this certification. Chris Ghita is the current Co-chair of the Junior Achievement foundation for St. Kitts and Nevis and is an accomplished trainer in all aspects of the hotel industry with twenty-four years’ experience training in different institutions through the OECS and now St. kits and Nevis.

 Manfred Schmidtke CEPC, CMB It all started as a small child on a bike. I delivered fresh hot rolls with fresh milk to people in my town which was a small quaint village in Northern Germany. The rolls inspired my career as a Certified Master Baker and Executive Pastry Chef. I became inquisitive about those hot rolls. Therefore, I decided to pursue a career as a pastry chef. I have been in the baking and pastry business for over 35 years in several capacities which has yielded a huge success. The fun of tasting sugar for so many years could make anyone have the sweetest of sweet tooth! My training was in Germany and it opened doors to an interesting career around the world. After completing my training, I travelled to several different countries around the world. The experience I gained was invaluable – so many different pastries in so many places. After my travels abroad, I arrived in America and became the proud owner of an exclusive pastry shop in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I made fancy pastries and artisan breads. People would travel for up to one hour to get my sticky buns on a Sunday morning. Being German I naturally made German pastries which drew a unique population of customers. As life progressed, I decided to make a career change. I discovered I had a hidden talent for teaching. Teaching became a passion and I have been teaching baking and pastry for over 20 years. Sharing my knowledge with new aspiring pastry students is what inspires me every day! To see a new chocolate / sugar creation created by a pastry student makes the circle complete in my life of baking and pastry. My expertise stem from the fact of having work in so many different countries, and never to stop leaning.

Laurie Stone Dennis

 Chefs Helping Chefs

Your One Stop Shop for Your Training Needs