Q: WHEN DID YOU FIRST FALL IN LOVE WITH COOKING?

I FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH COOKING AS A YOUNG GIRL. I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE IN THE KITCHEN WITH MY MOM. I REMEMBER MY MOM PULLING UP A CHAIR TO THE COUNTER AND AS A YOUNG GIRL CRAWLING UP AND STANDING SIDE BY SIDE WITH MY MOM. WE ALWAYS BAKED HOLIDAY TREATS AND CREATED DISHES FOR DINNER TOGETHER AND THAT’S WHERE MY PASSION FOR BEING IN THE KITCHEN STARTED.

Q: WHEN DID YOU HEAR ABOUT BLACKSTONE, AND WHEN DID YOU START COOKING ON ONE?

I GOT MY FIRST GRIDDLE IN 2018 FOR CAMPING AND REALLY FOUND MY LOVE OF BLACKSTONE AND THE COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC. I TRULY THINK THE GRIDDLE PROS STARTED AN AMAZING COMMUNITY WITH THEIR COOKS, POSTS, AND LIVE DEMOS THAT DREW PEOPLE IN. AND I WAS HOOKED!

Q: WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING AND HOW DID YOU GET STARTED DOING IT?

FROM THE LOVE OF BEING IN THE KITCHEN I KNEW FROM A YOUNG AGE THAT I WOULD ALWAYS HAVE A CAREER PATH IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY. WORKING IN FAST FOOD THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL, TO DOING CATERING FUNCTIONS AND WEDDINGS AT A LOCAL COUNTRY CLUB. MY CAREER PATH LANDED ME 17 YEARS AS A COOK FOR PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, A JOB I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD LEAVE. AFTER MEETING MY HUSBAND I CHOSE TO RELOCATE AND THAT BROUGHT ME TO MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL, A PRIVATE SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN. I HAVE NOW BEEN EMPLOYED HERE AT MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL FOR 9 YEARS.

Q: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE NOT COOKING?

MY OTHER PASSIONS IF I AM NOT COOKING ARE OF COURSE SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH MY HUSBAND AND FAMILY. I SPEND MY SUMMERS ALONG THE RIVER AT OUR PERMANENT CAMP SITE. WE ENJOY CAMPING, FIRES, AND GAME NIGHTS WITH FRIENDS. A FUN FACT ABOUT ME IS I PLAYED SOFTBALL FOR MANY YEARS AND EVEN TOOK A COED TEAM TO LAS VEGAS AND TOOK 3RD PLACE.