From Scratch
My journey began with a simple belief: the things we create have the power to bring people together.
I always loved to bake, something I likely inherited from my grandmother. It wasn't until high school, when I created a cake for a teacher's daughter's wedding, that I realized this could become something more. What stayed with me wasn't just the finished product—it was hearing how much joy it brought to the people who shared it. That was the moment I understood that baking was never just about what was made, but about how it made people feel.
My first experiences in professional kitchens challenged me to grow beyond what I thought I was capable of. Through a culinary scholarship competition at The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham, I placed first and earned the opportunity to compete nationally in Houston alongside students from across the country. That experience taught me the value of preparation, perseverance, and trusting the skills I was building.
My education gave me a foundation in both pastry and savory kitchens, and I came to appreciate how each discipline strengthens the other. Understanding the full culinary process shaped the way I approach my craft today: with curiosity, respect for the details, and a belief that every part of a kitchen contributes to the final experience.
After graduating in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Management, I began building my career in hospitality. I found my place at Twisted Fork in Raleigh, where I developed my pastry skills while supporting a growing restaurant team across multiple stations. As the company evolved into Rocky Top Catering, I grew alongside it—eventually becoming Executive Pastry Chef in 2018 and leading dessert production for one of the Triangle's largest full-service catering companies.
While the scale of my work has changed, the reason behind it has remained the same. Whether creating a dessert in an open kitchen where I could connect directly with guests or producing desserts for hundreds of people at a time, my goal has always been to create moments that feel meaningful.
For me, hospitality extends beyond the food we serve. It is reflected in the way we care for people, build teams, and create spaces where others feel welcomed.
Beyond The Kitchen
Creativity has always extended beyond the kitchen for me. I have never been interested in creating only one thing—I have always been drawn to the process of bringing ideas to life, solving problems, and creating experiences that bring people together.
In my personal life, I have often found myself becoming the planner, the organizer, or the person who helps turn an idea into reality. My friends jokingly call me the “Pub Mom” or “Project Manager,” but those roles reflect something that has always come naturally to me: noticing the details, anticipating needs, and finding ways to make experiences feel thoughtful and intentional.
That curiosity started early. Growing up, I took every creative opportunity I could find—from art and photography classes to bookbinding, stamp making, and even creating my own video game one summer. At the time, they were simply things I enjoyed exploring, but looking back, those experiences shaped the way I approach creativity today.
Every skill, medium, and experience has something to teach. The lessons I learned outside the kitchen continue to influence the way I design desserts, build systems, approach challenges, and create experiences for others.
Made With Intention
I believe the most meaningful experiences are often created through simple things done with care. Food does not have to be complicated to be memorable. Sometimes the most powerful flavors come from familiar ingredients, thoughtfully prepared and given the attention they deserve.
I am drawn to creating desserts that feel both approachable and intentional—something that feels familiar enough to welcome you in, yet special enough to become part of a moment worth remembering. For me, craftsmanship is not about adding more; it is about understanding what matters and giving it the care it deserves.
Baking is part of my everyday life, but for the people experiencing it, that dessert may represent a milestone, a celebration, a connection, or even a small moment of comfort during a difficult day. I may never know what someone is carrying when they take that first bite, and that is what makes hospitality so meaningful.
Food has the ability to become part of the memories people carry with them long after the table has been cleared. That is why I believe every detail matters.
Behind The Recipe
As Rocky Top Catering evolved from a restaurant-focused operation into a full-service catering company, I developed a deeper understanding of what it takes to create consistency in a fast-moving environment. I learned that creativity alone is not enough—great work also requires thoughtful systems, organization, and the ability to adapt.
When I see a challenge, my instinct is to understand why it exists and look for a better solution. Throughout my career, that has led me beyond traditional kitchen responsibilities, from creating physical tools that improve quality and consistency to developing digital systems that organize orders, production schedules, and team workflows.
I believe there is always an opportunity to improve. Even systems that appear to be working can be refined, strengthened, and made more effective. Small changes can create better standards, clearer communication, and more space for people to focus on the work itself.
To me, systems are not about removing creativity—they are what allow creativity to thrive. The right structure transforms high-volume chaos into intentional workflows, creating the consistency and care that define exceptional hospitality.
Growth has always been part of my journey. One day, I hope to open a bakery built around the values that have shaped my career: craftsmanship, hospitality, creativity, and thoughtful systems.
For now, I am continuing to learn—strengthening my leadership, refining the processes that support great work, and exploring what it takes to build environments where people and creativity can thrive.
Even as my role continues to evolve, you will still find me where I started: in the kitchen, creating, learning, and losing myself in the quiet focus of the work. Because while leadership may expand the ways I contribute, the craft will always be part of who I am.