“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others?”
Chef Kimberly passed down the joy of cooking to her two children. Her daughter Bianca regularly cooks for her family, and like her brother Brock, Bianca is always trying and sourcing new flavors and recipes. Food brings and gives life. Breaking bread with people creates a hospitable and positive environment that is sorely needed today. What an awesome responsibility chefs have to create such an environment and provide the vehicle of food to do so! Chef Kimberly’s belief in the power of positive thinking has carried her through this culinary journey. What drives Chef Kimberly today is being open and receptive to all people and changes, focusing on helping others succeed, and giving back to those who seek help and guidance. If Chef Kimberly were considering what defines her legacy in this industry, it would include her desire to be a positive example of possibilities. Turning the perception of a negative into a positive. Being in position to take advantage of opportunities. Leaning into situations as they arise and not staying silent. Helping others to have a seat at the table and an open door to get there. n
— Martin Luther King III
In this male-dominated industry, Chef Kimberly became more aware of the lack of leadership from women and people of color. Some of this is due to the “good ol’ boys being good ol’ boys,” but also because of lack of confidence, wasted opportunities, or a lack of support for families and professional lives. It is hard to take a leadership role demanding 10 or more hours a day when one has babies who need care. Having support from family, be it blood or not, is key to a successful career. Being a mom and chef is an endeavor of love for the industry and one’s family. Time spent with either becomes a balancing act of quality versus quantity. The industry is more aware of work-life balance as it struggles to regroup during this pandemic. Just talking or complaining about the lack of representation was not enough. Chef Kimberly acted and decided to be of service and help meet the needs of students, women and people of color. Representation matters, but so does certification, education, experience and opportunities. To be the change she wanted to see, Chef Kimberly took advantage of the opportunity and ran for national president of the ACF. She could not teach and mentor others to be all they could be if she let this opportunity pass, as she had all the requirements needed to run. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter most.”
— Martin Luther King III
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