Chef Instructor

Matt Eastwood Keller

Chicago, IL 847-***-**** ***************@*****.*** LinkedIn

EXPERIENCE

The Chopping Block, Chicago, IL February 2024 – Present Chef Instructor

● Deliver exceptional cooking class experience to up to 20 students at a time

● Manage a team of assistants to organize materials and prepare cooking stations for optimal customer experience

● Developing engaging culinary blog content that educates and inspires readers

● Ensures high standards of sanitation and cleanliness are maintained throughout the experience by keeping work and guest areas clean and organized

● Maintaining product knowledge and deliver sales goals according to store plans Freelance, Chicago, IL February 2024 – Present

Self employed

● Style food for photography and video shoots to achieve eye-catching presentations

● Capture high-quality lifestyle and portrait photography used for promotion and/or personal use and events

● Shopping for clients and organizing props for news segment or print media and conceptualizing brand look Wabler, Chicago, IL June 2024 – June 2025

Prep and line cook

● Produce all food orders in a timely and consistent manner

● Maintain a clean, sanitary, and safe kitchen environment, adhering to all food handling, sanitation, and safety procedures.

Home Chef, Chicago, IL October 2018 – September 2023 Food Stylist, Associate Photographer, June 2021-September 2023

● Shot, styled and edited 250 photos a week for meal kit product packaging, online menus, and printed materials reaching 1 mil+ households per month

● Managed photo catalog of 10k+ photos using Adobe and Google Suite

● Managed culinary team photo studio including DSLR camera, Profoto lighting setup and prop organization

● Led prop organization and assisted chefs and other stakeholders with photo needs

● Edited and standardized written content for 100+ recipes per month, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and brand consistency across packaging, digital menus, and customer-facing materials Culinary R&D Associate, June 2019-June 2021

● Edited and tested 25+ recipes weekly for timing, accuracy, ease of customer execution, cost, nutrition, shelf life, food safety and other company goals.

● Engaged in new product tastings, shared insights, and made recommendations on for adjustments and improvements

● Worked with marketing, procurement, to create dishes aligned with goals, guardrails, and capabilities. Customer Support Associate, October 2018-June 2019

● Remedied 100+ daily customer inquiries focusing on account troubleshooting using Zendesk

● Interacted with customers through various communication channels (phone, email, chat, social media) to provide prompt and effective assistance

EDUCATION

Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin Graduated May 2018 Bachelors of Arts, Mass Communications

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Ballymaloe Cookery School, Co. Cork, Ireland September 2023 - December 2023 12-week-course culinary intensive

SPECIAL SKILLS

Second City Training Center Graduated December 2019 Comedy Conservatory Program

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