MARY FITZGERALD
Mary FitzGerald is a recognized food safety resource and began her career by earning her certification as a Registered Dietician after graduating from Immaculata College in Philadelphia. Mary joined a San Francisco based, rapidly growing upscale restaurant company as a culinary trainer for new restaurant openings, progressing through the ranks to General Manager of the two largest restaurants in New York City. Moving to Los Angeles in 1990 with her husband and son, Mary returned to the food and beverage industry to oversee special events at several prestigious restaurants and hotels. During an extended assignment in New York in 2009, Mary became a Certified Food Safety Inspector for EcoSure, one of the largest global food safety companies in the world where she inspected restaurants, hotels, airport food service kitchens, public schools and universities. Upon her return to Los Angeles in 2012, Mary became a ServSafe Certified Management Food Service Trainer/Proctor as well as a TIPS Trainer and created Safe and Sound Food Safety Consultants. Mary currently holds an active role with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health – Food Safety Advisory Council and is on their Referred Vendors Provider’s List for training food safety certification. Mary inspects food service facilities including restaurants, hotels, schools, airports in New York, Las Vegas, California, and is writing food safety certification programs for restaurants in Peru, Panama and Costa Rica. In addition, she teaches and certifies ServSafe to Managers and foodservice employees and is proud to be associated with HTA.
CHEF MITCHELL FRIEDER
Chef Mitchell Frieder has over 43 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry, working both front-of house and back-of-house positions. Mitchell worked on the sushi line at Ai, a South Pasadena, classical Japanese restaurant and has consistently opened and managed restaurants that are voted among the best in the world. Mitchell was the Sous Chef of San Francisco’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel and its fine dining restaurant, Silk’s. Downtown Bistro, his restaurant in Lancaster, California was voted by the Los Angeles Times to be the fifth best in the Los Angeles valley region. Mitchell owns and and has operated Max Catering at the Antelope Valley Country Club for more than 17 years, and Mack’s BBQ, both in Palmdale, California, and is co-owner of Le Gourmet Culinary, a cooking school in Orange, California.
Mitchell has been teaching culinary students for over 14 years and was a Chef Instructor at the Art Institute, Le Cordon Bleu, and UCLA Extension, and consults for various businesses including the Shanghai Trade School in Shanghai, China. He has been a food columnist, had a radio cooking show for five years and a television cooking show for ten years.
Mitchell, and his wife, Jennifer, and their four children live in Lancaster with an extended family of pets, large and small.
DUC TA
Duc Ta, at the age of 16, was charged as an adult and sent to adult prison. He was driving a car from which gunshots were fired. Although no one was physically injured, he was charged and convicted under gun and gang enhancement laws for attempted murder and sentenced to 35 years to life. Duc was released from prison after serving 15 years. While in prison, he obtained his college degree in Business Management, a Paralegal Certification and was actively involved in a variety of self-help programs.
From 2013 to 2014, he worked with the Amity Foundation as the Prop 36 Coordinator under Stanford University Law School. Duc assisted newly released Three Strikers in finding jobs and housing. Upon leaving Amity, he decided to pursue his culinary dreams and enrolled in LA Kitchen, a culinary program empowering at risk community members and returning veterans. He has worked for numerous celebrity chefs and is currently pursuing his entrepreneurial ambitions.
If he’s not in the kitchen or office, you’ll find him in search for that perfect wave somewhere on the coastline or setting up camp somewhere in the mountains.
JENNIFER GATLIN
Jennifer Gatlin has been in the hospitality industry for over 25 years, and received her sommelier/wine certification through the W.S.E.T (Wine Spirit Education Trust) and the International Court of Master Sommeliers, while pursuing her Business Management Degree from the University of Phoenix. Jennifer has worked as a trainer, manager, server, ServSafe Liquor Instructor, and bartender in both fine dining and high volume restaurants including The House of Blues, Gladstone’s, Wolfgang Puck Express, and the highly acclaimed Papadakis Taverna. Additionally, she honed her wine and sales skills as a wine broker for an international boutique wine brokerage house for several years.
Jennifer believes that with the proper training we can begin a “service revolution” here in Los Angeles, meeting and exceeding industry standards and setting the tone for the industry as a whole.
Jennifer enjoys bartending at the Los Angeles International Airport where she was named a Customer Service Hall of Fame recipient. She serves as the Secretary for the San Pedro/ Wilmington NAACP branch, where she is able to give back to her community. She lives in San Pedro with her husband and two sons.
DANNY HAROLD
Chef Danny Harold has over 35 years of professional culinary and hospitality experience. Danny earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Johnson and Wales in Providence, Rhode Island, and via a fellowship to the Montreaux Hotel School in Switzerland. From a beach-front Hampton’s resort on Long Island, to Grey Advertising in Manhattan, to the Beverly Hills icon, The Grill on the Alley, Danny grew from Line Cook to Executive Chef, ultimately managing all aspects of the premiere restaurant.
In 2000, Danny founded Harold Catering and was personal chef and private caterer for notable clients including Bruce & Patti Springsteen, Ari and Sarah Emanuel, former CEO of NBC Jeff Zucker, the Royal Danish Consulate, the British Embassy, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Harold Catering has been the first-choice caterer for high-profile companies such as William Morris Endeavor, Warner Brothers Records, Sony Pictures, ABC Television, Manulife Financial and many others. Danny appeared on multiple episodes of “Operation Style”, the USA Network’s “Before and After’noon” and the DIY Network’s Food Specials…and, Danny is prominently featured in the 2014 hit movie ‘Chef’, as the expert hand-double for Carl Casper (Jon Favreau), the writer, director and star of the film.
In 2009, Danny began teaching at the International Culinary School at The Art Institute. Through 2016, he taught Concepts & Theories, Classical European and American Regional Cuisines. He is also a Certified ServSafe Instructor, Trainer and Proctor. Danny is a proud member of the James Beard Foundation, the American Culinary Federation, and the Chefs de Cuisines of Los Angeles. He actively supports Community and Charitable Organizations such as the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Association, PATH (People Assisting The Homeless), St. Paul the Apostle Parish and Notre Dame High School. Danny enjoys cooking at home for his wife and three children…..it is simply his passion.
JACQUELINE MARTIN
Jacqueline Frias has worked in the Los Angeles hospitality industry for the last twelve years. She was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Tourism from the University of Guadalajara.
Jacqueline returned to the United States in 1994, and began working as a custodian, cleaning apartment buildings, and then moved on to food service as a Cashier. In 2004, she started working for the Sheraton Delfina Hotel, now the Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica, and has held positions ranging the spectrum from Cashier, Room Attendant, Mini-bar Attendant, Barista and her current position, Server Supervisor. Jacqueline serves on the UNITE HERE Local 11 Executive Board and was recently elected to the Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights (SMRR) Steering Committee.
Jacqueline is an HTA Barista and Room Attendant Instructor and loves to make a difference in people’s lives. She is the proud single mother of three young adults.
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KATHY TOLLMAN
Kathy Tollman is a training consultant with the HTA specializing in all aspects of the hospitality industry, having worked for over 25 years in a variety of hourly restaurant positions as well as a regional training manager, and catering director with corporate and franchise big-chain restaurants. Kathy has been responsible for new restaurant-opening training teams, the Manager-in-Training Program, and has taught ServSafe, TiPS and Responsible Alcohol Service for more than 10 years. Kathy likes to have fun with her students while imparting the necessary tools, skills and knowledge to succeed personally.
MISSY IWNEFERI
Missy Iwneferi has been in the coffee industry for over 15 years as a barista, manager, consultant, wholesale trainer & sales representative. Missy is licensed through the Specialty Coffee Association as certification trainer and examiner–or Authorized SCA Trainer–and has taught coffee classes and administered certification exams through that organization for 5 years. She has worked extensively with all types of espresso machines and coffee brewing devices and has won several competitions for both coffee mixology and latte art. She is now a Head Judge for the United States Barista Championships for her 6th season of judging, where she presides over judges panels during competitions and helps to train new judges each season. As a member of the Competitions Working Group, she works with other members to discuss rules changes and complete projects to improve training resources for both judges and competitors.
In addition to being passionate about coffee, Missy is is also deeply interested in Sociology and Psychology, and is working toward a Masters in the former and PhD in the latter while remaining immersed in the coffee industry.
Missy loves working with the HTA to teach people new job skills and lives to inspire a passion for coffee in her students.
PAULA AGRAS
Paula Agras has over 17 years’ experience as a teacher and an administration. She has taught elementary, middle school and adult English as a Second Language students. As well as teaching Paula has also worked in administration roles such as Tutoring Director, ESL Program Director, and Registrar. She has a passion for teaching students to develop the confidence to learn and speak English and have a lifelong learning for education. She earned her Bachelors degree in English from California State Fullerton and her Master’s degree in Education from Ashford University.
CHRISTOPHE BONNEGRACE
French born, Chef Christophe Bonnegrace has established himself as a culinary artist and businessman. At age 14, he was as an apprentice at St. Maximin, in France, where he also received his Culinary Arts Degree from the C.F.A. Culinary School. Christophe’s journeyed to Africa where he travelled from Cairo to Nairobi learning about the tribes and their foods. Chef Christophe’s career has taken him from France, to Los Angeles where he was Executive Chef at Aristoff Caviar and Fine Foods before heading to Las Vegas where he was Executive sous chef for the Mirage Hotel. Christophe’s consulting opportunities took him to Denver winning him the Culinary of Excellence Award, Chef of the Month, for the State of Colorado. Moving to Hawaii, he took on an opportunity as Food and Beverage Director / Executive Chef for the Royal Lahaina Resort. Christophe returned to Las Vegas to an executive chef position for Little Buddha, at The Palms Casino. There, he won Culinary of Excellence Award and placed Little Buddha in the top ten best restaurants in Las Vegas in 2003. Little Buddha also received the award for Best Asian Restaurant in 2004. He traveled to Egypt to open a new addition of Little Buddha. Christophe formed his own Consulting and Development Company, CBG Enterprises. He became involved with numerous Native American tribes throughout the U.S and the Dominican Republic. In 2012, Christophe opened a new restaurant, La Villette, in the West Village of Manhattan offering Provencal French cooking. He moved over to Harlem where he opened Barawine, a Wine Bar & Restaurant serving French American cuisine. Christophe also worked as Corporate Executive Chef for Royal Caribbean Celebrity Cruises and won multiple awards. More recently, Christophe came back to Hollywood as Executive Chef at Yamashiro’s bringing Hollywood celebrities back to dine at this historical spot.
He is happy to be at HTA where he can share his vast experience with HTA’s students.
JUSTINO “JAY” DIAZ
Jay is a 1st generation Latino/ Chicano- born and raised in Los Angeles, California. His career in the hospitality industry spans 20+ years. Starting off in his Grandmother’s kitchen watching intently as she would prepare meals for the family. At 16, Jay started working for a caterer assisting with birthdays and
weddings.
Later, he would join corporate chains and assist in the national growth of 50+ restaurants in the USA and Canada working closely with their training department. Jay attended Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College in Las Vegas and worked for hotel and casinos such as Caesars Palace. Upon moving back to California, he work with “renegade” kitchens and pop-up restaurants. This allowed Jay to be a part of Coachella and LA Best Food Fests, and Jonathan Gold’s Top 100 list. These opportunities have allowed him to cook for many Hollywood celebrities such as: Melissa McCarthy, Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, The Talk TV show, and Dakota Fanning.
Now, he shares his knowledge and experience at the Los Angeles Hospitality Training Academy.
PAUL BLANCO
Paul began his culinary career working at his Uncle Joe’s restaurant in 1980.
He attended Culinary Arts Institute at LAMC in Sylmar, CA where he received an AA degree in Culinary Arts. In addition, Paul complimented his education by completing Profiles in Good Taste Course at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, CA. Paul’s culinary career has allowed him the distinction of having worked in every sector of the culinary industry, as well as many different cuisines.
Since 2012, Paul founded his consulting business, PB Foods, where he has established himself as a Food Consultant and Health and Wellness Chef Instructor. Among his accomplishments is developing healthy cooking classes with Pre-Med Students at USC, creating a healthy options cooking line for a local grocer, menu planning cost analyses for local businesses, and specialty catering and planning.
Paul is pleased to join HTA where he can share his knowledge and expertise to enhance the knowledge of HTA students enrolled in HTA’s programs.
ANDREW FELDMAN
Andrew Feldman has been a full time instructor at Glendale Community College since 1999 and was named Culinary Arts Department Chair in 2006. He previously was an adjunct instructor at Glendale for three years, and has also taught at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Los Angeles Mission College and Chaffey College. A graduate of Colgate University with a B. A. in Philosophy and Religion and an honors graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, Mr. Feldman apprenticed at the Century Plaza Hotel under Master Chef Raimond Hofmeister in Los Angeles. He has worked as a restaurant chef in New York City and was a chef at two leading hotels in Boston before relocating to Los Angeles. He directed food and beverage operations at a large multiunit operation in Los Angles for four years before opening and managing his own very successful café. After the sale of his restaurant, he developed and operated a movie catering business. Chef Feldman led a five-week college study abroad program to Argentina in 2007 and culinary study abroad programs to Bali Indonesia in 2016 and
2018. Mr. Feldman served as Director of a three-year U. S. Department of Agriculture Hispanic Serving Institutions grant, in partnership with The Collins College of Hospitality Management at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, designed to enhance the ability of students to transfer and attain a B.S. degree in Hospitality Management. He was the Technology and Aviation Division’s representative to the College Academic Senate and has served as a subject matter expert to the Chancellors Office of the California Community Colleges.
Mr. Feldman’s areas of professional interest include the management of large scale catering events, the regional cuisines of Latin America and Asia, and mentoring tomorrow’s food service professionals.
BELLEN VALLE
Bellen Valle began her career in hospitality in 2016 initially working at the Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles and later moving to the J.W. Marriott at L.A. Live. Most recently Bellen joined the HTA as an Instructor for the Room Attendant Apprenticeship. Here she teaches students to perform the duties such as cleaning and servicing of rooms. Working with the students she shares her knowledge of bedding linen change, vacuuming, dusting, surface cleaning and proper disinfection details of the bathrooms and kitchen cleaning.
Bellen is also a Unite Here Local 11 shop steward for the JW Marriott housekeeping department, a role she takes earnestly.
SANDRA RIVAS
Sandra was born in the El Salvador and migrated to the United states when she was 19 years old. Three years later Sandra started working in the hospitality industry as a room attendant for the Hilton Hotel Universal City, where she found her passion for working in this industry and providing great and pleasant customer service, while interacting with a diverse population of guests. Sandra is currently at the Beverly Hilton, in Beverly Hills. In 2018, Sandra joined the HTA as an instructor for the Room Attendant Apprenticeship program, sharing her experience and skills with her students.
LILIANA HERNANDEZ
Liliana Hernandez has been part of the hospitality industry for the past 12 years.
She began working at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood where she worked as a Turn-down Attendant. Later, Liliana moved to the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica where Liliana has been a friendly and enthusiastic housekeeper for with 8 years.
In 2020, Liliana joined the HTA as an instructor for the Room Attendant Apprenticeship program. Along with her fellow instructors, she imparts real life job knowledge with the apprenticeship students on proper room set-up, customer service and how to represent their hotels in a friendly, professional manner.
