Chefs for Humanity is an alliance of culinary professionals and educators working in partnership with U.S. and global organizations, providing nutrition education, hunger relief, and emergency and humanitarian aid to reduce hunger across the world. Our Chefs Council and Chefs Corps volunteer their time, expertise, culinary and nutritional knowledge work to support national and world-wide relief programs working to reduce hunger.

Cat Cora :: President and Founder

It's no surprise Cat Cora became a world renowned chef. Her culinary aspirations began at an early age, and by 15, she had developed a business plan for her own restaurant. In 2005, she made television history on Food Network's Iron Chef America as the first and only female Iron Chef, and in November 2006 Bon Appetit Magazine bestowed her with their Teacher of the Year Award, an award she calls, "the greatest recognition she could achieve as a chef." That month, she was also honored with another great culinary distinction when she was named Executive Chef of the magazine.

There is no doubt Cat's upbringing had an influence on her career. She was raised in a small Greek community in Jackson, Mississippi, by a family for whom cooking and eating were the center of life. At the Cora house, it was common to eat spices from the South, as well as fresh sheep and goat cheeses and home-cured olives sent by relatives from the island of Skopelos. Her first cookbook, Cat Cora's Kitchen was inspired by her Greek and Southern heritage and contains many of her families' favorite recipes.

With advice from of her famous mentor Julia Child, Cat left Mississippi for New York, where she received the education of her dreams at The Culinary Institute of America. While in New York, she apprenticed with and then worked for Chef Anne Rozenweig at Arcadia and worked at the Beekman Tavern under Chef Larry Forgione of An American Place. Read more

Diane L. Burstein, Acting Director

"Chefs for Humanity and the work we are doing melds together for me all of my passions and drive to make a difference -particularly for children and families experiencing the hardship of hunger and malnutrition. I truly believe that Chefs for Humanity can make a significant impact and change the destructive face of hunger to one of health and abundance. I am honored for the opportunity to be a part of this organization and to help Cat bring her vision to life."

Diane joined Chefs for Humanity in August of 2007 after completing an 8 month consulting position with Action Against Hunger. Diane brings to the organization a passion for working with children and at-risk families, and a desire to change the face of hunger in our world.

While at Action Against Hunger Diane developed and implemented a national restaurant campaign and celebrity launch event featuring celebrities from both the culinary and fashion industry. These events were designed to raise the awareness of young professionals regarding the broad and devastating effects of hunger, particularly on women and children throughout the world.

Ms. Burstein was the Founder and Director of two educationally focused not-for-profit organizations; The Telamon Community Center, an After School and Arts Programs for Children and Teens, and the Yoga Learning Connection a yoga-based educational program for school children and children with special needs. Diane's passion for children, nutrition, and learning lead her to develop Sensory YogaPlay: a Therapeutic Practice for Children with Special Need a workshop for educators and health professionals.

Ms. Burstein was the successful owner and operator of a full service event planning and production company and temporary staffing agency - Artful Events Ltd. Clients included Big Brother of Boston, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Verizon, Beacon Consulting, Sun Microsystems, and The Boston Ballet.

Diane's passion for nutrition, children, and the planet lead her as well to work with the Shaklee Corporation - educating and inspiring people to make a difference in their own health, and the health of the planet.

Dina Ross :: Director and Legal Council

Dina Ross is a principal in the law firm of Schwartz, Cooper, Greenberger & Krauss, Chartered a firm located in Chicago, Il., where she is the head of the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Group. Dina has significant experience in negotiating and drafting commercial transactions, strategic planning and not-for-profit board membership. She is active in community affairs, has founded an advocacy group for gifted children and serves on her public school district's strategic planning committee. Dina is an adjunct professor at Loyola University of Chicago School of Law and a frequent speaker of topics of interest in the legal community. Prior to practicing law, she received an MBA and worked for several years as a strategic planning analyst. Dina brings legal and business skills to CFH, not to mention a love of good food and good works.

Jim Swenson :: Secretary and Treasurer

Currently the chef at the Historic National Press Club in Washington D.C., Jim appears regularly on CSPAN television and NPR. He has more than twenty years experience working at such diverse operations as Lowes and Marriott Hotels worldwide, University of North Carolina and Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston. Jim is active in many local and national civic projects such as Chefs Care 911, National School Lunch Program, D.C. Central Kitchen, Food & Friends and Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance. Jim brings great organization skills and passion of giving to CFH.

Administrative Team

Marvin Nyman and Maryann Baietti :: Berson and Corrado, LLP

An innovative CPA firm, Berson and Corrado helped establish Chefs For Humanity through charitable incorporation and registration and compliance activities the IRS. They insure that all aspects of our non-profit maintain and exceed the highest standards of quality control. They will provide a wide network of business consultants when needed and will oversee the fundraising, distribution of donations and all other administrative needs for CFH. Berson and Corrado believe in continuing education for their partners and staff which strengthens their advisory capabilities and insures their reputation as a creative, leading-edge CPA firm. In addition to their required three-year review by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), they voluntarily undergo annual inspections of our accounting services to insure that they not only meet but surpass all standards set by the AICPA and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Carolyn McClair

Carolyn McClair has been responsible for the development and maintenance of hundreds of memorable, high-profile campaigns in music, comedy, religion, health, community outreach and more. Clients include music and arts festivals, production companies, radio stations and programs, record labels, non-profit organizations, conference producers and churches as well as entertainers, authors, artists and lecturers.

In addition to being a mainstay in the entertainment industry, she also specializes in corporate image campaigns and crisis control for companies and individuals around the world. With established and extensive worldwide print/broadcast/online contacts, she is known for landing in-depth feature placements and generating enormous impressions for its clients.

Carolyn holds degrees in journalism and English from Northwest Missouri State University and completed advanced studies at University of Missouri and Duquesne University. Prior to opening Carolyn McClair Public Relations in 1989, she worked as Director of Public Relations for KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh from 1980 - 1988. In 1974, she became the first African-American woman on the management staff of Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA), where she served in the headquarters office and other ALCOA locations for six years.

Carmen Yazejian - Web Development and Consulting

Carmen is the founder of network9. She sets the design direction, puts together and manages project teams and works with the clients. A Parson¹s graduate, she spent 20 years as a fashion designer on 7th Avenue, creating designs that sold millions and happily seeing more of the world than most.

Striking the entreprenuerial spirit, she co-founded and ran Pirelli Bags, rubber artist portfolios that rocked the art market and are still seen on the streets today. Then she took on a real job — raising 2 kids.

When they were old enough to make their own dinner, she got back to work and started network9.. Exploring the same magical relationship of design and functionality that occurred in the rag trade and the bag trade, she uses her experienced eye to create corporate identities that set her clients apart from the pack.

Carmen works with Chefs for Humanity on web design and promotional materials and says "They are an amazing, giving organization filled with kind people who are going to beat the heck out of hunger."

Lisa Barnard - Marketing Consultant

Lisa Barnard is founder and owner of Brain Lab, a business branding consultancy specializing in helping entrepreneur-led businesses define and implement a clear, concise brand, both internally and externally. Getting to the heart and soul of a brand to create relevant, memorable results is at the core of Lisa’s focus. She has developed a reputation for coaching the best from others, as well as fostering a team spirit, relative to doing break-through work.

She is also an avid cyclist, climber and mountaineer, who can be found either competing semi-professionally in mountain bike races, scaling sheer cliffs or standing atop any number of towering mountains.

She is an active Board member of the South Mountain/Laveen Chamber of Commerce where she co-chairs the subcommittee on Sustainability and Business and an Ambassador for Luna/Clif bar.