Corporate Executive Chef, Behind the Scenes Catering and Events; San Diego, CA

Melissa Chickerneo ’03 is corporate executive chef of Behind the Scenes Catering and Events. With 24 plus years of culinary experience and a degree from The Culinary Institute of America, Chef Melissa brings considerable expertise and inspiring creativity to her cooking and recipe development. Driven by a lifelong passion for food and a desire to learn from the best, she is equally at home preparing dishes for intimate dinners and executing complex, large-scale dining events. Chef Melissa has cooked around the world for an array of luminaries, including sitting US sitting presidents, numerous astronauts, celebrities, dignitaries, and royalty. Having worked at Michelin-starred restaurants with famous culinarians, she has honed her skills and style producing beautiful food, with flavor, style, and often a little whimsy. In addition, her talents have been on display at six Olympic Games. Still, her favorite experiences have always been in her own kitchen, teaching her son and daughter how to cook. In addition to her culinary pursuits, Chef Melissa and her husband own a spirit company, CelloVia, for which they have gained national recognition. (San Diego, CA) @shef.melissa