Rooted Table is a consultancy specializing in design strategy and culinary services, with a focus on food systems, regenerative solutions, and marketplaces. We offer two key services: ◾️ Design Consultancy: We partner with marketplace companies, e-commerce platforms, and impactful non-profits, particularly in food tech and regenerative agriculture. Our services encompass design strategy and design, helping organizations harness technology to make a positive community impact and advance regenerative food systems.◾️ Culinary Consulting: Leveraging my experience as a sous chef, prep cook, and line cook, I assist with enhancing culinary operations as well as menu/recipe development focused on sustainability and regenerative solutions. We also work with food and beverage companies, including consumer packaged goods companies, to develop recipes for food service and create marketing content that uplifts their brands.Rooted Table is committed to blending technological innovation with culinary excellence, driving a sustainable and dynamic food industry.Previously:RootedTable began as a unique marketplace for cultural, home-cooked meal experiences, connecting home cooks with those seeking immersive culinary adventures. As a proud graduate of Y Combinator's 2018 Startup School, our initial mission focused on creating economic opportunities and breaking down cultural barriers. We specialized in empowering immigrants, underrepresented groups, and Baby Boomers to establish micro-businesses from their homes.

Co-leading efforts to help institutional dining, food service teams adopt plant-based meal defaults by developing a research-driven toolkit and workshop. Conducting stakeholder interviews, observational research, and data analysis to create actionable strategies, fostering sustainable dining practices and reducing environmental impact.

I'm helping co-create a chef-led training program promoting sustainable aquatic foods like bivalves and sea vegetables. Our goal is to inspire chefs to incorporate these eco-friendly ingredients into their menus, educate guests and consumers about their benefits, and foster a positive impact on ocean health and ecosystems. We are driving a movement toward a more sustainable and regenerative culinary future.

I help creatives navigate career growth and transitions, aligning their paths with their core values. My mentees have landed dream jobs at top companies such as Airbnb, Kith, IDEO, and Civic-tech organizations, as well as impactful roles in the climate sector.Key Highlights:- Mentored individuals to secure roles at leading companies like Airbnb, Kith, IDEO, and various Civic-tech and climate-focused organizations.- Developed a holistic, tailored, and collaborative mentorship approach/system.- Provided actionable career assessments, guides/playbooks, and structured plans.

I specialize in human-centered design, seamlessly integrating user needs with business objectives to create impactful, meaningful user experiences. My expertise includes:• Strategic Product Design Consulting: Defining project visions, timelines, and operations with clients for successful outcomes.• Human-Centered Research & Design: Conducting in-depth UX research and usability testing to guide user-friendly product development.• Design Leadership: Leading teams in crafting wireframes, prototypes, and design systems; mentoring/coaching designers at various career stages.Portfolio provided upon request. Through strategic, human-centered design, I'm committed to transforming ideas into tangible solutions that resonate with both clients and users.

Versatile culinary professional crafting memorable dining experiences across high-profile events, private dinners, and innovative pop-ups. Proven track record scaling from intimate chef's tables to 4000+ guest international festivals. Skilled in both back-of-house operations and front-of-house excellence.Key collaborations include signature events with acclaimed chefs Phil Saneski (Future of Food/Farming Hope), Harold Villarosa (Tiger Woods Hero World Challenge Bahamas), and Michelle Minori, specializing in:• Sustainable fine dining concept development• Large-scale festival culinary operations• Private dining experiences and pop-up innovations• Corporate culinary education and team building• Cultural celebration galas and VIP serviceNotable projects span Outside Lands Festival, Oakland Asian Cultural Center Gala, SoulPhil Brunch Pop-up, and the POC Food & Wine Festival, consistently delivering elevated dining experiences that blend technical precision with warm hospitality.

Elite is a fast and friendly way to find in-home care for seniors. A family-owned and operated business.

In my role under Executive Chef Harold Villarosa at Albany Bahamas, I successfully led a team of 30-40 cooks across three kitchens. Highlights include:• Orchestrating four major dinners, serving over 4,000 guests for the Tiger Woods Hero World Challenge Golf Tournament. • Streamlining kitchen operations for efficiency and excellence.• Collaborating on menu development, emphasizing creativity and quality.• Fostering team growth and maintaining high culinary standards.This experience honed my leadership and culinary expertise in a high-volume, dynamic setting.

Managing 1 direct report and 2 designers from an external agency.

Full Harvest is solving the $2.6 trillion global food waste problem through technology and innovation. We run the only B2B online marketplace connecting farmers with commercial produce buyers where they can purchase imperfect and surplus produce. This mission helps reduce climate change by lowering CO2 emissions and water use and delivers incremental revenue to farmers. A win-win-win for farmers, food companies, and the planet. I'm helping shape and define the foundation of the Full Harvest platform. Wearing Product and Design hats – redesigned the core product experience from a discovery marketplace to an RFQ experience to better match user mental models. Working to build out a more flexible and responsive design system and team.

Joined the team at Nava Public Benefit Corporation to radically improve critical government services for over 50 million Americans 🇺🇸Currently, I'm working with the state of Nebraska to design an integrated benefits application MVP. I'm also working with the Department of Justice to improve the experience of their Civil Rights complaint portal. Previously I worked with the Department of Veterans' Affairs on the Caseflow product team. We’re on a mission to empower Veterans Affairs employees with technology to increase timely, accurate appeals decisions and improve the Veteran experience. Leading end-to-end product design for new functionality to add to Caseflow's product suite while working alongside a geographically distributed and cross-functional team.

Helped the +Acumen team in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation design and develop a global Social Innovation Challenge Platform for university students.

Helped accelerate the development of AI applications by helping computer vision teams generate high-quality ground truth data. Our advanced LiDAR, video, and image annotation APIs allow self-driving, drone, and robotics teams at companies like OpenAI, Lyft, Zoox, Pinterest, and Airbnb focus on building differentiated models vs. labeling data.

Outdoorsy is the world's first, true peer-to-peer marketplace for RVs. I led design for our B2B product Wheelbase. See more at wheelbasepro.comProduct:• Designed feedback loop systems between Customer Support and Product team• Designed products and flows from end-to-end to improve the online/offline experience for customers that meet business objectives: booking flows, listings flows, our iOS mobile application to launch, a revenue management system for Wheelbase• Built out brand and style guidelines for our B2B product Wheelbase• Experimented with systems to track key points of friction and incentivize feature implementationCustomer Experience:• Supported thousands of customers in booking changes, refunds, disputes, payment issues, etc. over phone, Intercom, and Zendesk• Built out help center using Intercom's Operator + Educate features to reduce full-resolution time• Managed and built a system to effectively resolve payment disputes between owners/renters -saved the company $30,000+ over lost disputes

InnovatorsBox is a community and space for professionals to deepen their creativity. Through various educational services, coaching, and supportive community, members build creative confidence and strengthen their creative insights. I served as the photographer for Mindful Mondays.

On the Ashoka Global Search team, I led project engagements and strategy across various talent programs. My role was one part intrapreneur, one part experience and engagement designer, and one part communication architect. • Established and coordinated an official partnership between IDEO and Ashoka Changemakers in adopting the OI engine platform. • Managed and redesigned the summer internship program into the Ashoka Summer Associate Program (ASAP). Learn more here: www.ashokasummerassociateprogram.strikingly.com• Built and maintained critical talent pipelines of social designers and self-identified creatives to improve the innovative culture of Ashoka.• Managed staff candidate sourcing program with key Ashoka U partners.• Served as the main videographer to the CEO, Bill Drayton.

Partnered with the Panamanian government body, Secretaria Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (SENACYT), in consulting and developing entrepreneurial initiatives across the country. • Managed a project team conducting design research for a one-stop-shop, entrepreneur web platform leveraging design thinking principles and innovation strategy. • Coached and developed design thinking strategy sessions for various groups including: Peace Corps volunteers and kid entrepreneurs. • Managed and recruited a group of volunteers from a local university for the ExD Panama Festival '15.• Worked collaboratively with entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and federal government entities to transform their organizations. • Co-founded Entrepreneurs for Development. Learn more at www.exdpanama.com/en/

Design research project in collaboration with the USC Marshall Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab and Art Center College of Design. Conducted user research and testing to explore physical and mental health challenges in the Pacoima, CA community. • Identified and crafted innovative design strategies and prototypes for clients based on analysis of user experience, human behavior, technology trends, market research, and contextual primary and secondary research.• Utilized personas, storyboards, and use-case scenarios to highlight user behaviors, needs, and product interaction.• Synthesized, compiled, and presented findings to team members and clients through data visualizations, presentations, and detailed reports to guide final product design.

We are a design studio of interdisciplinary project teams using human-centered design to develop innovative solutions to the social challenges of South (Central) Los Angeles. We hold various workshops and events to inspire a culture of social innovation, expose students to hand-on experience, support students with design mentorship, and connect like-minded individuals within the community.• Founded human-centered design studio tackling community issues (i.e. food inequity, mental health) for scalable, sustainable social impact• Mentored and managed ten project teams by sourcing industry and nonprofit partners, designing curriculum, coordinating site visits, and overseeing operations• Featured as workshop facilitator and guest speaker, promoting design thinking at pitch competitions and social entrepreneurship events Learn more at www.uscdesignforamerica.xyz

Planned holistic goal plans with clients applying a human-centered approach to lift them out of poverty for good and facilitated opportunities with local constituent groups to form strategic, community partnerships.

Conducted user research to help develop design strategies for the Changemakers website. Coordinated design research to create a collaborative work space (Synapse Central) as part of the change in organizational strategy.

Provided in-home support for the daily life of an elderly couple with disabilities. Accompanied couple to the market and medical appointments. Assisted with ambulation, activities of daily living, meal preparation, and domestic housework. Educated computer skills in Skype and email to allow sophisticated communication to relatives.

ThinkImpact builds cross-cultural social enterprises through asset-based community development and immersive collaboration. ​• Assimilated into life in a rural village through a full immersion process to gain a better understanding of community challenges and resources.• Learned to conversationally speak in the local language (Kigiriama) to allow for smoother communication.• Utilized the human-centered design process with a design team of 4 local community members to develop sustainable, asset-based business concepts.• Prototyped a farming service business model that increased farming profits by up to 1,800% for clients to address poverty alleviation initially, later opening avenues to unemployment, hunger, and education.