Key Note Speakers

Chef La Tasha McCutchen, winner of Hell’s Kitchen season 13, is a proud native of Lake City, SC.  Formerly the Head Chef of Gordon Ramsay’s Pub and Grill in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  La Tasha is now Executive Chef and owner of her own private chef catering business, in Los Angeles, CA.  Her clientele ranges from professional athletes and music industry artists, to working families and schools.    

La Tasha discovered her love for food service in 2002 while attending SCSU and waiting tables in fine dining establishments.  Her eagerness to learn and grow lead her to Myrtle Beach, SC where she would balance a full-time academic schedule at HGTC and a full-time job with Hilton Hotels & Resorts. In 2007 she decided to further her culinary education by attending Johnson and Whales University in North Miami. There she would go on to earn a second associate degree in culinary arts, and train under Miami’s finest chefs.  During her eight-year journey in South Florida, La Tasha began making an impact in the culinary industry.  Opportunities to work at the legendary James Beard House in New York City and invitations to participate in numerous Food and Wine festivals emerged. In 2014 she competed on the internationally recognized cooking competition, Hell’s Kitchen.  She became the 1st African American contestant to win without ever being put up for elimination.  Earning the respect of every competitor and most importantly Gordon Ramsay.   

       La Tasha’s strong family foundation has kept her grounded and focused throughout all her many successes. Her culinary camp at Lake City High School has led numerous students to obtain their food safety, ServSafe Certifications, obtain jobs and compete in culinary competitions of their own.  La Tasha started a non-profit organization, Baby Cakes in memory of her Grandmother Thelma McCutchen who proudly fed their Lake City community and their family out of the pure goodness of her heart.  La Tasha now aims to honor and reflect both her late Mother and Grandmother in her dedication to excellence, and her unconditional commitment to service. 

Beverly B. Campbell works full time as a Professional School Counselor at Dr. Ronald E. McNair School of Digital Communication and Leadership in Lake City, SC. Because her desire to help first generation students like herself, she works part time as an Educational Advisor with the Educational Talent Search Program at Midlands Technical College in Columbia, SC. She is a 1988 and 2009 graduate of South Carolina State University having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Education degree in Secondary Guidance. Mrs. Campbell enjoys working with youth and has done so for more than 31 years. She considers her ability to do so to be gift from above. She also enjoys working with adults and teaching them ways to communicate and deal with young people and understanding the importance of Soul/Self Care. Her mantra is “Don’t start nothin, Won’t be nothin”. Mrs. Campbell believes that if you want to have anything in life, physically, financially, spiritually, etc…, you have to start it, in order to have it.