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Kim Cosgrove | Executive Director
Originally from Stratford, Kim received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Queen’s University before returning to Stratford to attend Stratford Chefs School, graduating with honours in 2003. Kim has worked at many Stratford restaurants including The Green Room at the Stratford Festival, York Street Kitchen, Rundles, and Bijou, as well as Vinehaven Bakery in Niagara. Kim has staged at Oliveto (Oakland, California), Terra (St. Helena, Napa Valley, California) and Avalon (Toronto, Ontario).
Before accepting her current position, Kim spent three years at Stratford Chefs School as a cookery instructor where she taught Level 1 Cookery, Commodities, Larder, and Level 2 Restaurant Labs. Following her tenure as cooking instructor, Kim worked six years as the school’s Executive Assistant, focusing on cookery curriculum development.
Randi Rudner | Program Manager | Core Instructor | Lab Cookery Instructor
Hailing originally from Montreal, Randi lived in Kingston for twelve years. There, she took an undergraduate degree in philosophy at Queen’s University, taught clinical and communication skills at Queen’s University Medical School, and co-owned a co-operative café, where she found her place in the kitchen. Randi’s position as a sous chef in a restaurant owned by Stratford Chefs School graduates led to her enrolment at Stratford Chefs School, where she graduated with honours in 2012.
Randi worked under Chef Neil Baxter at Rundles Restaurant for six years, at both Pazzo Taverna and The Prune after Rundles closed, was co-chef of Somewhere, a ten-seat restaurant in Stratford serving submarine sandwiches by day and tasting menus by night. Most recently, Randi is co-chef with husband Mike Booth at The Prune, Stratford for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 summer seasons.
Mark Andrew Brown | Student Recruitment & Admissions Liaison | Business Instructor
An honours graduate of the Stratford Chefs School (Class of 2009), Mark Andrew Brown has been recognized for his talent, passion and commitment to hospitality as an OHI Top 30 Under 30 chef, and was selected as one of the ten future stars of the Canadian culinary scene to compete for the Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship in Vancouver. Mark was also a recipient of the University of Guelph Good Food Innovation Award for his menus based on Canadian content, creativity, clarity, and sustainability.
Throughout his time behind the stoves Mark has had the opportunity to train with world renowned chefs and has spent time learning in some of the country’s most celebrated restaurants. At home and abroad he has spent time honing his craft from Ottawa to Rome to Toronto to New York City and he has shared his skills, as both a manager and director, with strong hospitality operators including Langdon Hall, Oliver and Bonacini, and The Charcoal Group.
In addition to Mark’s culinary experience, he holds an honours diploma in Enterprise Management and is the owner of Lady Glaze Doughnuts, currently with multiple locations including Kitchener, Cambridge, Guelph and London, Ontario. Lady Glaze prides themselves on making old fashioned doughnuts from real ingredients with unique and fun flavours.
Jennifer Otter-Leaney | Administration & Marketing
Jennifer joined the School in October 2018, soon after moving back to her hometown of Stratford. After graduating from Stratford Central Secondary, Jennifer completed an Honours B.A. in English Language and Literature at Wilfrid Laurier University, then worked and lived in Toronto, Ontario. Jennifer brings a wealth of experience to her role, having been Canadian Stage’s Associate Director of Marketing, following several years in the film distribution biz, including Director of Marketing roles with Entertainment One and Alliance Films. Highlights include the Canadian promotion and marketing campaigns for Academy Award-winning films Atonement and The King’s Speech.
A passionate cheerleader for the arts and all things Stratford, Jennifer loves getting to know the students and see them in action at Lab Dinners. She enjoys supporting the staff, faculty, and next generation of Canadian chefs during their time at Stratford Chefs School.
Board of Directors
Jennifer Belanger
Amanda Bradley | Co-Chair, Fund Development
Bill Henderson
Nigel Howard | Chair and President
Alex Kastner | Co-Chair, Fund Development
Arakua Lamptey
Timothy J. Leonard | Chair, Audit and Finance
Dr. Dennis Nuhn | Chair, Governance
Carrie Rau | Class of 2004
Lesley Biehn | ex-officio
Kathy Vassilakos
Advisory Group
Theresa Albert
Dan Donovan | Class of 1998
Ryan Donovan | Class of 2005
Carl Heinrich | Class of 2005
Jeffrey Leney
Jane Sigal
David Stones | Chair
Eleanor Kane | Co-Founder Emeritus