ShandeeLand

Join us on this episode as we chat with Audrey Cha, a Spokin Ambassador and member of the FARE Teen Advisory Group, about her journey as a food allergy advocate. Audrey is the creator of All About Allergies, an educational allergy page that provides valuable resources to help raise awareness about food allergies. Audrey shares her personal story, starting with a wheat allergy and now managing doze...

Thomas Silvera, Co-Founder and VP of Elijah-Alavi Foundation, delves into the foundation's mission, outlining their goals and aspirations, and discusses their efforts to drive legislative change at both state and federal levels, with a particular focus on advocating for individuals with food allergies. Thomas highlights the foundation's efforts to advocate for changes in laws and policie...

Jennifer Jobrack, Principal of Food Allergy Pros and a long-time food allergy advocate, talks about her personal journey with food allergies, specifically her son's struggle with failure to thrive due to his allergies. Jennifer highlights the significant differences in the standard of care for food allergies across medical professionals and shares her insights on how the food allergy communit...

Nancy A. Shenker, CEO and Founder of theONswitch, is a seasoned marketing professional with years of experience in building brands, writing, and speaking on a variety of topics related to marketing, entrepreneurship, and the changing landscape of technology. One of the key trends she has observed is the shift from analog to digital in the marketing industry.  According to Nancy, the debate between...

Whatallergy.com is one of the Top UK allergy blogs, written by Ruth Holroyd to encourage people to question and learn about their life-affecting condition.   Ruth is an allergy and eczema expert, leaning into her passion for advocacy. During the Covid lockdown, Ruth wrote her first book, "Anaphylaxis: The Essential Guide: An Action Plan For Living With Life-Threatening Allergies." She wa...

Melissa Brown is COO of Concierge Elite and podcast host of “Understaffed”.  She has a passion for organizational management, training and development.  She enjoys assisting businesses in putting processes in place to have a solid foundation to grow from. Businesses need to rethink how they hire.  Employees want different jobs or benefits.  Today's workforce wants flexibility and work-life ba...

Court Allam is the Founder and CEO and Founder of Restaurant Marketing University and Go Explore Local. His backstory begins as a teacher and coach, and he leaned into those superpowers to launch his business.  If you are intrigued about earning passive, recurring revenue, but unsure how it works, Court offers that service and provides advice in this week’s episode.  By ditching the old-school VIP...

Zidaan Kapoor is an awe-inspiring guest. At 16 years old and a sophomore in high school, this impressive young man is an activist and entrepreneur. Also an advocate for the food allergy community, he is the founder of Fight Fears, an app that helps children overcome anxiety and mental health issues through individualized challenges. He shares his food allergy journey and how he was influenced by h...

Gabrielle Zimmerman is a passionate wellness warrior on the path to becoming an esteemed Registered Dietitian. She already has impressive accomplishments, such as authoring "When Food Can Kill You: What the World Needs to Know”.  After facing difficulty with medical professionals that dismissed, misdiagnosed and were disinclined to take action, it was through sheer determination and the inves...

In this episode of ShandeeLand, Shandee interviews Rev Ciancio, the Cofounder and CMO of Handcraft Burgers & Brews. Together, they discuss Rev's upcoming Restaurant Growth Summit, his extensive experience in marketing for hospitality and technology companies, and some lighthearted stories from his time in the music industry. Rev shares his top tips for marketing in the hospitality industr...

Lynda Mitchell, a food allergy mom and long time leader in the allergy and asthma community, is the Interim CEO at Allergy & Asthma Network. Lynda bravely opens up about her experiences becoming a mother to a child with food allergies, offering insight into the challenges it presented 30 years ago when her son was born. She was a protective mother, determined to provide her son with the best p...

Amanda Orlando is a passionate advocate and writer, and shares her inspiring journey of finding self-acceptance while living with food allergies. Amanda has had an incredible career journey - having founded 'Free to be Me' events. She is the popular blogger behind the blog 'Everyday Allergen-Free', and culminates in her success as author of a successful cookbook. The ‘Free to b...

Lisa Cohen experienced a parent’s greatest grief. Her daughter, Kyah Rayne, passed due to a fatal anaphylaxis reaction. Lisa has been working tirelessly in honor of her precious girl by founding The Kyah Rayne Foundation to raise awareness about food allergies and the potential for life-threatening reactions.  Through increased awareness and educational training surrounding food allergies, fundrai...

Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson’s journey is one of invention and exploration; she has had a unique and captivating life. Dr. Swanson is Chief Medical Officer at SpoonfulONE and Before Brands. Her professional journey includes a Masters in Bioethics, and she is an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University. Swanson is also an official spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition to this im...

Elitch Gardens has a rich 130-year history with the city of Denver and Jorie Kurt is their Park Services Revenue Manager for Games and Attractions. Jorie’s artistic and creative tendencies, plus her desire to be a teacher, make her perfect for her position! Her mission is to be the kind of person that makes people smile, whether guests or team members. Jorie takes us on a journey through her day....

Gwen Smith is Allergic Living’s co-founder and editor, and knows the realities of life with food allergies as she is allergic to soy, shellfish, and peanuts. Gwen developed these food allergies as an adult, but she was the kid with the bad tummy and a disdain for these foods. The allergies developed into adult-onset anaphylaxis. She shares her food allergy journey and the difficulty identifying an...

Jennifer Caraway is a chef, co-author of “More Than a Meal," and "Chopped" champion. But her most important work is The Joy Bus Charity.  This non-profit was inspired by Jennifer's dear friend Joy, who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Jennifer would make her foodie treats to help her feel better, and that inspired Jennifer to try to help others that perhaps did not have...

Maile Crewdson is shining bright, currently in the limelight after her winning Food Network Canada’s Great Chocolate Showdown Season Three.  Although not having professional baking experience, she started baking as a way to find ways to keep her son, suffering from food allergies, safe while making food items that she loved.  The family’s food allergy journey is emotional and moving; Maile noticed...

Michael Fiato is SVP of Guest Experience at Eurest and author of “The Hospitality Edge”.  He is an engaging storyteller and shares an incredible story about a hotel housekeeper that inspired and affected him and his professional journey profoundly.  Michael discusses the differences between task vs. purpose and how to encourage your employees to understand what their possibilities are.  He shares...

Lisa Rutter is the Founder of NNMG Food Allergic Families, a group dedicated to learning, educating, supporting and connecting others with or caring for those with food allergies. She also advocated for Michigan House Bills to place epinephrine auto-injectors in schools for use on any student suffering an allergic reaction. When her son was diagnosed with food allergies, it was shocking to discove...

Ron Duprat is a celebrity chef, TV star in his own right, keynote speaker and author.  He is currently working as an Executive Chef and F&B Director for Amarilla Golf and Country Club and is on the Board of Directors for The Black Culinary Alliance, BCAGlobal.  Chef Ron is Haitian born and moved to the US as a child.  He is classically trained and educated in Paris.  His specialty is combining...

His background is in finance, but a love of baking, a daughter with food allergies, and a business opportunity led Craig Watson to open Baked Cravings.  Baked Cravings is dedicated to maintaining a peanut and nut-free facility, using ingredients sourced from nut-free vendors.  His passion has made his company Baked Cravings a 'Best of Manhattan' Winner.  His is also one of America's...

Sheila Bennett is Executive Director of CORE, Children of Restaurant Employees. The national nonprofit CORE is dedicated to helping hospitality employees with dependent children when they are in need. When an employee has experienced a qualifying circumstance, such as injury or death of a family member, CORE provides financial relief and resources so the individual can take care not just themselve...

Dave Finley’s adage is “The Louder the Snap, the Better the Dog.”  He is Director of Food Safety and Compliance at National Coney Island Restaurants, and the dog he is referring to is a coney dog. National Coney Island Restaurants offer brick and mortar locations, food trucks, catering, coney carts, and coney kits. Dave’s 31 year journey started with the company as a teen working as a busser and d...

A soon-to-be-released full-length movie about food allergies is executive produced by Mandi Kearns. Mandi, using her education and experience as an elementary school teacher, is an advocate for her son who was diagnosed with food allergies at eight months old. She has worked with FARE and Children’s Mercy Hospital and also founded her support group. Her current undertaking is Just Like You – Food...