Organization: The Prospect KC
Title: Director of Culinary Operations and Community Partnerships, manager of Nourish KC Community Kitchen
Nominated by: Stephanie Ingram, Board Team
Gabe has been dedicated to advancing the mission of Nourish KC since October 2023. He has served as General Manager for the past year and was recently promoted to Director of Culinary Operations and Community Partnerships. In his new role, he oversees the Nourish KC Community Kitchen, which is now part of the Prospect KC. Gabe is the type of leader who does all the extras-he arrives at the kitchen first and leaves last-steps up to help not only motivate his staff to deliver their goals in terms of many meals served and food pounds rescued-even if this means he must roll up his sleeves and join the serving line or wash in the dish room-nothing is beneath him in serving his team. Gabe can articulate quickly the needs of this kitchen because he is so deeply invested and close to the team. Some examples include Gabe finding individuals in his network to paint the kitchen delivery entrance doors so that volunteers had a better experience when they came to the kitchen. He is creative in using resources and his own personal time to “better” the Community Kitchen again well beyond the bounds of the requirements of his role. Gabe has had very little turnover under his leadership and he has most recently led the kitchen team through an exciting merge with prospect KC and that has shown Gabe’s ability to lead in the face of uncertainty and bring teams close together to accomplish MORE!
Gabe is responsible for the end to end management of both kitchen operations and output at the community kitchen. This kitchen is what employs our students (prospects) and gives them an opportunity to experience a real world 16-week training program whilst delivering what is needed for Gabe and staff in the kitchen. Each day at the community kitchen Gabe and the team he is leading are responsible for making sure all guests (we cater to the unhoused community) have nutritious meals and are served with dignity and in a respectful and safe environment. Gabe manages all of the functions of the kitchen including food rescue, menu preparation, serving meals and facilitating wrap around service support of the community served. There are days where Gabe must not only make sure the kitchen runs smoothly and meals are served, he must also do this with lack of volunteers or last minute volunteer cancellations, challenges of the guest population that can sometimes result in escalations and having to leverage the local authorities if needed. Gabe takes it fully upon himself to be responsible for all of the safety of the staff and to make certain no matter what the day or week brings him that our community is fed and fed well.
Gabe has made it possible for the Prospect KC “prospects” to thrive in an environment that gives them future skills for a career in food service, Gabe has had approximately 600,000 meals served to our community under his leadership in the past year leveraging the students in his care. Above 750,000 pounds of food have been rescued under Gabe’s leadership as well to contribute to these nutritious meals for the community. Gabe is new to this world of non-profit as this was his first role in a non-profit coming from running regular kitchens for his entire career. Gabe has used the resources and shared those resources with his team and most importantly Chef Shanita of Prospect KC has been able to use the catalyst kitchen resources to mentor Gabe in his role this past year.
SPECIAL ALERT!
Thanks to a generous donation from a founding Catalyst Kitchens board member and friend of David Carleton, the Catalyst Kitchen’s Founder’s Fund has an opportunity to raise matching funds up to $5,000 during this year’s Catalyst for Change Award Season!
This is a time-limited opportunity to get your gift matched! Donate now by clicking the button below, before the window closes to double your generosity and impact!
Here are the 2024 Catalyst for Change. As you read their stories, consider supporting the work of Catalyst Kitchens and our members, enabling the amazing impact of frontline staff like our nominees.
