Organization: Trenton Area Soup Kitchen/Emilio’s Culinary Academy, Trenton, NJ
Title: Student Director, Culinary Operations
Nominated by: Paul Jensen, Chief Operating Officer
Chef Adam has been with TASK since 2019, starting as Kitchen Coordinator. His leadership during and after COVID-19 earned him promotion to Director of Culinary Operations in 2023. He also oversees Emilio’s Culinary Academy, guiding curriculum and training to advance TASK’s premier job-readiness program.
Chef Adam stands out for his relentless drive to exceed expectations and innovate. He consistently finds creative ways to maximize meal production while ensuring healthy, nutritious options for TASK patrons. His can-do attitude and willingness to tackle any challenge make him an indispensable leader. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Adam demonstrated extraordinary resilience and adaptability, ensuring uninterrupted meal service despite unprecedented obstacles. Beyond his operational excellence, Adam has transformed Emilio’s Culinary Academy from its infancy into one of TASK’s signature programs. Under his guidance, the Academy has flourished, equipping students with culinary skills and career opportunities that foster economic independence. His vision and commitment have expanded the program’s reach and strengthened its role as a pathway to empowerment and self-sufficiency. Adam’s dedication to innovation, mentorship, and excellence reflects TASK’s core values and ensures our mission continues to thrive, positively impacting the community.
Chef Adam has increased TASK’s meal production capacity by more than 20% annually since joining in 2019, all while maintaining high nutritional standards. He also boosted Emilio’s Culinary Academy graduation rate by 50%, expanding job training opportunities for patrons. His leadership has significantly strengthened TASK’s impact on food security and workforce development.
A “typical” day for Chef Adam Livow is a masterclass in multitasking. As Director of Culinary Operations, he oversees every aspect of TASK’s food service procurement, planning, prepping, cooking, and serving, while managing a team of 18. In FY25, Adam and his team produced over 625,000 meals, and as of October FY26, they are nearing 240,000 meals. This operation supports TASK’s main hub, food truck, over 50 community meal sites, and special events, all running seamlessly thanks to Adam’s ability to juggle priorities and keep production efficient.
Simultaneously, Adam oversees Emilio’s Culinary Academy along with one instructor, a 10-week program teaching kitchen skills and preparing students for ServSafe certification. Under his guidance, the Academy will graduate its 15th cohort this December, continuing to provide patrons with essential skills and pathways to employment. Adam’s ability to balance large-scale meal production with hands-on teaching exemplifies his exceptional leadership and multitasking expertise.
Catalyst Kitchens has amplified Chef Adam’s impact by providing access to best practices, training resources, and a network of peer organizations. Adam has been an active participant since TASK joined the Catalyst Kitchens network—he completed a Train-the-Trainer program, co-facilitated a workshop during the 2023 National Summit in Winston-Salem, NC, and served as a guest chef at the 2025 Catalyst Kitchens Jacques Pépin 90/90 Dinner Gala. These opportunities have enhanced his leadership and expanded TASK’s capacity to deliver high-quality training and services to the community. In recognition of his contributions, Adam was named runner-up for the 2024 David Carleton Catalyst for Change Award, underscoring his commitment to innovation and excellence in advancing food security and workforce development.
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 2025 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.
