Who we are
Leadership: Our Board
Diane Schmidt is the president and co-founder of the Women’s Chef Exchange. She began her career in public health before earning an MBA in Marketing and going on to hold marketing leadership roles at several firms. In 2011, Diane partnered with Chef Sarah Stegner to co-found Healthy Fare for Kids, an initiative she led for over a decade to promote healthier kids’ meals on restaurant menus throughout Chicago—including in international airports, museums, and other public venues.
A special thank you to our terrific and generous team at Katten for all there brilliant support and guidance.
Jamaica Ponder’s creative talents have been our fortune. Thank you, Jamaica, for capturing through your magic of video exactly what we had hoped to share.
Chef Sarah Stegner is the vice-president and co-founder of the Women’s Chef Exchange as well as the co-owner & chef of Prairie Grass Cafe in Northbrook Illinois. She is the former restaurant chef of The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton Chicago, owned and operated by Four Seasons. She is a two-time James Beard Award Winner and was recently named Restaurateur of the Year by the Illinois Restaurant Association. Stegner is a founding member- past president of Green City Market (501c3) and continues to drive education surrounding the organic sustainable food movement into the mainstream.
Michelle Durpetti, secretary of the board, is the founder and creative director of Michelle Durpetti Events, a distinguished event planning company. Since 2008, she has orchestrated over 400 weddings and events globally, Also, Michelle is the Managing Partner of Gene and Georgetti, a legendary Tuscan steakhouse in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1941. Separately, honors were awarded by the Italian government to the restaurant - the Ospitalità Italiana - and to Michelle - the title of Cavaliere - in recognition of their significant contributions to Italian culture.
Doris Timmen, board treasurer, has a strong leadership background in foodservice and facilities management within the international hotel and restaurant service industry. She is a collaborative leader with a passion for youth development and community engagement serving multiple years as a board of trustee member at the Illinois Restaurant Association Education Foundation and as a volunteer mentor/coach at the One Million Degrees organization.