Natasha has been a professional chef since 2011, bringing soulful creativity and precision to every dish. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, she is the founder of Mixed Fillings Pie Shop in Jacksonville, FL, where she blends storytelling, heritage, and flavor into unforgettable desserts and community-driven experiences. With over a decade of culinary expertise, Chef Natasha continues to inspire through her baking classes, pop-ups, and the Pie It Forward initiative, using food as a tool to connect people and preserve stories.

Chef Onyx is a Jacksonville-based culinary professional with 15+ years of experience, specializing in vegan and plant-based cuisine. A graduate of the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, they hold certifications in Pastry Arts and Plant-Based Cooking. As founder of Relax and Unwind, Are You Sure That’s Vegan, and The Sharing Dish, they’ve become known for immersive dining experiences that blend creativity, sustainability, and flavor. Recognized as Folio Weekly’s Best Personal Chef 2024 and featured in Edible Northeast Florida, News4Jax, and Void Magazine, Chef Onyx continues to elevate dining through private chef services, themed dinners, and innovative pop-up events.

Michelle Dennis enjoys giving back and connecting the Jacksonville community to sustainable resources.

As a small business owner of Jax911Nails and an active diversity and inclusion advocate with 904ward, she has built a reputation for strong relationship building and collaboration. Michelle has proven success nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders to drive housing, education, and equity initiatives.

Her background includes experience in contract administration, compliance support, and community development through her work with United Way of Northeast Florida, the City of Jacksonville Neighborhoods Department, and Jacksonville Legal Aid. Adaptable and mission-focused, Michelle is also trained as a Mental Health First Aid and is a Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center See the Girl Institute participant.

She is a recent graduate of the Making a Difference Leadership Academy with Northeast Florida Healthy Start and was recently selected for the Jacksonville Chamber’s Bridges Business Cohort 23’.

Michelle continues to use her skills and experiences to uplift her community and strengthen connections that foster equity and growth.

Kanesha Boyette is the founder of the Jax Letter Writing Club, a nonprofit that brings people together through the simple joy of handwritten letters. A former president of Women’s March Jax, she has spent over a decade working in finance while staying passionate about building community and connection. Born and raised in Jacksonville, Kanesha is happily married with her two sweet little dogs. She’s a lover of books, letters, and just about any kind of pie.

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Beth Leitzke has deep roots in the community and a lifelong love for the people who call it home. She is passionate about bringing people together and creating spaces where everyone feels welcome, valued, and supported.Through her business, Elizabeth Anne Photography, she helps entrepreneurs, small businesses, and community members tell their stories with images that are both artful and strategic.

As a local small business owner, Beth understands firsthand the importance of community connection and loves championing other small businesses, events, and causes that help Jacksonville thrive. She joined the advisory board because she believes in being part of something bigger than herself—something that unites neighbors, strengthens connections, and makes Jacksonville an even better place to live.

Outside of work, Beth can often be found at local events (usually with a camera), enjoying the outdoors (when it’s not too hot), and spending time with her daughter. She believes in the power of community to inspire change, foster belonging, and create joy.

May Chiu is the Senior Director, Growth & Retention at Pepper. She has spent over 13 years as a Marketing & Ecommerce professional, focused on driving customer acquisition growth and improving LTVs of active customers. May has spent over 10 years in the Beauty industry, primarily within L'Oreal, before transitioning over to Apparel & Intimates.

In her spare time, she is deeply committed to giving back. May serves on the New Jersey Advisory Board of America Needs You (ANY), a nonprofit supporting first-generation college students through mentorship and career development. She initially joined ANY as a mentor and later took on an advisory role to help guide the program’s long-term impact. May also volunteer locally here in Jacksonville—from monthly clothing swaps to park clean ups.

Lauren Titus, publisher of Edible Northeast Florida, has over 30 years of experience in the region’s local food movement. She began her career in digital cookbook publishing, including multimedia versions of Betty Crocker’s Cookbook and The Southern Living Cookbook. After a stint in enterprise content management, Lauren now oversees the production of Edible, a bimonthly magazine that celebrates the story of local food and the vital role it plays in our community.