Greg Smith

Greg Smith has a 25-year career in Foodservice Management focused on standards, training, and development of his teams. He has worked as a professional Chef in many venues including Executive Chef in fine dining restaurants, Corporate Chef for chain restaurant concepts, a Private Chef and most recently corporate contract work as a senior executive chef in both healthcare and education. After honing his skills and working for multiple Michelin Star restaurants in Chicago, Greg moved into the world of multi-unit corporate restaurants with an emphasis on training and standards for companies like Neiman Marcus, Bonefish Grill and Biaggi’s. After departing from years in restaurants and catering Greg launched his own private chef firm spending the next 5 years cooking all over the Midwest for an array of private events and consulting opportunities including work with Blackwood BBQ, and the creation of Migrate Restaurant. Most recently he was with Compass Group USA spending time as a Multi-Unit Executive Chef for Chartwells at Northwestern University and as the System Executive Chef for Touchpoint Support Services, overseeing the foodservice programs for Ascension Healthcare Illinois. He was integral in impacting a multi-tiered chef training and advancement program for Touchpoint as well as assisting the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago on a full refresh of its facilities, services, and offerings.

Greg’s passions and commitment to excellence have given him the opportunity to cook and share his talents with the likes of the James Beard Foundation, PGA Tour, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bears, Washington Wizards, International Pizza Expo, National Pork Council, Souper Chefs, Gilda’s Club, Chicago Magazine and more. He has also had the honor of receiving Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide while at Mariposa, national sustainability award winner with Chartwells and won culinarian of the year as a national trainer with Bonefish Grill.

He can be found supporting events, peers, restaurants, and pop-ups regularly as a continuation of a passion for his craft and industry.