Rising Stars

Damian Otero has a story a bit different than the usual way people get started in this industry. At 21 years old, he invested the first profit share from his previous business into a restaurant. The bold move marked his entry into the culinary world, and he stepped into a commercial kitchen for the first time not as an employee, but as an owner. Born with a passion for … [Read more...] about Rising Stars 2024: Damian Otero

It didn’t take long for Deja’ Link, 26, to fall in love with the restaurant world. In fact, it only took her a couple of months. Growing up, she watched as her dad went to work for Castellucci Hospitality Group (CHG) and decided to follow in his footsteps, at least for a short while as a server for a mom-and-pop place following high school. “It was nothing serious,” Link … [Read more...] about Rising Stars 2024: Deja’ Link

For Cassidy Jones, entrepreneurship is about more than just business – it’s about passion, creativity and making a meaningful impact. As CEO of LOL Burger Bar, located in Atlanta’s Upper Westside community, Jones is melding all those aspects into a successful concept that is planning to grow. “For me, entrepreneurship is about chasing your passion,” Jones says. “I’m a … [Read more...] about Rising Stars 2024: Cassidy Jones

Plates piled high with crispy fried chicken on Sundays and barbecue every other day of the week, Chase Green grew up surrounded by family and food in the small Eastern North Carolina town of Marshville. From those early days of savoring southern comfort food with loved ones and getting his first job as a sandwich artist for Panera Bread, Green always had an interest in the … [Read more...] about Rising Stars 2024: Chase Green

Born in Saudi Arabia to a Greek father and an American mother, Nick Hassiotis’s upbringing was soaked in global experiences and cuisines. “Some of my childhood memories are being on the seaside in Greece, watching the fishermen come back and throw the octopus against the rocks to tenderize them,” says Hassiotis. “So food has always been near and dear to my heart, and I’ve … [Read more...] about Rising Stars 2024: Nick Hassiotis