Executive Chef / Private Chef
Chef Mike Pusnik
Los Angeles CA ? ------------ � ------------
United Sates Navy Veteran, serving my county and community. Experienced Director of LGBT Diversity & Community Outreach. I have a passion for food and entertaining. I have a long history of major fundraising through my work serving on multiple Boards of Directors. I am highly skilled in Culinary Arts & Event Planning, Diversity & Inclusion, Financial Planning, Development & Fundraising, Project Management and Public Speaking.
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Professional Experience
Market Price / Mike Pusnik Productions Los Angeles, CA
Private Executive Chef/Owner (November 2018 � Current)
Provides Farm to Table Dinning Experiences for 8 � 150 people. Works with high end media / industry
clientele. Provides Creative Menu Planning for a Hands-on Experience for clients start to finish
Catered VOX Fermina�s mid-year Fundraising Event. Wine & Food Pairing. Paired 400 bites for 75 guests
and donors
Rockwell, Table & Stage & Crumble Catering Los Angeles, CA
Sous Chef (January 2018 - Current)
Works Breakfast when needed. Works Special Events as Sous Chef for large scale catering events
Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party
Worked the line for 1000 people prep and line chef under Executive Chef Wayne Elias
MGA Entertainment/CEO Isaac Larian & Family
Executive Chef (September 2019 � February 2020) Los Angeles, CA
Prepares Daily Lunch/Dinner Menus that are Farm to Table Ingredients. Prepares Lunch for Family and
Executive Team at MGA Entertainment. Prepares Dinners for 7 � 50 people daily supervising all staff
Orders and Shops for kitchen. Worked on remodel and design for new Commissary to feed 400 daily.
Hinoki and the Bird Los Angeles, CA
Pastry Chef / Line Chef (February 2020 � September 2020)
Prepares all pasty and desserts for Restaurant and Events.
Staging under Chef Brandon Kida. Working Garde Manger and shadowing Sous Chef Jonathan Turcios.
Garde Manger Chef, Maintains station during lunch Prepping everything for the station
Fry Line Chef, Maintains and Prepares all dishes required for the Fry Station
Foresters Financial Services Enterprise/National Brand
Director of LGBT Diversity & Community Outreach (January 2015-December 2017)
? Researched and Designed LGBTQ Diversity & Community Outreach Program for $12B Financial Services Platform that advanced the lives of LGBTQ Everyday Families which was absorbed into Foresters Global Enterprise as the first Diversity Market Segment
? Trained 850 Advisers in 46 Office along with a 1000 Corporate Home Office personnel LGBT 101, how to implement LGBT Financial Planning and Community Outreach to each local LGBT Community
? Developed LGBT Corporate Outreach Program forging corporate relationships at the Gay Men�s Chorus of Los Angeles, San Francisco Gay Men�s Chorus, the Trevor Project, GLSEN, Denver Aids Project, SF Aids Foundation, Aids Foundation of Chicago, Out Front Media, It Gets Better, Tour and many more
First Investors / Foresters Financial Services Los Angeles/San Diego, CA
Sr. Financial Services Representative/Financial Adviser (March 2009 � December 2017)
? Expertise in LGBT Financial Planning Mutual Funds, Life Insurance (Whole/Term and Variable), Annuities, Retirement Vehicles, Educational/Estate Plans, Social Security and Financial Wellness
? Recommend Holistic Planning Solutions for over 500 Household Clients in Southern California
? Collaborate with others in developing presentations delivered in group or one-on-one settings
? Keep in touch with all clients to ensure they have the right investments and products for their financial needs
? Create networking and referral-based opportunities and built (2) Multi-Million Dollar Team Based Practices that service more than 500 client households and $17M Assets Under Management & $100M Life Insurance Portfolios
United States Navy Photojournalist/Multi-media Specialist
Fleet Combat Camera Pacific San Diego (June 2002-March 2004)
? Deployed to start Operation Iraqi Freedom
? Provided video and still photo documentation of worldwide Navy and Joint Service combat operations
? Leadership in air to air photography and video
? Researched and organized training to enhance operation capabilities throughout the Fleet
VF-154/USS Kitty Hawk/Fleet Imaging Command Pacific, Atsugi, Japan (March 1999-February 2002)
? Maintained and monitored aerial film processor that supported the Navy�s only forward deployed F-14 squadron
? Processed 215,000 feet of aerial film and worked more than 175 off-duty hours
? Provided support to Fleet Imaging Facility in Japan as the TARPS aerial film processing work center supervisor
? Processed over 8,000 feet of TARPS film and printed over 300 aerial images for Carrier Air Wing 5�s intel
Education &
Training Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), Los Angeles, CA July 2019
Culinary Arts Degree
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA & May 22, 2009
�cole de Management International (ESSEC/EPSCI) Cergy-Pontoise Cedex France
Bachelor of Science; International Business � Finance, Marketing & French
Mesa College, San Diego, CA December 2006
Associates Degree, Transfer Studies in International Business
Navy Student Detachment � Defense Information School, Ft. Meade, MD August 1998/January 2002
Degree Certificate, Aerial Reconnaissance, Public Affairs, Photography, Electronic Imaging & Visual Information
Charitable &
Volunteer
Outreach
Selected Accomplishments
Gay Men�s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) West Hollywood, CA
Board of Directors & Co-Chair - Voice Awards (December 2011 � Current)
? Represent 250 singing members, 25 board members and a staff of 7 helping raise an annual budget between $2M � $2.4M/annually for the performances and programmatic work of the organization
? For 6 years volunteered thousands of hours as Co-Chair to the Voice Awards, honoring those who use their voice for social change and equality, helping raise awareness and raise over $2Million for the �It Gets Better, Tour and Alive Music Project to date
? Brought First Investors/Foresters Financial in to the organization which is now their largest Corporate Donor giving over $125K annually to support the programmatic work and outreach in schools
? Help change hearts and minds through the power of music and providing and anti-bullying message for those that need our voices
Trans Chorus of Los Angeles (TCLA) West Hollywood, CA
Board of Directors & Vice Chair to the Executive Committee (2015 � Current)
? Founding Board Member or the organization providing a place where TCLA fiercely empower the transgender, non-binary and intersex community to discover, love, develop, and use their voices to change the social ecology everywhere
? The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles (TCLA) is the largest group of trans and gender non-conforming people anywhere in the world who gather together regularly to raise their voices in song.
AIDS/Lifecycle San Francisco � Los Angeles, CA
Corporate Team Captain/Rider (2016 � Current)
? Lead for two years Foresters Financial Corporate Aids/Lifecycle Team volunteering thousands of volunteer hours to train fundraise and ride 545-miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles helping raise awareness and vital funds needed for the LALGBT Center and the SF Aids Foundation.
? 2017�s Corporate Team was the smallest ALC Team with only 7 riders raising over $82,000 and being the smallest Team to fundraise $11,715/rider
The Trevor Project New York, NY � Los Angeles, CA
Corporate Partner/Volunteer (2016 � Current)
? Instrumental in incorporating the Trevor Project�s �Lifeguard Workshop,� as one of Foresters Financials Global Enterprise outreach programs helping provide funds for suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth between the ages of 13 � 24
? Train and Educate over 850 Financial Advisors on the Lifeguard Workshop helping them incorporate the Lifeguard Workshop into their financial practices helping raise awareness at over 2500 School Districts across the nation that we service helping the lives of all families and communities
? Researched and coordinated an advanced multi-phase combat training evolution for over 30 active duty and 25 reserve personnel resulting in enhanced operational capabilities for higher risk deployments.
? Deployed for 141 days with Nimitz Battle Group in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom integrate with staff to direct imagery support to multi-national operations resulting in over 2,000 images forward to JCS for daily operational briefings.
? Provided photographic aerial support during FIRESTORM 2003, documenting relief and rescue efforts, supplying over 50 high quality images for direct release to Chief of Naval Operations and Pentagon.
Chef Mike Pusnik
Los Angeles CA ? ------------ � ------------
United Sates Navy Veteran, serving my county and community. Experienced Director of LGBT Diversity & Community Outreach. I have a passion for food and entertaining. I have a long history of major fundraising through my work serving on multiple Boards of Directors. I am highly skilled in Culinary Arts & Event Planning, Diversity & Inclusion, Financial Planning, Development & Fundraising, Project Management and Public Speaking.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Professional Experience
Market Price / Mike Pusnik Productions Los Angeles, CA
Private Executive Chef/Owner (November 2018 � Current)
Provides Farm to Table Dinning Experiences for 8 � 150 people. Works with high end media / industry
clientele. Provides Creative Menu Planning for a Hands-on Experience for clients start to finish
Catered VOX Fermina�s mid-year Fundraising Event. Wine & Food Pairing. Paired 400 bites for 75 guests
and donors
Rockwell, Table & Stage & Crumble Catering Los Angeles, CA
Sous Chef (January 2018 - Current)
Works Breakfast when needed. Works Special Events as Sous Chef for large scale catering events
Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party
Worked the line for 1000 people prep and line chef under Executive Chef Wayne Elias
MGA Entertainment/CEO Isaac Larian & Family
Executive Chef (September 2019 � February 2020) Los Angeles, CA
Prepares Daily Lunch/Dinner Menus that are Farm to Table Ingredients. Prepares Lunch for Family and
Executive Team at MGA Entertainment. Prepares Dinners for 7 � 50 people daily supervising all staff
Orders and Shops for kitchen. Worked on remodel and design for new Commissary to feed 400 daily.
Hinoki and the Bird Los Angeles, CA
Pastry Chef / Line Chef (February 2020 � September 2020)
Prepares all pasty and desserts for Restaurant and Events.
Staging under Chef Brandon Kida. Working Garde Manger and shadowing Sous Chef Jonathan Turcios.
Garde Manger Chef, Maintains station during lunch Prepping everything for the station
Fry Line Chef, Maintains and Prepares all dishes required for the Fry Station
Foresters Financial Services Enterprise/National Brand
Director of LGBT Diversity & Community Outreach (January 2015-December 2017)
? Researched and Designed LGBTQ Diversity & Community Outreach Program for $12B Financial Services Platform that advanced the lives of LGBTQ Everyday Families which was absorbed into Foresters Global Enterprise as the first Diversity Market Segment
? Trained 850 Advisers in 46 Office along with a 1000 Corporate Home Office personnel LGBT 101, how to implement LGBT Financial Planning and Community Outreach to each local LGBT Community
? Developed LGBT Corporate Outreach Program forging corporate relationships at the Gay Men�s Chorus of Los Angeles, San Francisco Gay Men�s Chorus, the Trevor Project, GLSEN, Denver Aids Project, SF Aids Foundation, Aids Foundation of Chicago, Out Front Media, It Gets Better, Tour and many more
First Investors / Foresters Financial Services Los Angeles/San Diego, CA
Sr. Financial Services Representative/Financial Adviser (March 2009 � December 2017)
? Expertise in LGBT Financial Planning Mutual Funds, Life Insurance (Whole/Term and Variable), Annuities, Retirement Vehicles, Educational/Estate Plans, Social Security and Financial Wellness
? Recommend Holistic Planning Solutions for over 500 Household Clients in Southern California
? Collaborate with others in developing presentations delivered in group or one-on-one settings
? Keep in touch with all clients to ensure they have the right investments and products for their financial needs
? Create networking and referral-based opportunities and built (2) Multi-Million Dollar Team Based Practices that service more than 500 client households and $17M Assets Under Management & $100M Life Insurance Portfolios
United States Navy Photojournalist/Multi-media Specialist
Fleet Combat Camera Pacific San Diego (June 2002-March 2004)
? Deployed to start Operation Iraqi Freedom
? Provided video and still photo documentation of worldwide Navy and Joint Service combat operations
? Leadership in air to air photography and video
? Researched and organized training to enhance operation capabilities throughout the Fleet
VF-154/USS Kitty Hawk/Fleet Imaging Command Pacific, Atsugi, Japan (March 1999-February 2002)
? Maintained and monitored aerial film processor that supported the Navy�s only forward deployed F-14 squadron
? Processed 215,000 feet of aerial film and worked more than 175 off-duty hours
? Provided support to Fleet Imaging Facility in Japan as the TARPS aerial film processing work center supervisor
? Processed over 8,000 feet of TARPS film and printed over 300 aerial images for Carrier Air Wing 5�s intel
Education &
Training Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), Los Angeles, CA July 2019
Culinary Arts Degree
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA & May 22, 2009
�cole de Management International (ESSEC/EPSCI) Cergy-Pontoise Cedex France
Bachelor of Science; International Business � Finance, Marketing & French
Mesa College, San Diego, CA December 2006
Associates Degree, Transfer Studies in International Business
Navy Student Detachment � Defense Information School, Ft. Meade, MD August 1998/January 2002
Degree Certificate, Aerial Reconnaissance, Public Affairs, Photography, Electronic Imaging & Visual Information
Charitable &
Volunteer
Outreach
Selected Accomplishments
Gay Men�s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) West Hollywood, CA
Board of Directors & Co-Chair - Voice Awards (December 2011 � Current)
? Represent 250 singing members, 25 board members and a staff of 7 helping raise an annual budget between $2M � $2.4M/annually for the performances and programmatic work of the organization
? For 6 years volunteered thousands of hours as Co-Chair to the Voice Awards, honoring those who use their voice for social change and equality, helping raise awareness and raise over $2Million for the �It Gets Better, Tour and Alive Music Project to date
? Brought First Investors/Foresters Financial in to the organization which is now their largest Corporate Donor giving over $125K annually to support the programmatic work and outreach in schools
? Help change hearts and minds through the power of music and providing and anti-bullying message for those that need our voices
Trans Chorus of Los Angeles (TCLA) West Hollywood, CA
Board of Directors & Vice Chair to the Executive Committee (2015 � Current)
? Founding Board Member or the organization providing a place where TCLA fiercely empower the transgender, non-binary and intersex community to discover, love, develop, and use their voices to change the social ecology everywhere
? The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles (TCLA) is the largest group of trans and gender non-conforming people anywhere in the world who gather together regularly to raise their voices in song.
AIDS/Lifecycle San Francisco � Los Angeles, CA
Corporate Team Captain/Rider (2016 � Current)
? Lead for two years Foresters Financial Corporate Aids/Lifecycle Team volunteering thousands of volunteer hours to train fundraise and ride 545-miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles helping raise awareness and vital funds needed for the LALGBT Center and the SF Aids Foundation.
? 2017�s Corporate Team was the smallest ALC Team with only 7 riders raising over $82,000 and being the smallest Team to fundraise $11,715/rider
The Trevor Project New York, NY � Los Angeles, CA
Corporate Partner/Volunteer (2016 � Current)
? Instrumental in incorporating the Trevor Project�s �Lifeguard Workshop,� as one of Foresters Financials Global Enterprise outreach programs helping provide funds for suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth between the ages of 13 � 24
? Train and Educate over 850 Financial Advisors on the Lifeguard Workshop helping them incorporate the Lifeguard Workshop into their financial practices helping raise awareness at over 2500 School Districts across the nation that we service helping the lives of all families and communities
? Researched and coordinated an advanced multi-phase combat training evolution for over 30 active duty and 25 reserve personnel resulting in enhanced operational capabilities for higher risk deployments.
? Deployed for 141 days with Nimitz Battle Group in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom integrate with staff to direct imagery support to multi-national operations resulting in over 2,000 images forward to JCS for daily operational briefings.
? Provided photographic aerial support during FIRESTORM 2003, documenting relief and rescue efforts, supplying over 50 high quality images for direct release to Chief of Naval Operations and Pentagon.