2025 Chef Action Summit
Sun, April 6, 2025
Registration On-Site Opens 4:00 PM
Renaissance Asheville Downtown
31 Woodfin Street
Asheville, NC 28801
Free Admission
$0
Please join the James Beard Foundation for our third Chef Action Summit, where we'll bring together chefs, restaurateurs, food system and industry leaders from across the country. You will hear from and engage with powerful speakers from the culinary, policy, non-profit, and corporate worlds, and have the opportunity to dive deep into important issues, build your skills around policy making, receive storytelling and social media training, and take your advocacy to the next level.
This event is free to attend; attendees are responsible for their travel and accommodations. JBF reserves the right to decline registration of non-JBF program alumni if space becomes an issue. If you do not hear from us within five business days, your registration is good to go.
Chefs and owners: members of your staff are welcome to attend with you. It is a great opportunity to expand the power of both your own voice and that of your team.
Program
2025 program coming soon.
Confirmed Speakers:
Katie Button, Executive Chef and CEO, Katie Button Restaurant Group
William Dissen, Executive Chef and Owner, The Market Place Restaurant
Meherwan Irani, Owner and Executive Chef, Chai Pani Restaurant Group
Ademola Oyefeso, International Vice President, Director of the Legislative and Political Action Department for United Food and Commercial Workers
Travel and Accommodations
Asheville is easily accessible via several transportation options.
Book your room at the Renaissance Asheville Downtown under the JBF room block here.
The closest airport to downtown Asheville is Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), located about 15 minutes south of the city. From AVL, you can reach the Renaissance Asheville Downtown hotel by taxi, rideshare (Uber or Lyft), or rental car.
Alternatively, you can fly into Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), about two hours away, or Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), about an hour and a half away. Both airports offer shuttle services, rental cars, and rideshare options to Asheville.
For those driving, Asheville is well-connected via I-40 and I-26.
Schedule
4:00-4:45 P.M. Registration at the Renaissance Asheville Downtown; 31 Woodfin Street, Asheville, NC
5:00-7:00 P.M. Kickoff Reception + Keynote
7:45-8:30 A.M. Breakfast
8:30 A.M. Programming Begins
12:30-1:30 P.M. Lunch + Networking
5:30 P.M. Programming Concludes
6:00-8:00 P.M. Reception
8:00-8:45 A.M. Breakfast
8:45 A.M. Programming Begins
1:30 P.M. Programming Concludes
1:30 P.M. Lunch, to grab and go on way to airport or enjoy on site