Chef Chris Wessely
Chef Chris Wessely is a first generation Japanese- American who earned his AAS culinary degree and graduated top of his 2011 class from the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. He was elected valedictorian, won the Faculty Choice Award, and maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout the entire program. He attended Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, earning his B.A. in Political Science, Communication, and Japanese. He also completed a one-year, highly competitive immersion exchange program in Tokyo.
Wessely retains a diverse culinary work experience, from numerous restaurants in Grand Rapids, MI to The Bay Harbor Yacht Club’s a la carte restaurant in Bay Harbor, Michigan. Just after graduation, he co-founded the Personal Chef Group, offering in-home cooking services. On the side, he teaches culinary classes in-person and virtually for private parties, Gerrit’s Appliance, and at the local community college.
Wessely is also a high-energized enterprising entrepreneur. Starting in 2008, he combined his strong background as a sales & marketing executive to help him launch the Sport & Social Club, which by 2017 become the largest social sports club in Michigan. Then in November of 2018, Wessely merged his company with Toronto Sport & Social Club, collectively now called, “JAM”, which is comprised of 10 regional markets making them the largest club in the world. Because of these companies, Wessely has earned extensive knowledge of what makes a successful company grow while maintaining its organic and fun culture.
In 2020, he founded Noodlepig, an Japanese fusion ramen shop with a mission to end child food insecurity.