Team
Who runs Rainbow Chefs Academy?
Svetlana Elgart
The DNA of Rainbow Chefs
It all started in her own kitchen.
Born in Ukraine and raised on home-cooked meals, Lana brought this sensibility with her to America while raising her own children.
Seeing a major problem in the health and nutrition of our nation’s youth, she wanted to do something about it.
In 2011, she started “Les Petit Chefs”. Using the principle of “eat the rainbow”, Lana soon after changed the name…
Rainbow Chefs was born.
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In 2012, San Mateo District contacted Lana. Enrichment programs were created, along with Instructor Training.
In this same year, she began working with the Highlands Recreation Center, and at the request of parents, came summer camps and chefs parties.
Bay Area Community Resources (BACR) became involved as Rainbow Chefs expanded.
By 2019, Rainbow Chefs had reached over 30,000 children and 1800 schools.
Curriculums extended into Middle School and High School, along with new offerings such as Chef Boxes, created for teachers.
Dr. Ed Bauman, founder of Bauman Wellness joined the team in 2020, bringing his rich experience in holistic health and nutrition.
With a vision of changing K-12 Education through CORE, STEAM, CASEL & NGSS alignment, Rainbow Chefs had now grown to…
Rainbow Chefs Academy
One woman with a kitchen, a mission, and a vision for our future.
Lawrence August
Advisory Board Member & Director of Business Development
Lawrence has worked in the Health and Nutrition industry for over two decades.
He is a Certified Youth Nutrition Specialist through AFPA (American Fitness Professionals & Associates), bringing his unique approach to children’s health to help further the efforts of Rainbow Chefs Academy.
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Amassing more than 8,500 consultations, Lawrence had the distinction of being the sole Nutrition Counselor at The Center for Integrative Medicine in Tarzana, California, where he also Co-Managed the practice’s Natural Pharmacy.
The Center is run by Dr. Michael Hirt, MD and is currently the busiest private solo medical practice in Los Angeles County.
Along with private nutrition consultations through his company Kids Get Healthy, Lawrence sits on the Board of Directors for Accept The Challenge, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating childhood obesity and preventing the major dietary and lifestyle related diseases currently plaguing our country.
We are thrilled to have Lawrence as a member of our team!
Tom Davis
Advisory Board Member / BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT / REVENUE / SALES
Thomas Aurelio Davis is a former middle and high school bilingual science teacher, coach, administrator, grant writer, businessman and life-long learner. He is also the Founder of Net4EdAccess, an education consulting firm based in San Diego.
Tom’s passions center around mentoring and coaching, equal opportunity for all underrepresented communities, STEAM, English Learners; technology for teaching and learning; students with special needs and students at-risk of not completing their education.
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He is a member of the Classroom of the Future Foundation at the San Diego County Office of Education.
Tom also serves as a board member of Computers 2 Kids San Diego (C2KSD), a San Diego charitable nonprofit, working to bridge the digital divide with low-income families by providing computers to the home and access to the internet.
He is an advisory board member for Project Tomorrow, a national nonprofit with a vision to ensure that today’s students are well prepared to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders and engaged citizens of the world.
Tom is an avid basketball player and represented Mexico on the Over 64 National Basketball Team which finished sixth in the FIMBA World Basketball Championships in Helsinki in 2019.
DR. ED BAUMAN
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Bauman has been at the forefront of the holistic health and nutrition renaissance for the past 50 years. He holds a MEd from the University. of Massachusetts, a MS in Nutrition from Heartwood College, and a PhD in Community Health Promotion from the University of New Mexico.
After studying traditional health and nutrition systems for more than 30 years, Dr. Bauman created the Eating for Health approach, which forms the basis of his professional and community nutrition programs and consulting practice. He is the founder of Bauman College: Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts. Dr Bauman is the founder of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals.
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Dr Bauman has served as the president for the Sonoma West Medical Foundation, wherein he brought an Integrative Health Institute to his nearby rural hospital which offered in patient education, a whole foods hospital café, research and outpatient referrals to integrative health and wellness providers.
Dr. Bauman’s current passion is Bauman Wellness.com, a non-profit institute that nourishes cultures of wellness through healing foods, arts, and community learning. Bauman Wellness is a diverse and inclusive community of professional, family and individual members.
Dr Bauman is the co-author of many renowned books, including the Holistic Health Handbook, Holistic Health Lifebook, Foundations of Nutrition Textbook, Therapeutic Nutrition Textbook, Flavors of Health Cookbook, Whole Food Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors, Spice for Life: Self-Healing Recipes, Remedies and Research, Affordable Nutrition, Kidz Culinary Academy Cookbook, Nutrition Essentials for Everyone and Ways to Be Well: Integrative Wellness Handbook.
Dr Bauman is a tireless champion for wellness, which he sees as an innate human right, that has been damaged by our degraded food system, and culture of greed dis-ease and distraction. Dr Bauman motivates, inspires, and leads by example on how we can reclaim our individual, and social wellbeing with five integrative wellness practices: eating, moving, reflecting, relating and serving together.
ROBERT H. LUSTIG MD, MSL
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Robert H. Lustig, M.D., M.S.L. is Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology, and Member of the Institute for Health Policy Studies at UCSF.
Dr. Lustig is a neuroendocrinologist, with expertise in metabolism, obesity, and nutrition.
He is one of the leaders of the current “anti-sugar” movement that is changing the food industry. He has dedicated his retirement from clinical medicine to help to fix the food supply any way he can, to reduce human suffering and to salvage the environment.
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Dr. Lustig graduated from MIT in 1976, and received his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College in 1980. He also received his Masters of Studies in Law (MSL) degree at University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2013.
He is the author of the popular books Fat Chance (2012), The Hacking of the American Mind (2017), and Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine (2021).
He is the Chief Science Officer of the non-profit Eat REAL, he is on the Advisory Boards of the UC Davis Innovation Institute for Food and Health, the Center for Humane Technology, Simplex Health, Levels Health, and ReadOut Health, and he is the Chief Medical Officer of BioLumen Technologies, Foogal, Perfact, and Kalin Health.
Gabby Grinberg
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER
Gabby is a strategic executive and general counsel with experience developing and scaling business operations.
She has spent almost a decade advising companies on business strategy and legal matters with a strong focus on finance structuring, international growth, investor relations, employee retention and partnership opportunities.
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Dr. David Reed
Sr. Education Specialist
Dr. David Reed earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education from Southern Illinois University, a Master of Education from Arizona State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, also from ASU.
Dr. Reed holds a teaching certificate in Arizona with an area of concentration in Career Technical Education with endorsements in Business and Marketing, Cooperative Education, and Structured English Immersion.
He also holds a Principal Certificate in Arizona. For the past 25 years, Dr. Reed has specialized in the development of nontraditional education models for the traditional district, public charter, and private secondary schools.
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He has also been instrumental in the development of blended and virtual education models for traditional district, charter, and private secondary schools.
Since 2007, Dr. Reed has presented on nontraditional education programs and the benefits and implementation of blended and online learning programs at numerous state and national level conferences.
From 2014 to 2021, Dr. Reed served as an Educational Administrator for Educational Management Organization operating a Drop-out Recovery Program and a private international virtual high school in Arizona.
He is currently serving as a Senior K-12 Educational Consultant on accountability, accreditation, school improvement, and blended and virtual public and private secondary programs. Dr. Reed has also been a member of or has chaired accreditation review teams for Cognia, Middle States Regional, and Accreditation International.
BARBARA DUNCAN, PhD
AFFILIATE PARTNER ONBOARDING COORDINATOR
Throughout her 30-year career, Dr. Barbara Duncan has filled several key positions with leading excellent schools throughout the Northeast and Southwest.
She has worked at every grade level pre-k – 12 as a Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal and Assistant Superintendent.
Dr. Duncan has her educational certifications in administration, chemistry, biology, general science, health, and physical education.
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Dr. Duncan attributes her success to her ability to create partnerships at the local, state, and national levels with students, parents, community, business, and political leaders.
Her passion is to provide students with excellent educational opportunities.
We are delighted to have Dr. Duncan on our team!
Mateo Elvira
Partnerships
Mateo Elvira, an extraordinary visionary at the intersection of media and EdTech, whose trailblazing journey since 2019 has left an indelible mark on both industries.
With an innate passion for innovation and an insatiable appetite for collaboration, Mateo embarked on his journey as a Content Creator on YouTube.
Swiftly ascending, he emerged as the magnetic voice behind the SalesDevSquad Podcast, captivating audiences with his artful communication skills.
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In 2020, Mateo expanded his horizon to TikTok, effortlessly enchanting a global audience with his magnetic content. In 2021, he unveiled the EdTech Marketing Podcast, a platform that not only showcased his expertise but also illuminated new horizons for countless listeners, solidifying his role as a thought leader.
A masterful brand ambassador for Magic Mind and VEED.IO in 2022, Mateo’s knack for brand representation set him apart.
Today, he stands as an EdTech Sales & Marketing Consultant at GoKidGo, infusing strategic acumen and boundless energy to usher in a new era of innovation.
Mateo’s boundless talents also find expression as the K12 Sales & Marketing Consultant for Rainbow Chefs Academy, where his unique blend of creativity and expertise promises to amplify our reach and impact.
His academic achievements, including a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Marketing from California State University, Northridge, and FAA Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft – Part 107 certification, serve as a testament to his unwavering commitment to growth.
Amidst these achievements, Mateo also dons the hat of a Podcast Host, skillfully navigating conversations as the charismatic anchor of the “EdTech Marketing Podcast.”
As Mateo Elvira continues to shape the landscape of media, EdTech, and culinary education, his journey stands as a beacon of inspiration, underscoring the transformative power of collaboration.
We wholeheartedly welcome him to Rainbow Chefs Academy and eagerly anticipate the exceptional contributions he will bring to our team.
GINA THACKREY
CURRICULUM SPECIALIST K-12
Gina Thackrey is an expert in program design, content development, curriculum/learning experience, user experience, marketing, and strategic planning.
She has built and grown programs and products for EdTech Startups, educational technology companies, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, non-profit organizations, schools, districts, county and state departments of education.
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Her primary goal is to create experiences that empower independent, intrinsically-motivated, and self-directed learners with the development of lifelong, future-proof skills that ensure their success.
In her free time, she enjoys playing board games with family, reading, and going for walks along the beach.
Kelly Chambers
CURRICULUM SPECIALIST K-12
Kelly Chambers has earned a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Park University in Parkville, MO and a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University in AZ.
Kelly holds a teaching certificate in Early Childhood Education – Birth to grade 3 and K-12 Cross Categorical Special Education.
Kelly has taught in a local school district in both traditional classroom and online formats supporting students of all needs.
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Kelly came to teaching to help support her son’s educational development while understanding his medical, learning and developmental needs, and has continued to serve as an advocate for students with special needs.
Kelly brings an amazing skillset to the Rainbow Chefs Academy team!
VIANA ELGART
OPERATIONS
Viana Elgart joined Rainbow Chefs in early 2020 as a Chef Instructor while pursuing her educational goals.
Rainbow Chefs provided an opportunity for Viana to combine her best skills, such as working with children, applying her leadership skills, and her passion for enriching the lives of others.
Viana adopted the company’s goal of promoting nutrition and education, which aligns with her personal values and excites her to share her knowledge with others.
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Viana’s ultimate goal is to continue her education at the highest level possible while creating a fun, safe, and exciting learning environment for both children and adults to discover the benefits of eating a diverse range of colorful and healthy foods, also known as “eating the rainbow.”
KRISTA LONG
EVENTS COORDINATOR & PLANNER
Krista is a lover of events. As a Certified Event Planner since 2013, completing multiple required renewal programs and becoming a proud Alumni from Correlations LLC Professional Event Training, she has the professional development to plan any event from start to finish.
With an extensive background in her professional career – Event Planning, Operations and Management – she has tons of experience.
Her background consists of corporate executive planning, real estate, account management and public relations.
She can effectively streamline logistics, and has over 10 years of experience managing events, decorating, budgeting, catering, entertainment, and room design.
Companies, associations, and individuals hire her to create unique experiences for their celebrations and she loves to deliver top quality service to each and every one of her clients.