This unique program connects participants with leading culinary experts, giving them the opportunity to expand their professional networks, refine their skills, and open new doors in their culinary careers. Here are the three inspiring women selected for this year’s event and a look at their career trajectories.
Executive Chef Rose Fletcher
Born in San Diego, California and raised in Dallas, Texas, Rose Fletcher is the youngest of four siblings. Her passion for cooking began at an early age, inspired by time spent in the kitchen with her grandmother, mother, and brother. While each played a role in shaping her love for food, Rose credits her grandmother as her greatest influence and the source of her most cherished culinary memories.
Rose has been a vital member of the Stowers Café team at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, MO since 2015. In 2021, she was promoted to Executive Chef. “Rose works tirelessly to ensure the service our team provides to the guests at Stowers matches or even exceeds the creativity of the menus she develops,” says Regional Vice President Mark LaChance. “The importance of the genuine relationships developed between her team and the members of the institute cannot be overstated.”
When selected for this opportunity, Rose expressed both surprise and pride. “It was pretty awesome and surprising, honestly,” she shared. “I didn’t even know I had been nominated, so it meant a lot to know my leaders believed in me and felt I was deserving of this experience.” Reflecting on the event, Rose truly valued “coming together with like-minded women, building a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect that made the experience incredibly meaningful.”
Executive Chef Zulma Rodriguez Rios
Zulma’s appreciation for food began at a young age, helping to sell cakes in her parents’ grocery store in Mexico. That early experience sparked a passion that would later lead her to pursue a degree in culinary arts. Through a curriculum focused on international cuisine and classical French training, she developed a well-rounded perspective on professional cooking and fine dining.
After nearly five years of formal culinary education, Zulma graduated and launched her career with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, gaining valuable experience in a fast-paced, global kitchen environment. In 2017, she brought her skills and passion to Bon Appétit, eventually making her way to one of our higher ed accounts, University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, in 2024. As executive chef, she is a beloved member of the culinary team.
Reflecting on her time at the Women in Culinary showcase, Zulma spoke with nothing but enthusiasm, calling it “a truly transformative experience.” While she admitted to feeling nervous at first, those feelings quickly gave way to a strong sense of connection and camaraderie. By the end of the experience, Zulma found herself deeply appreciative of both the relationships she built and the journey she’s on. “The key takeaway for me has been the importance of truly appreciating myself and recognizing how far I’ve come,” she reflected.
“This experience has offered me a fresh perspective, allowing me to see the incredible achievements I’ve made and the exciting potential ahead. I’m genuinely excited about the continued growth and opportunities!”
Associate Director of Culinary Jenn Harrison
Like the other nominees, Jenn’s culinary journey began in her childhood kitchen, baking cupcakes alongside her mother. What started as a simple hobby soon grew into a true passion, eventually evolving into a professional pursuit during her college years. While earning her BA in Mathematics, Jenn took her first job at a bakery, where she discovered a deep appreciation for the precision of lamination and the artistry of breadmaking.
After graduating, she made the decision to follow her passion full-time, bringing her analytical mindset into the kitchen and using her mathematical background to master the technical side of baking. In 2019, Jenn joined Bon Appétit as chef de cuisine at one of our corporate accounts, a Bay Area technology company. During the pandemic, she played a pivotal role in transforming the pastry program, successfully uniting three separate teams into one cohesive, high-performing department. Her strong leadership and strategic approach have driven her professional growth, and she now serves as Associate Director of Culinary, overseeing all café culinary programming for her account.
We’re proud to celebrate these three culinary leaders and the paths they’re carving as women in the culinary field! You can read more about career opportunities at Bon Appétit on our Careers page.
