Presidential Soul is a premier speakers bureau and experiential events group representing culinary professionals excited to share their expertise on presidential hospitality. Drawing on years of creating meals for U.S. presidents, heads of state, global dignitaries, and historic occasions, these experts bring a rare blend of culinary mastery, behind‑the‑scenes insight, and leadership under pressure.
Presidential Soul connects you with chefs who are not only exceptional culinarians but also seasoned storytellers. Their keynotes and workshops explore themes such as creativity in high‑stakes environments, the art of cultural diplomacy through food, building world‑class teams, and the power of hospitality to shape human connection. Each engagement can be paired with a culinary experience, from interactive demonstrations to curated tasting menus, that transforms events into memorable, multisensory moments.
Presidential Soul offers:
- Keynote speaking on leadership, resilience, and the craft of cooking for U.S. presidents and their families.
- Culinary experiences that blend storytelling with live cooking, tastings, or collaborative meals.
- Workshops and master classes on teamwork, innovation, and the cultural significance of food.
- Custom events designed to elevate conferences, fundraisers, retreats, and executive gatherings.
By bringing together chefs who have cooked at the center of history, the Presidential Soul offers organizations a chance to learn, connect, and be inspired through extraordinary food and the stories behind it.
Meet Our Speakers
Presidential Hospitality Experts
We have an amazing lineup of speakers who have worked for U.S. presidents and are eager to share insights from their experiences. Get ready to WOW your audiences!
Senior Master Sgt. Wanda Joell
Wanda Joell is the first African American woman to serve as an Air Force One flight attendant. Her responsibilities included menu planning, dietary coordination, and managing cabin duties for high-ranking officials and dignitaries.
A highlight of her career was being aboard Air Force One during 9/11, where she comforted President Bush amidst the crisis.
Presidential Administrations: George H. W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush, Obama.
Topics: Air Force One experience.
Travels From: Atlanta, Georgia.
Speaking Fee: $5,000+
Chef Anita Lo
Anita Lo is a highly regarded chef based in New York City. In 2015, Anita Lo was the first female guest chef to cook for a State Dinner at the White House, under the Obama administration. She prepared a 4-course meal for the visiting Chinese president, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan.
Presidential Administration: Obama
Curated Experience: Re-creating the 2015 State Dinner for China’s President Xi Jinping.
Travels From: New York City.
Experience Fee: $7,500+
Adrian Miller
Adrian Miller is a former Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton. During the Clinton Administration, Adrian served as Deputy Director of the President’s Initiative for One America. Adrian has written critically acclaimed books on African American and Asian heritage presidential chefs.
Presidential administration: Clinton.
Topics: African American presidential chefs, Asian heritage presidential chefs, State Dinners, Liquid History of the U.S. presidency, general presidential food history from George Washington to the present day.
Travels From: Denver, Colorado.
Speaking Fee: $5,000+
Chef John Moeller
Chef John Moeller is a member of an elite corps of chefs, those who have served in the White House preparing très soigné cuisine for presidents, First Families, and their guests, including visiting Heads of State. Over the course of his White House career, he focused on creating unique and one-of-a-kind dishes that relied on fresh and flavorful ingredients.
Moeller also wrote a memoir cookbook about his time in the White House.
Presidential Administrations: George H.W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush
Curated experience: Preparing White House-inspired meals tailored to the client experience. This is great for small groups as well as large functions, especially nonprofit fundraising galas.
Travels From: Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Speaking Fee: $5,000+
Chef Charlie Redden
Charlie Santoina Redden, Jr., recognized as Chef Charlie, is the first Certified Executive Chef in the history of the White House Presidential Food Service. A retired Navy Culinary Specialist, Chef Charlie was born in Florence, South Carolina, and raised in the tough streets of the East Riverside Projects in Wilmington, Delaware, where he also received his education.
Presidential Administrations: Clinton, George W. Bush
Curated experience: A private dinner for up to six people served by former White House butlers.
Travels From: Washington, D.C.
Speaking Fee: $15,000+
Chef Bill Yosses
Bill Yosses served as White House Executive Pastry Chef from 2007 to 2014. Yosses has co-authored books including Desserts for Dummies, The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion, and The Sweet Spot: Dialing Back Sugar and Amping Up Flavor.
Presidential Administrations: George W. Bush, Obama.
Topics: Presidential desserts, Christmas Gingerbread House tradition.
Curated experience: Cooking demonstration or a presentation on working in the White House pastry.
Travels From: New York City.
Speaking Fee: $15,000+
Soulful and Passionate Speakers on Presidential Topics
Presidential Soul has more dynamic storytellers who will entertain, inform, and inspire your audience. Even though they didn’t work in the White House, they’ve developed a passion for sharing stories about fascinating aspects of the presidential culinary history.
Parijat Desai
Parijat Desai is a Lester Horton Dance Award and Fulbright Scholar Award–winning artist and director of Parijata Performance Projects. She is intrigued by the interplay between our inner landscape, the political realities that plague us, and the natural world. She’s also developed a passion for presidential history. Find out more about Parijat’s “Moving American Stories.”
Topics: Setting the White House Table: Women, Food, and Power in America’s Most Famous Kitchen.
Travels From: Denver, Colorado.
Speaking Fee: $2,500+
Michael Scaffidi is an Advanced Sommelier, wine director, and author whose career has wound through some of the most legendary dining rooms in America. He worked as a sommelier at The French Laundry in Napa Valley before heading east to serve as Beverage Director at The Greenbrier. In Washington, D.C., he went on to create the entire wine and beverage program from scratch at The Jefferson Hotel, building a cellar that reached back to vintages from the early 1700s. Later, as Wine Director for Jean-Georges in New York City, he oversaw one of the most ambitious wine programs in the city.
Topics: Anecdotes about pouring wine for President Barack Obama, President Bill Clinton, First Lady Laura Bush, Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia, Michael Jordan, and other famous people.
Travels From: Washington, D.C.
Speaking Fee: $1,500+
Get started on your presidential soul experience . . . TODAY!
Presidential Soul Speaker Contact Form
This form provides details on Presidential Soul speaker requests.