NAAE: Convention Speakers

Jeff Henderson

South Central Los Angeles native and award-winning chef, “Chef Jeff” Henderson, will open this year’s Convention as the Opening General Session speaker. Henderson is an award-winning chef who has served as the Executive Chef at the renowned Café Bellagio and Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. What makes Henderson so remarkable is his story of going from crack dealer to top chef.

Henderson grew up in South Central Los Angeles and in San Diego, and was raised by a single mother who worked as a welder. To earn money, Henderson turned to drugs and by 19 he was running a million-dollar cocaine operation. Eventually arrested and incarcerated, he spent almost a decade in federal prison. During this time, he realized that being locked up had saved him and he discovered his passion for cooking while doing kitchen duty. Once out of prison, he channeled the same intense ambition that had nearly ruined his life to help him rise to the top of some of the best kitchens in the country. But as a convicted felon and a black man in the world of haute cuisine, he had to overcome many challenges.

Henderson began his professional career cooking at many influential restaurants, including Gadsy’s, L’Escale, the Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Marina Del Rey, Zing, and The Good Bar. He went on to become a sous chef at the world-renowned Mobil 5-Star Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles as well at Mobil 5-Star L’Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills.

In 2000, Henderson continued his rise, making history in Las Vegas as the first African-American Chef de Cuisine at Caesars Palace. He was later promoted to an Executive Chef position and has since held that position at several top restaurants in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. In 2001, the American Food and Wine Tasting Federation named Henderson “Las Vegas Chef of the Year.” He has since gone on to become the Executive Chef at the Bellagio, another first for an African-American.

Henderson has been honored as one of the top African-American chefs by Black Enterprise magazine. His memoir Cooked was released in March 2007 and he is in discussions with production companies to produce his story and networks to star in his own reality show.

Henderson’s story will not only inspire, but will reinforce to career and technical educators that the skills and education they are providing are of real value.

Stedman Graham

Stedman Graham is a businessman, educator, writer and speaker who focuses on maximizing leadership, achieving success and embracing diversity.

As a businessman, Graham is chairman and CEO of S. Graham & Associates (SGA), a management and marketing consulting company that specializes in the corporate and educational markets.

As an educator, Graham is a former adjunct professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago where he taught a leadership course. At the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, he taught a management strategy course. He also founded and directed George Washington University’s Forum for Sport and Event Management and Marketing - the first of its kind in the country.

As a writer, Graham has authored 10 books, including two New York Times bestsellers, You Can Make It Happen: A Nine-Step Plan for Success and Teens Can Make It Happen: Nine Steps to Success. His latest release Diversity: Leaders not Labels includes his unique approach to eliminate barriers to success.

And finally as a speaker, Graham has worked with clients such as Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Manpower, CNN, GlaxoSmithKline, American College of Sports Medicine, YMCA, U.S. Olympic Committee, U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps, Harvard and Wharton business schools, and the U.S. Department of Education.

As the Saturday General Session speaker, Graham will share his leadership insights and tips that will not only help career and technical education professionals themselves, but will also get them thinking about their role as mentors and educators.





				2009 NAAE/ACTE Convention Speakers Jeff Henderson South Central Los Angeles native and award-winning chef, “Chef Jeff” Henderson, will open this year’s Convention as the Opening General Session speaker. Henderson is an award-winning chef who has served as the Executive Chef at the renowned Café Bellagio and Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. What makes Henderson so remarkable is his story of going from crack dealer to top chef. Henderson grew up in South Central Los Angeles and in San Diego, and was raised by a single mother who worked as a welder. To earn money, Henderson turned to drugs and by 19 he was running a million-dollar cocaine operation. Eventually arrested and incarcerated, he spent almost a decade in federal prison. During this time, he realized that being locked up had saved him and he discovered his passion for cooking while doing kitchen duty. Once out of prison, he channeled the same intense ambition that had nearly ruined his life to help him rise to the top of some of the best kitchens in the country. But as a convicted felon and a black man in the world of haute cuisine, he had to overcome many challenges. Henderson began his professional career cooking at many influential restaurants, including Gadsy’s, L’Escale, the Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Marina Del Rey, Zing, and The Good Bar. He went on to become a sous chef at the world-renowned Mobil 5-Star Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles as well at Mobil 5-Star L’Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills. In 2000, Henderson continued his rise, making history in Las Vegas as the first African-American Chef de Cuisine at Caesars Palace. He was later promoted to an Executive Chef position and has since held that position at several top restaurants in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. In 2001, the American Food and Wine Tasting Federation named Henderson “Las Vegas Chef of the Year.” He has since gone on to become the Executive Chef at the Bellagio, another first for an African-American. Henderson has been honored as one of the top African-American chefs by Black Enterprise magazine. His memoir Cooked was released in March 2007 and he is in discussions with production companies to produce his story and networks to star in his own reality show. Henderson’s story will not only inspire, but will reinforce to career and technical educators that the skills and education they are providing are of real value. Stedman Graham Stedman Graham is a businessman, educator, writer and speaker who focuses on maximizing leadership, achieving success and embracing diversity. As a businessman, Graham is chairman and CEO of S. Graham & Associates (SGA), a management and marketing consulting company that specializes in the corporate and educational markets. As an educator, Graham is a former adjunct professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago where he taught a leadership course. At the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, he taught a management strategy course. He also founded and directed George Washington University’s Forum for Sport and Event Management and Marketing - the first of its kind in the country. As a writer, Graham has authored 10 books, including two New York Times bestsellers, You Can Make It Happen: A Nine-Step Plan for Success and Teens Can Make It Happen: Nine Steps to Success. His latest release Diversity: Leaders not Labels includes his unique approach to eliminate barriers to success. And finally as a speaker, Graham has worked with clients such as Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Manpower, CNN, GlaxoSmithKline, American College of Sports Medicine, YMCA, U.S. Olympic Committee, U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps, Harvard and Wharton business schools, and the U.S. Department of Education. As the Saturday General Session speaker, Graham will share his leadership insights and tips that will not only help career and technical education professionals themselves, but will also get them thinking about their role as mentors and educators.

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