Soup Competition

Timna Nwokeji is the Founder & CEO of Life as a Maven, LLC - a Latina-owned, digital content creation business focused on small businesses.

Life as a Maven started as a way to share local food and travel experiences with locals and it grew into so much more!

Between her travels to different parts of the world and her growing following in the Greater Merrimack Valley & Boston, Timna continues to share curated experiences with her followers.

Eric Singer is an experienced restaurant operator and spent his career feeding crowds, chasing flavor, and (politely) arguing over what makes food actually connect with people.  Over more than two decades, he worked inside some of New York City's most respected dining rooms and iconic entertainment venues, where he designed menus, built programs, and created ambitious food and beverage pairing dinners that pushed boundaries. His experience spans cuisines from authentic Hill Country barbecue to gastropub to fine-dining (Junoon, [Michelin-star], Hearth [James Beard awarded]).

Eric Singer is the General Manager of the forthcoming Sea Dog Brewpub at 203 Cabot Street in Lowell, where he and his team look forward to bringing great food, great beer, outstanding value, and unforgettable vibes to the community this spring.

Brian Bradbury is the Executive Director of the Revolutionary Valley Regional Tourism Council. A lifelong Merrimack Valley resident with deep multigenerational roots, he brings nearly two decades of experience in tourism, media, and community storytelling, along with a background in public service, martial arts, and film and television.

Chef Kelcy is a Lowell-based Chef and Educator with a passion for eating with the seasons and connecting with her community through food. She brings local ingredients to life through community cooking classes, dinner parties, and recipes that inspire confidence and creativity in the kitchen. In addition to running her own business, Chef Kelcy is the Farm Chef at Wright-Locke Farm in Winchester, MA. There, she leads hands-on programming for people of all ages and creates memorable farm-to-table experiences. Dedicated to making seasonal eating approachable and fun, Kelcy strives to help others find joy and connection through cooking. 

Nick is the MassDevelopment TDI Fellow for Lowell, working with the Acre TDI Partnership to support the economic vitality of the Acre Neighborhood. Nick manages Taste the Acre, a local economic development initiative that highlights the unique cultural and culinary contributions of area restaurants. When not working with the neighborhood business community, Nick is a mentor for entrepreneurs in the EforAll program, and a member of the Boston Mycological Society, where you can find him foraging mushrooms in the warmer months.