ChefsGO Graduate Driven to Succeed

Thomas Nelson President Dr. Towuanna Porter Brannon and Gregory Whitfield were all smiles at the 2022 ChefsGO graduation in February.

Gregory Whitfield says cooking is about the only thing he knows how to do. Ever since he was small, it has interested him. Nearly all of his jobs have been in the restaurant or fast-food industries.

When his wife and five children encouraged him to enroll in Thomas Nelson's ChefsGO program last year, he agreed it was just what he needed. He was determined not to let anything stand in his way, not even spending almost six hours on a bus each day to get from his home in downtown Newport News to Williamsburg to attend classes, training and an eventual internship.

The obvious first question on hearing his story is "Why?"

"I love what I do. I really do. I love to cook," he said.

Classes started in August 2021 with 12 weeks of classroom instruction and skills training. A 12-week internship followed. Whitfield had classes Monday through Thursday from the afternoon to early evening, then worked at a convenience store overnight Thursday through Saturday. Sunday was his off day.

Whitfield's dedication and perseverance paid off as before February's graduation ceremony, he was hired full time at Williamsburg Landing, where he completed an internship.

"Greg's defining characteristic is his dedication," said chef Patrick Day, one of the program instructors and the director of dining services at Williamsburg Landing. "When Greg was in school, he took two buses to get to Williamsburg. He never missed a day."

Whitfield knows the route by heart.

"Route 106, Route 108, Route 1 to Williamsburg, then Route 6 in Williamsburg," he said.

When he was attending ChefsGO, he had to be at class in the afternoon. Now that he's working at Williamsburg Landing, he's at work by 8:30 a.m., leaving home by 6:30 a.m. It's not as much time on the bus, and still not a deterrent.

Twenty-two years ago, after starting his high school career at Heritage, he graduated from Commonwealth Challenge in Virginia Beach. He got married, started a family, and worked at numerous restaurants.

However, the allure of the kitchen and owning a restaurant were too much. One thing was missing, a degree or certificate to prove he could cook. Praise from family members was going to take him only so far.

"I thought since I didn't have the credentials under my name, it wasn't going to work out," he said.

His wife used to work at New Horizons on Butler Farm Road, near Thomas Nelson, so she was familiar with what it had to offer.

"The ChefsGO program is beautiful," he said. "The teachers take the time out to make sure we understand what we are doing, and make sure we are up to par with it."

Without the program, he said he probably still would be in the industry working at a job he loves but wanting more.

"My ultimate goal is to own my own restaurant," he said.

He enjoys cooking because it gives him the chance to be creative, cooking things others wouldn't think about. He enjoys smoking meat because it adds so much flavor. When he does open a restaurant, that will be the specialty.

Cooking is about more than the food, which is why he wants his business logo to be "Bring your family back together."

"If you sit down at the table, you'll be able to talk, get off your phones, get off the TV, actually enjoy each other for the moment," he said.

Day has little doubt about Whitfield's future.

"If showing up really is 80 percent of success, Greg goes above that with his attitude and work ethic," Day said. "He comes to work every day ready to work and looking to learn. … The ChefsGO program is a great asset to the community, and Greg is an asset to the program."

To learn more about ChefsGO, go to www.tncc.edu.