Prior to joining Frito-Lay, Chef Stephen served as director of innovation for the Chili's Grill & Bar food and beverage innovation division. He also served as chef de cuisine for culinary research and development at the Cheesecake Factory. In these roles, he led ongoing menu innovation including recipe development, market testing, flavor optimization and implementation in the restaurants.

His introduction to the world of cooking and foodservice came as a teenager in Detroit through his family's business, which grew from a small bakery and market specializing in Mediterranean foods to a highly successful multi-faceted restaurant, grocery retail and wholesale operation.

Chef Stephen is a certified executive chef with the American Culinary Federation and is a certified research chef with the Research Chefs Association. He has been featured on the Food Network's "Unwrapped" show and is regularly featured in industry publications such as Culinology, Flavor and the Menu, and Prepared Foods.