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Brandon Chrostowski

B.A.
CEO, National Speaker, Business Consultant
EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute
Country or state 
United States (Ohio)
Available to 
Global
City 
Cleveland
Fee 
Ask for pricing
Languages 
English,
French
Volunteer
Yes

Personal Details

Bio

Founder, CEO and president of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute Brandon Edwin Chrostowski is renowned for changing culinary and hospitality training—in and out of the nation’s prisons—while preserving French cooking traditions. His mission-driven effort to train and staff former prison inmates at his flagship French restaurant and nonprofit has created a national model for re-entry and an educational pipeline for formerly incarcerated to learn the discipline and skill of fine dining.

Touting a one percent recidivism rate, his impactful social program provides more than 100 formerly incarcerated adults with free culinary and hospitality arts training each year. Since founding EDWINS in 2007, Chrostowski has reinforced his mission by opening Edwins Too, a culinary incubator and community kitchen; EDWINS Butcher Shop and Bakery and Diner; a Second Chance Life Skills Center with housing and wraparound services; EDWINS Family Center, a nonprofit that provides free daycare to Institute students during class hours; on-site programs at Grafton Correctional Institute and Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center; and offering virtual curriculum to more than 400,000 inmates at prisons across the country.

A classically trained chef and sommelier, Chrostowski honed his skills at fine dining establishments in Paris, New York, and Chicago, including Lucas Carton, Chanterelle, Picholine, Le Cirque and Charlie Trotter’s. Recognition of his culinary efforts include 2022 James Beard Award Semifinalist; IFMA’s 2020 Silver Plate, CNN 2016 Heroes, Crain’s “40 under 40” Awards; The Richard C. Cornuelle Award from the Manhattan Institute for Social Entrepreneurship; being featured as the subject of the Academy Award nominated documentary Knife Skills; and features in notable national media outlets, including The New York Times, Washington Post and TODAY. Chrostowski earned an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Restaurant Management from The Culinary Institute of America. He resides in Cleveland with his wife Catana and their children, Leo, Lilly and Lynx.

Current position (1)

CEO, National Speaker, Business Consultant

EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute

Degrees (1)
Culinary Arts
Culinary Institute of America
1991 to 1993

Presentations

Presentations (3)
A More Powerful Yes!

I tell the story of the conception of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute, America's premier vehicle for transitioning from incarceration to employment. I further expound on why this mission is so important to the well-being of our local communities and our nation as a whole. I discuss best practices related to the operations of a successful non-profit and furthermore delve into the wrap-around services necessary to serve your target population. If you are a business owner, entrepreneur, social justice advocate, budding non-profit CEO, HR manager, elected official, judge or employer, this talk will change the way you think about returning citizens. You will be inspired to change the world around you and become an ally in the fight to reduce recidivism. In addition to this powerful talk, select audiences may also attend a special screening of the Academy-Award nominated documentary "Knife Skills" which shows my journey to make this dream of mine a reality.

Engaging your inner winner

Discovering who you really are and elevating your
skills to their highest and best uses. Define yourself
and then refine yourself

Fear not the righteous fight

Increasing positive energy through the practice
of fighting for what is just and equitable.

Workshops (1)
How to achieve excellence through disruption
1 hour
(View workshop agenda)

Learn how to build a socially-conscious business creates success by upending negative societal norms and systems. This incredible workshop is based upon demonstrably reliable pillars created and perfected by Brandon Chrostowski. This program has led to the success of multiple mission-driven businesses across the United States.

Past talks (5)
A More Powerful Yes!
Bob Barker Foundation Speech
Austin, Texas
February 17, 2020
A More Powerful Yes!
Mid-America Restaurant Expo Speech
Columbus, Ohio
February 23, 2020
A More Powerful Yes!
SHRM 2020 Convention
Albuquerque, New Mexico
April 20, 2020
A More Powerful Yes!
ACF National Convention Speech
Dallas, TX
July 20, 2020
Building a disruptive non-profit
Purdue University Speaker Series
West Lafayette, Indiana
October 20, 2020
  • All (13)
  • Videos (1)
  • Photos (5)
  • One sheet (1)
  • Press information (6)
This speaker hasn't uploaded any slides yet.
A more powerful yes
Restaurant Report: Edwins Leadership & Restaurant Institute in Cleveland
2019 Community Leader of the Year: Brandon Chrostowski
EDWINS in Cleveland Is Teaching Former Inmates How to Run a Restaurant
An Oscar-Nominated Documentary About Fine Dining and Life After Prison
The Ohio restaurant that gives convicts a second chance
Brandon Chrostowski Wikipedia

Books & Articles (11)

The Guardian UK- Inside the restaurant serving up second chances for ex-prisoners
Forbes- Cooking, Not Crime: Ex-Cons Hot In Cleveland
NPR- Oscar-Nominated 'Knife Skills' Showcases Ex-Cons And Odd Ducks In The Kitchen
Daily Beast- From Serving Time to Serving Food: EDWINS' Winning Recipe
Bon Appetit- "Knife Skills" Is the Oscar-Nominated Documentary that Follows Students from Prisons to Fine Dining
Cleveland Magazine- 2019 Community Leader of the Year: Brandon Chrostowski
Cleveland.com- Edwins bakery-diner coming soon to Buckeye neighborhood
Cleveland Magazine- Brandon Chrostowski's Next Fight? Addiction
Crain's Business- Chrostowski returns to Edwins with big plans on tap
WKYC.COM- Northeast Ohio leader in prisoner re-entry invited to White House
Food & Wine- Meet the ex-con chef running for mayor of Cleveland

Expertise (25)

Leadership
Education
Skills & Trades
Business
Social Entrepreneurship Hospitality Hospitality Excellence re-entry programs re-entry Adaptive Leadership Leadership Second Chances Social Justice Startup and Business Development Consulting business consulting prison reform Prisons Reducing recidivism Alternative Education Adult Education Culinary Art Culinary Education Non-profit Non-profit Leadership

Clients

Bank of America
Manhattan Institute
Yale Jewish Society
The Society for Human Resource Management
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
City Club of Cleveland
Tedx
Association of Correctional Food Service Affiliates
Windham School District
Food Jobs Work
Belmont University, Nashville, TN
Michigan Department of Corrections
Community Kitchens
National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
Chautauqua Institution
First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh
Georgia Department of Community Supervision
Great Lakes Ventures
Kent State University
Neighborhood Leadership Development Program
John Carroll University
Ashland University
Ohio Restaurant Association
Ursuline College
Cleveland Yacht Club
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

Awards & certifications (6)

CNN Hero
CNN
2016
IFMA Silver Plate Award
International Facility Management Association
2020
Anisfield-Wolf Memorial Award
The Center for Community Solutions
2015
Community Leader of the Year
Cleveland Magazine
2019
40 under 40
Crain's Cleveland Business
2015
Richard Cornuelle Award
Manhattan Institute
2015
Recommendations
2 Audience
Show More
Why choose me? 

My speeches are dynamic, informative, unconventional, inspiring and sometimes funny.

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