Dessert Artists
Scott Fausz is honored to represent The Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, AK as their current Executive Pastry Chef. Prior positions include Executive Pastry Chef for Alyeska Resort and The Hotel Alyeska in Girdwood, AK and Chef Instructor for Le Cordon Bleu. Prior to teaching, Fausz held several industry positions including Banquet Pastry Supervisor for the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, as well as Executive Pastry Chef for Missouri’s largest winery, Crown Valley in Ste. Genevieve. Fausz is the proud recipient of several Best of Phoenix awards referencing his work as Executive Pastry Chef of Pierre’s Pastry Cafe and Assistant Pastry Chef of Pastry Maxine, both in Scottsdale, AZ. Chef Fausz is recognized for his wedding cakes and plated desserts as well as his sugar and chocolate work. His academic training includes an associate degree in Culinary Arts from Scottsdale Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management through Le Cordon Bleu. His “Plan B” career involves splitting time between a small dairy goat farm in Normandy, France and cooking for Cher.
Sadie Young is a baking pro who is growing her gourmet cookie business, AKookie Co. She hopes to operate out of a commercial kitchen so she can ship her delicious goods throughout Alaska. A portion of all of her sales will be donated to nonprofits in Alaska
Robin (Bobbi) Fuentes
Born in Minnesota, Bobbi worked in family restaurants and night clubs. Her grandfather and father were chefs, She is one of 8 siblings, the only one to stay in the culinary field. She worked for many large corporations, and hotels. Bobbi has won awards for her culinary accomplishments, she loves the food and beverage industry. Making people happy with great food is the goal. Having worked and lived all over the world, Bobbi hopes every chef gets an opportunity to do so. It’s amazing to work beside someone who doesn’t speak your language but speaks food! Integrity, honesty, and genuine caring about the people you serve and the people who work beside you are key to being successful. So, please take a seat, let’s tell our stories and eat together! Manga!!!!!!
Mark Maccherola
Mark began his career as a young adult in the airline industry and, at 34 years old, decided to switch careers and enroll in the Scottsdale Culinary School. Since making the change, he says he’s enjoyed every minute of his culinary career.
While in Arizona, he worked under notable chefs such as Chef Jon Hill, the first American-born executive chef who served briefly at the White House during the Regan era and Chef Kevin Binkley, a seven-time James Beard nominee. Mark also has teaching experience in higher education and spent years as the lead instructor at the Arizona Culinary Institute.
After thirty years in Phoenix, he accepted an Executive Chef position with Pursuit, a corporate food service provider for hotels, clubs and venues in Glacier National Park and Canada.
Mark moved to Alaska in February of 2023 and joined the Seawolf Dining team. He has been going non-stop with all of UAA’s catering, resident dining, and special events at the Alaska Airlines Center. He is excited to be in Alaska and says the weather reminds him much of his time in Montana. He’s eager to get outdoors and pick up some of his favorite activities – hiking, trail running and fishing. He’s even a two-time Iron Man Triathlete. He says his favorite things in life are his kids and teaching culinary arts.
Our Lucys – aka The Judges
Lucy Mahan is on the board of First National Bank Alaska and Owner at Transitional Counseling LLC. Ms. Mahan received her undergraduate degree from The University of Colorado and her masters from Alaska Pacific University. A lifelong Alaskan, she practices in Anchorage and Homer.
Lucy Odden is a federal employee with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and volunteers on the Alaska Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education. She was nominated with her teams for the Regional Director’s Excellence Award for their work with the Moving Forward Together Workshop Planning Team and the Regional Office Activities and Recreation (ROAR) team. Lucy was an early member of The Arc of Anchorage.
Lusiana “Lucy” Tuga Hansen was born in Ta’u Manu’a, Pago Pago American Samoa. In 1985, she moved to Alaska to be closer to family. In the early 2000s, Hansen began teaching elders in the Pacific Islander community computer literacy courses. She later became the founder and CEO of the Polynesian Association of Alaska in 2005, which is a nonprofit organization with the mission to support individuals, improve families by promoting education, and instill cultural pride in youth. Hansen also started a Polynesian Culture Saturday School in partnership with the Anchorage School District teaching our Samoan and Tongan Language and Culture in Anchorage.
2005 First Samoan woman who raised the American Samoa National flag, Independent Samoa, and our sister island of Tonga flag, in the soil of Anchorage.
2015 AAPI Women Champions of Change Award from the White House (President Obama).
2015 Women of Achievement Award by YWCA of Alaska.
2010 Presidential Award, Bridge Builders of Anchorage.
2021 Extra Tough Alaska Women of the North award.
2022 Community Heart Award, Anchorage Community Land Trust.