Susie Foley is co-founder of Foley and Fitzgerald. She followed in her father's footsteps. While attending college she worked pantry in his deli and after college she joined the family catering business directing wedding and special events. She started managing restaurants in 1968. Her experience included everything from family dining and contract feeding to white tablecloth. At the age of 34 she opened her own 100 seat dinner house in Sonoma County and sold it four years later for a tidy profit. Following a bit of consulting, she opened a cooking school in Houston, Texas, which, upon her return to California led her to recruiting. A year and a half with a placement firm taught Susie what she did and did not want to do in this business and when she met Suzanne Fitzgerald it was providential they should work together.

"The appeal of the restaurant business is the people - customers as well as employees and purveyors. The appeal of the placement business for me is also the people - my clients and candidates. I thoroughly enjoy my long-term relationships with both and it pleases me no end when we place someone in a position they love with an employer who is equally excited."

Susie is involved with C.H.E.F.S. ( Conquering Homelessness through Employment in Foodservice ) . She is the immediate Past President of San Francisco Professional Food Society, President of The California Culinary Academy Educational Foundation, and Past Chair of the Restaurant committee of Share Our Strength/Taste of the Nation.

CINDY RACE

Cindy Race grew up in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, where she started her restaurant career at the tender age of 14 at the local tavern and inn. At the age of 16, Cindy started an apprenticeship program at The Old Mill Restaurant in South Egremont, MA. Terry Moore, owner and Cindy's mentor took her under his wing and Cindy credits him with teaching her the culinary basics as well as understanding that everything in life is detail oriented. After restaurant stints around the country including kitchen manager, executive chef and owner, Cindy settled in the Bay Area in 1994.

After 17 years, Cindy left the restaurant industry to private chef for a high profile client, allowing her to focus on her personal interests in hand-picking ingredients and gracious service. In 1997, she and a business partner founded Four Star Private Chefs and for 10 years they successfully matched private chefs and clients. Cindy sold her share of Four Star in 2007 and opened Cindy Race, Private Chef Services, a company to help private chefs find clients in the Bay Area.

In addition to working in the placement industry since 1997, Cindy has also been teaching culinary enthusiasts how to enjoy entertaining more by using better time management skills and chef driven short-cuts. By showing students how to use a recipe as a road map, Cindy teaches students to be more creative and have more confidence in the kitchen. Cindy still teaches at Draeger's on the peninsula, Ramekins in Sonoma, and Casalana in Calistoga.

Cindy is delighted to be joining forces with Foley and Fitzgerald. Combining Cindy's restaurant experience and knowledge of placements seems like a natural progression at this point in her career.