Tulsa native Jeremy Johnson was recently named Chief Culinary Officer at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, and we couldn’t be happier! Chef Johnson replaces Jeff Marlow, who was appointed Chief Executive Officer.
“My father influenced me to be a hard worker and a chef because he always had multiple jobs, mostly working in the culinary industry,” said Johnson. “My mother always taught me to be compassionate and was full of encouragement,” he continued. As a student at Booker T. Washington High School, he spent time at John 3:16 Mission and multiple Boys and Girls clubs. Chef Johnson says it didn’t take long for him to figure out that his favorite place was in the kitchen. He even started cooking eggs for himself at the age of four!
Chef Johnson has received many accolades over the course of his career including being chosen to attend a special leadership trip to Israel recently called “REALITY Taste”. This journey is for top chefs, food and beverage entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, and culinary content creators. It’s unique for a food bank chef to be chosen! It was a special opportunity to engage in an intensive, thoughtfully curated itinerary designed to elevate leadership and ignite participants’ ambition to change the world. Along with a cohort of industry peers and leaders, he explored Israel’s culture and society through the lens of cuisine. “Visiting Israel was the trip of a lifetime,” according to Chef Johnson. “I’m very grateful for the transformative opportunity to understand the many cultures that represent Israel. The stories and experiences from this trip made bonds that will last a lifetime.”
Chef Johnson has been with the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma for ten wonderful years and along with his kitchen team has provided thousands upon thousands of meals to Oklahomans in need. “Over the last decade, I’ve been able to do what I am passionate about every day. I am able to serve the community that raised me. This brings me great pride and joy. My only hope as Chief Culinary Officer is to make an impact on our community the way it did for me.”
