Clients & Impact

As President of the ATD (Association for Talent Development) Charlotte Chapter and an industry leader with more than 30 years of experience, I can say that Chef Maria's content is both deeply relevant and essential for leaders, L&D professionals, and anyone looking to improve human connection. She delivers an interesting, fresh approach that masterfully blends her culinary background with professional development.

Her presentation style goes beyond simply sharing content; she creates an engaging experience that challenges assumptions and sparks meaningful dialogue.The most impactful takeaway for me was her "snow globe" analogy. In a world full of noise, distractions, and overwhelming busyness, she reminded us that we must communicate by slowing down and focusing on the core messages we want to convey within our relationships.

Chef Maria gave an appetizing, memorable example of expectations versus realities. Participants walked away from this session not only inspired but also with practical insights they can immediately apply to communication, team dynamics, and workplace culture.

Contact Chef Maria if your organization is looking for a speaker who brings creativity, strategic thinking, and practical tools for lasting impact.

Mary Elizabeth Murphy

President, ATD Charlotte chapter

I had the pleasure of working with Chef Maria Kemp as the VP of Programs for our ATD chapter, where I invited her to speak at one of our chapter meetings on experiential training. Maria was wonderful to work with from the start. She was collaborative, thoughtful, and open to shaping the session so it would really meet the needs of our audience. That care showed up in the presentation itself.

Her session was engaging, interactive, and gave our members a fresh way to think about leadership development. Rather than approaching leadership training as something purely conceptual, Maria helped us explore how experiential learning can make development feel more practical, memorable, and impactful. One of the things I appreciated most was how she wove her own career journey into the session. It made the content feel relatable and grounded, and it gave the audience a stronger connection to both her and the material. 

I’d highly recommend Maria to any group or organization looking for a thoughtful, engaging speaker who brings both expertise and a fresh perspective to learning and leadership development!

Ruth Russell

Vice President of Programs, ATD Charlotte chapter

Absolutely LOVED Chef Maria's session at ATD Charlotte. What shifted for me was simple: experiential learning through immersion and activities turns information from generic to impactful.

She blends storytelling, food, and activities to create an immersive learning experience that keeps the entire room engaged. 

Chef Maria gave me a strong takeaway that I will use in my own trainings: get people on their feet, moving, interacting, sharing, and contributing as fast as possible.

Would highly recommend to organizations looking for a creative way to shift the way they think about L&D in practical scenarios. If you’re looking to spice up the way your Learning department approaches instructional design, look no further! Chef Maria is it!

Mohamed Hijazi
ATD Charlotte chapter member

Chef Maria did a passionate presentation at our ATD Charlotte meeting that resonated with me.

Another key aspect she shared was the value of reflection; when this is part of the learning process, it really drives home the knowledge and supports it's application down the road.

Peter Lafferty
ATD Charlotte chapter member

Chef Maria gave an amazing presentation for SHRM Lower Cape Fear HR Association! Her presentation on caregivers in the workplace helped many of our members think about new ways to empower workplace caregivers to care for themselves and helped to broaden our definitions of what a caregiver really is. If you a chance to attend one of Maria's presentations, I would highly recommend it!

Victoria Proctor, SHRM-CP

It was a pleasure welcoming Chef Maria to our SHRM Lake Norman community. Your presentation was innovative, highly engaging, insightful, and inspiring. Thank you for pouring into our members and challenging the assumptions we make about our employees and team members!

Nikki Pounds, SPHR, SHRM-CP

I experienced this engaging presentation by Chef Maria Kemp on how to recognize when employees may be struggling with caregiving responsibilities and how leaders and organizations can better support them.

She brought a unique perspective, using food to bring the message to life and make it relatable.

I appreciate seeing companies pay attention to this important topic with voices like Chef Maria helping to move the conversation forward.

Angie Tinnell

EXCELLENT PRESENTATION!!! As I mentioned before, you covered ALL the target points I had on my list. I am looking forward to collaborating with you!

Pamela A. Clemmons
City of Charlotte

EWAP (Employees With Aging Parents)

Thank you for the wonderful training and treats! Thank you again for spending time with the cohort to educate us and open our eyes in such a unique and impactful way. This was an experience that I’ll likely remember for the rest of my life.

Ethan Frano
Sonoco

Chef Maria’s lived experience, professionalism, and advocacy is what distinguishes her as a vendor and speaker, and why we love bringing her back. She shares her authentic self, follows up with resources, and maintains meaningful connections. We’ve worked with her for several years in multiple capacities.

Name Withheld
Managed Healthcare Service Industry

Maria provided an exceptional presentation on ‘A Caregiver's Journey’ that was practical, well-organized, and tailored to our company’s needs. Multiple employees described the session as vivid, emotionally moving, and highly engaging. Maria made a tough topic comfortable to digest, used relevant scenarios, and followed up with valuable resources.

Multiple team members
Messer Construction Co.