Chef Gene Gelb, Publix Aprons Catering & Cooking School
Chef Gene Gelb, a Polk County native, is no stranger to southern cooking. Growing up with 7 brothers and sisters, and now his wife and 5 children, he always had the opportunity to cook for a crowd!
Following in his family’s footsteps, Chef Gene joined Publix at 16 years of age as a customer service associate. He then graduated High School and left Publix to attend University. He attended USF for Mechanical Engineering but found his desire to be in kitchens to be stronger than his love of engineering. Chef Gelb then spent 17 years learning the ins and outs of kitchens in the Greater Tampa Bay area. From Sous Chef to Chef de Cuisine to Executive Chef, Chef Gene immersed himself in the cooking charms and flavors of each kitchen he was in, cultivating his palate and adding to his culinary portfolio.
Chef Gene has returned to where it all began. He is currently utilizing his culinary background and full service catering expertise as the Assistant Resident and Catering Chef at Publix Aprons Cooking School. He is pleased to be able to showcase exquisite flavor profiles and combine his passion for food along with family tradition.
Community Leader Patrick Spinosa, AgAmerica Lending
Pat Spinosa is the Director of Business Development, joining the AgAmerica family in 2017. He is a proud graduate of the University of Florida with multigenerational roots in Florida agriculture.
Pat is a fifth-generation citrus and cattle farmer. He remains highly active in the agricultural community and organizations such as Florida FFA Foundation, the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Program, and the Florida Forestry Association. Through these experiences, he’s had the opportunity to build relationships with family-owned farm operations across the nation. He enjoys making a positive impact on the lives of American youth and encouraging the development of their skills in leadership, personal growth, and professional success through agricultural education.
Prior to AgAmerica, Pat was a survey technician for Pickett and Associates—an engineering, surveying, and geospatial firm. During his time here, he surveyed land for federal agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife services, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
His personal background in U.S. agriculture combined with his passion for rural land and family farm conservation inspired him to search for an innovative career where he could advocate for this essential way of life on a larger scale. As Director of Business Development of AgAmerica Lending, Pat oversees the client relations department who manages a 500+ client portfolio that continues to grow rapidly. Through his leadership, the inbound and outbound sales teams have closed more than $400MM in loans and helped improve the financial situation of farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners nationwide.
