Rafael Feliciano, 30

Growing up in New Jersey with a Filipino mother and Puerto Rican father, Rafael Feliciano was surrounded by international cuisine and diverse cultures.

But he never realized the impact food had on his life until his family moved from New Jersey to Lehigh Acres following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He understood his family’s concern for their safety, but he missed traveling with his parents to New York City and the area and having any type of food one could ever want.

After deciding college wasn’t the right fit, Feliciano instead went into the food and beverage industry himself, starting as a bartender. He rapidly rose the ranks and became a restaurant trainer, where he traveled the country to help eateries get off the ground or to teach their employees new skills.