Sherry Van Der Elst

Experience

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  Woman's World Magazine (Bauer Publishing)

  Jan 1992 - Jan 2005

  Features Articles Editor

  *Assigned, wrote and edited stories for national weekly magazine*Fact checked to ensure accuracy, integrity and high-quality editorial content*Worked closely with copy editors, photographers and legal team under multiple deadlines*Mentored writers and offered guidance in story development*Communicated project status, progress, issues and solutions

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  Calphalon Culinary Center

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2005

  Chef Instructor Assistant

  *Awarded coveted externship at this combination cooking school and retail center for attaining highest levels of academic excellence at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts-Chicago*Assisted Chef Instructors with prep work and set-up for a variety of demo and hands-on classes*Involved in menu planning and party organizing*Researched, tested and evaluated recipes for class*Emphasized kitchen safety and sanitation techniques in food preparation*Demonstrated basic cooking skills, knife skills and basic knife cuts, proper equipment handling and the usage of essential kitchen tools. Show less

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  Equity Residential

  Oct 2005 - Dec 2007

  Senior Writer/Editor, Creative Marketing

  *Produced copy for brochures, posters, ads, flyers, direct mail, consumer, B2B, websites and other deliverables*Spearheaded major redesign and rewrite of company website*Played key role as Editor and Content Manager in launch and development of new Intranet*Managed multiple projects with competing deadlines

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  Freelance Writing, Editing and Web Content Development

  Jan 2008 - Jan 2010

  Writer|Editor|Web Copy Editor|Web Copy Development

  *Wrote informative consumer-targeted articles for consumer-targeted websites including eHow, How Stuff Works, and Associated Content*As Japanese Food Editor for BellaOnline, researched and crafted food articles, created and tested recipes, wrote how-to articles, reviews, blog posts, email blasts and newslettersAs Web Copy Editor for Kelley Management Consulting and Domin8 Creative Conceptions:*Communicated with clients and staff to identify and target key objectives*Utilized metadata, proper SEO techniques, keyword placement, link building and Google Analytics to produce quality content and increase traffic Show less

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  BreadCraft

  Apr 2009 - Aug 2010

  Chef Instructor, Sole Proprietor

  *Home-based cooking school founded for the purpose of teaching easy bread baking techniques to the home baker*Offered group and private lessons where students received hands-on instruction in artisan bread baking in a casual and fun classroom setting*Demonstrated recipes, techniques, proper food safety and kitchen sanitation*Wrote and produced all classroom materials and student handouts*Created and developed website*Designed and wrote all marketing and promotional materials

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  Cooking Matters (MSU Extension)

  Feb 2015 - May 2016

  Chef Instructor

  Chef Instructor for Cooking Matters, a program offered through Michigan State University Extension in partnership with Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry program. It's a volunteer position, but I put as much time and dedication into it as though it's a full-time job (and hopefully one day soon it will be!). Working in tandem with program nutrition instructors in three counties, I serve as a teacher and a role model, teaching fundamental culinary skills to low-income individuals of varying age groups and diverse backgrounds. Students learn hands-on about food preparation, making healthy choices and substitutions when cooking, basic knife skills, proper sanitation and food safety, according to the highlighted objectives of each class in the Cooking Matters curriculum. Proper techniques and best practices are reinforced by consistent demonstration and gentle correction. Each class also participates in a guided grocery store tour so students can learn how to stretch their limited food budgets in order to make healthier meals at home.Recipes are provided by Cooking Matters but I often formulate my own, making sure they adhere to the program's criteria (healthy and budget-conscious).A feature article on one of my classes (with co-instructor Amy Prins) that was published in The Grand Haven Tribune:http://www.grandhaventribune.com/Education/2016/02/24/Classes-help-students-learn-life-long-lessons.html?ci=stream&lp=1&p=1I love the Cooking Matters program and get so much pleasure and personal satisfaction from sharing my knowledge and enthusiasm with my students, while at the same time inspiring their "inner chef!"​Below are photos of some of my Cooking Matters classes. You can learn more about this excellent program at cookingmatters.org or at http://msue.anr.msu.edu/program/info/cooking_matters. Show less

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  Talk To Chef

  Oct 2015 - Dec 2016

  Chef, Consultant

  Talk To Chef is a 911 hotline for home cooks seeking help with questions about cuisine, recipes, ingredients or cooking techniques. Talk To Chef connects home cooks with professional chefs ready to provide help and guidance using the latest two-way video streaming technology in exchange for a "tip" or fee.Find out more at http://talktochef.com

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  YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids

  May 2016 - now

  Cooking Matters Educator

  As Cooking Matters Educator* for the Greater Grand Rapids YMCA, I provide classroom-based cooking and nutrition instruction to seniors, parents, adults, children, teens and families throughout Muskegon and Ottawa Counties. Over half of my students qualify as low income and/or rely upon food assistance programs. Along with preparing healthier meals and making better nutritional choices, class participants are taken on grocery store tours where they learn tips and tricks for stretching their food dollars and becoming more savvy shoppers by reading nutrition labels, comparing unit pricing, and utilizing coupons, rebates and reward card programs.They also learn how to get more nutritional bang for their bucks by shopping for fruits and vegetables in-season, incorporating more whole grain products into their everyday diets, comparing food labels and deciphering ingredient lists, and becoming stronger advocates for their own nutritional health and well-being.I currently teach the following CM curriculums:*Cooking Matters for Adults*Cooking Matters for Families*Cooking Matters for Parents*Cooking Matters for TeensI teach six-week Cooking Matters series at the following client sites:MUSKEGON COUNTY*Muskegon Heights Housing Authority (MHHA) -East Park Manor -Columbia Court*McClees Clinic*Healthwest*Kitchen 242*Muskegon Community Education Center (MCEC)*Pathfinders After-School Program*My teaching kitchen on Third Street in downtown Muskegon*Reeths-Puffer Elementary OTTAWA COUNTY*Grand Haven Public Schools -Ferry Elementary -Griffin Elementary*Tri-City YMCA*Four Pointes Center for Successful Aging*Nortonville Gospel Church*Cooking Matters Educator is classified as a manager level position. Show less

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  Get Cookin’ L3C

  Aug 2018 - now

  Culinary& Nutrition Educator/Owner

  www.mobilecookingschool.com