By: Heather Holmes
Kevin Green Elevates Partners with The Plaid Apron and Pellissippi State to Raise Funds for Next Generation of Local Culinary Talent
A Culinary Collaboration Born from Shared History
The dinner is the result of a meaningful reunion between two culinary professionals with deep Knoxville ties. The collaboration began when Kevin Green and Chef Drew McDonald reconnected over brunch, discovering their shared background as Lipscomb University alumni and former colleagues at Nashville’s prestigious Hermitage Hotel.
Their conversation quickly shifted to the broader challenges in the culinary field, particularly the need to attract and develop skilled talent. As the founder of Kevin Green Elevates and a former high school culinary educator, Green shares a deep commitment with Drew to giving back to the community that shaped their careers. Together, they set out to create an initiative designed to directly support the next generation of local chefs.
Green brought Chef Joseph Blauvelt of Pellissippi State into the partnership, creating a three-way collaboration that leverages industry expertise, educational innovation, and community support.
An Evening of Culinary Excellence for Education
Event Details:
Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Time: 6:30-8:30 PM
Location: The Plaid Apron, Knoxville, TN
Cost: $125 per person
Reservations: https://www.pstcc.edu/foundation/plates-for-a-purpose/
Social: Instagram @chefkevinculinary – link in bio
Beneficiary: 100% of proceeds support Pellissippi State’s Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management program
Guests will enjoy a four-course, seasonally inspired dinner crafted from local ingredients, paired with expertly selected wines. The evening features The Plaid Apron’s professional team and Pellissippi State culinary students working together.
Supporting Tomorrow’s Culinary Leaders
Pellissippi State’s Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management program has been training East Tennessee’s culinary workforce for years, providing students with both technical skills and real-world experience. The funds raised through “Plates for a Purpose” will directly support student scholarships, program equipment, and educational opportunities that prepare graduates for leadership roles in the region’s growing hospitality sector. Every dollar raised remains in the Knoxville community, helping local students who will become the chefs, restaurant managers, and hospitality professionals that keep the city’s dining scene vibrant.
Building on Kevin Green’s Community Impact
Green, Knoxville native and former Food Network’s CHOPPED competitor, who transitioned from corporate chef to public educator to professional speaker, brings a unique perspective to workforce development in the culinary field. Through Kevin Green Elevates, he helps young professionals create a life they love by discovering careers that fit them, authentically. This purpose-driven initiative makes the partnership with Pellissippi State a natural extension of his mission. Having witnessed how the right mentorship and opportunities can transform a student’s trajectory, he sees the dinner as a way to create those opportunities while bringing the community together around what it values most—exceptional food and meaningful connections.
Seats for “Plates for a Purpose” are limited—reserve yours today at https://www.pstcc.edu/foundation/plates-for-a-purpose/ to support local culinary education.
About Kevin Green Elevates
Kevin Green is a keynote speaker, entrepreneur, personal chef, and former educator—raised on Southern grit and second chances. From Division 1 distance runner to Food Network’s Chopped competitor, from fine dining chef to high school teacher, Kevin’s story is one of transformation, pivots, and purpose.
Now, through powerful storytelling and signature frameworks, Kevin helps young professionals and students peel back the layers of limiting beliefs and align their careers with their most authentic selves—so they can move forward with confidence, clarity, and direction.
Press Contact:
Heather Holmes
heather@publicityforgood.com
1+(828)332-5307
Event booking information available at https://www.pstcc.edu/foundation/plates-for-a-purpose/
