Meet Our Supreme Court Chief Justices led by the Honorable Ken Larson, Linda Adams, Bob Bell and Don Duffala
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 Meet Judge David Glass
In David's words "It is my pleasure to serve as a judge of the Chili Cook-off. This will be a difficult task as I don't believe I have ever tasted an entry that I did not like. They start at really good and go to great. I tend to like it hot but as Harry Truman said if you can't take the heat stay out of the kitchen.
“I love Cinnabar, Chili, and Salsa so this is not only a must do event but obviously one of my favorite days of the year. I want to thank Cinnabar for all of the work they do in our community with our youth, the school program, and the family entertainment they bring to our community. Every contestant is a winner simply by being here today.”
“I want to wish all of the contestant's good luck, and I truly am just glad to be able to help. I hope you will enjoy this event as much as I do” |
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Meet Judge Ryan Williams
 Ryan Williams is an Asset manager and mortgage underwriter and owns a tax relief company. He is an advocate for free WiFi and has implemented the first free Hot Spots in Petaluma spending his time in the private sector with the San Francisco Based firm AdSpots. He works with Rebuild Petaluma Together, Butter and Eggs, 501st Legion Golden Gate Garrison, 20-30 Club, Petaluma Bikes, The Downtown Association, United Anglers, NRA, Save Shollenberger, Hospice of Petaluma, Good Will, and supports the Phoenix. He is vice chair of the Technology Advisory CommitteeRyan loves cooking and has a few great chili recipes of his own. He makes his own Hot Sauce annually as gifts and grows his own chilies; even the hottest of the bunch the Ghost Pepper. He has attended the Great Chili Cook Off the last seven years, now four times as a judge, and it is one of his favorite events. “ I love the cook off; I enjoy the themes, costumes and most of all the chili; I love super hot chili…looking forward to the burn and seeing everyone there... And you never know what I'll dress as."
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 Meet Judge Yovanna Bieberich
Yovanna Bieberich is community/entertainment reporter and page-designer for the Petaluma Argus-Courier. Though she's been with the
Argus for 12 years, she officially became a Petaluma resident in 2010
and is thrilled to finally be living in a chili-loving community. A veteran
judge of the Great Petaluma Chili Cookoff, Yovanna is a Food Network junkie
who enjoys spending time in the kitchen and considers chili to be one of her
favorite things to make. "Chili is the ultimate comfort food," she said. "I
could eat it every day!" |
 Meet Judge Steve Jaxon
Steve Jaxon is currently the host of KSRO's "The Drive", Sonoma County's only live daily talk show featuring a mix of politics, comedy, and live music. Steve has been a voice on Sonoma Country radio for more than 20 years from his work on popular morning shows on KREO and KHTT, to the hundreds of commercials he has voiced and produced through his company Vicario Productions. He is also the host of a 2 hour weekly show: "Swingin' With Sinatra" that airs in the U.S. (including Santa Rosa), Canada and Europe. |
 Meet Judge Jason Jenkins
Jason Jenkins is the great, great, great nephew of Sonoma County’s, own, General Mariano Vallejo. Jenkins, a former swimsuit model and escargot farmer, is a Petaluma native and has some 36 first cousins in this county, alone – all of whom enjoy a good cup of chili. His wine bar and retail bottle shop, Vine and Barrel, is a centerpiece to the culinary district in the main, downtown area of historical Petaluma. Jenkins’ first love for chili stems back to his aunt Jessie’s amazing, truly Mexican bowl of searing, sweet beans. Jenkins’ contact with aliens, he maintains, has increased, both, the capacity and ability of his palate to distinguish and discern tastes and flavors in all their nuance as he seeks to find that one, very chili, that reigns supreme above all the rest. |
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 Meet Judge Mike Harris
Mike Harris, Chairman Emeritus of the Young Professionals Network of Petaluma is the Senior Vice President of CrossCheck, Inc. (a National Payment Guarantee Company) and serves on the City Council for the City of Petaluma. Mike was elected to the City Council in 2002 as one of the youngest Councilmen ever elected in Petaluma. Mike was re-elected to the City Council in 2006 as the top vote getter and was re-elected in 2010 once again as the top vote getter. Mike served as the Vice Mayor of Petaluma in 2005 and has served on many boards and commissions. Mike has served on the Transit Advisory Committee for Petaluma (Chairman from 2009-2010), the Technology & Telecommunications Committee (Chairman from 2008-2009) and the Airport Commission to name a few. In 2010, Mike was honored as one of the top 40 business leaders under 40 years old by the North Bay Business Journal. |
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 Judge Teresa Barrett
Teresa Barrett is in her third year as a chili cookoff judge, although she is a former competitor in the event! Teresa and her family have lived in Petaluma over 30 years where she has been active in the schools and throughout the community. Judging salsa is a tough job, but she has been preparing for over a year now and is confident that she is up to the task!
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 Meet Judge Marie McCusker
Marie McCusker, Executive Director of the Petaluma Downtown Association and Visitors Center. Marie and her team produce the Butter & Egg Days Parade, Antique Fares and the Art & Garden Festival. Born and raised in the UK, her background in non profit and business management has taken her around the world to settle here over 10 years ago. “I just love Petaluma, it has a lot of soul and there is always something fun going on” . Honored to be a judge at the Chili Cook off can’t think of better reason to lend out my taste buds than to help raise funds for Cinnabar Theater! |
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Meet Judge Gabe Kearny
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 Meet Judge Frank Chong
Dr. Chong is the fifth president of Santa Rosa Junior College, having assumed this position in January 2012. Previously he was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges at the United States Department of Education in Washington, D.C. He formerly served as President of Laney College in Oakland and Mission College in Santa Clara. He also held the position as Campus Dean and Dean of Student Affairs at San Francisco City College. In addition, he served as Special Assistant to the Speaker of the California Assembly, and as executive director of a Bay Area community-based non-profit organization. Dr. Chong has a Bachelor of Arts degree from UC Berkeley in social welfare and Asian American Studies, and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. He also completed the Educational Management program at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, and earned his doctorate in educational administration, leadership and technology from Dowling College in Oakdale, New York.
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 Meet Judge Chris Albertson
Prior to moving to Petaluma, Councilman Albertson was a firefighter in northern San
Diego County, in the City of Santa Barbara, and for the City of Petaluma, where he was
hired as the City’s Fire Chief in 2001. After serving 38 years in the fire service, the last 6-1/2 years with Petaluma, then Fire Chief Albertson retired in July 2008.In 2010, he successfully ran for a seat on the Petaluma City Council. During the 2013
calendar year, Councilman Albertson is serving as Vice-Mayor. |
 Meet Judge Laurie Figone
Laurie Figone is the host of 'Cooking With Laurie', a local TV show which features local food products and the farmers and producers who make them and ends in her kitchen making a simply delicious
recipe with their product. She recently won an International cook-off in Scotland and has been a guest chef on Fox40 TV in Sacramento numerous times.
"As a past competitor in the 'Great Petaluma Chili Cook-off' I know the work and passion that goes
into every pot of chili and sampling of salsa...my taste buds are geared up for FaBuLoUs FiErY FuSiOn!"
You can find more info about Laurie at her website:
www.CookingLaurieFigone.com
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