About Us
At Young Chefs® Academy, our mission is to make a positive lasting impact on children and families through teaching the joy and value of cooking in a welcoming environment that encourages discovery and creativity.
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Franchise Owner
Heather Gary was born in Queens, NY and moved to Florida as a teen before landing in Atlanta, GA after college. As a resident of Cumming GA since 2005, she loves the unique surroundings of Forsyth County where she and husband Bert and two children live. Heather spends her time volunteering at the school, cooking and watching the many popular baking and cooking shows. She is a member of the Cumming – Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce and Forsyth County Women’s Club. Heather looks forward to being a part of this new adventure with the inspiring and creative Young Chefs in the Cumming area as they learn the joy and value of cooking. She can’t wait to see the smiles on children’s faces as they become experts in the kitchen!
Founder & CEO
Founder and CEO, Julie Burleson, established Young Chefs® Academy in 2003 with the vision of cultivating/serving children’s strong interest in the culinary arts. It has grown with locations throughout the US to be a welcoming environment that provides a “real” setting so that the students can take what they learn at YCA™ to their own homes.
“The kitchen is the pulse of the home… where we learn about life and each other,” says Burleson. “Young Chefs Academy nourishes those values and gives kids an innovative environment to learn and thrive. In this busy world, what could be better?”
Over the years our franchisees has been showcased across some of the largest networks, which is a testament to our values and community activities.