Jimmy Maddin
President and Chairman
Coming out of retirement, Jimmy became President and is the major shareholder in Cheflive. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park and spent over 20 years at a major Las Vegas Hotel & Casino where he began his career as a pantry chef and worked his way up to Executive Vice President of Food and Beverage. Jimmy managed over 2500 employees working in the restaurants, catering and convention services. He has always been a hands on person in any operation and his drive, passion and wealth of experience and commitment to excellence is a perfect combination for Cheflive’s success.
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Luciano Pellegrini
Vice-President/Director
James Beard Award winning chef, Luciano Pellegrini is partner and Executive Chef of Valentino’s restaurant at the Venetian Casino, Las Vegas.
Born in Bergamo, Italy, where he built an impressive reputation working at the prestigious San Pellegrino Hotel School and Michelin-star restaurant, Locanda dell’ Angelo. Chef Luciano’s American career in the United States began in Los Angeles in the mid-80’s as head chef of Primi, then Posto restaurants. Luciano became Executive chef at Piero Selvaggio VALENTINO, Las Vegas in 1999. The fast-paced Valentino is the showcase restaurant of the Venetian Hotel, and has won Epicurean Awards from Las Vegas Live Magazine, in 2001 and 2003. Chef Luciano has been invited to take part in many high profile events, including the Grammy’s, Academy Awards, and Napa Valley Wine Auction. He has worked alongside some of the most renowned Italian chefs on special events: Gianfranco Vissani, Fulvio Pier Angelo, Paola Di Mauro, and Nadia and Antonio Santini of the Michelin three-star Dal Pescatore in Lombardy. He contributed a number of recipes to The Valentino Cookbook (Villard, 2001) and was recently featured on the Food Network, Discovery Channel and Cheflive. Luciano was nominated for 2003 Best Chef: Southwest by the James Beard Foundation, the only chef in Las Vegas to receive a nomination.
Having joined the Board of Directors and becoming Vice President of Cheflive Media, Inc. he contributes a lifetime of experience in the culinary arts, restaurant management and relationships with other renowned chefs from around the world.
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Bonnie Johnson
Registered Dietitian
As Partner at Teaspoon Communications, Bonnie believes that nutrition messages should be available to consumers and influencers ‘where they are’ and ‘when they want them’. Working with a variety of clients, she concentrates on presenting messages that are science-based, well-referenced and above all, user-friendly.
As a Registered Dietitian with a love for education, Bonnie has extended her expertise beyond the classroom to include “edutainment”: a combination of educational theories and entertainment value. Using print, broadcast and electronic media she loves to spread consistent, science-based nutrition information to the public.
Early in her career Bonnie was involved in developing, implementing and evaluating a series of successful consumer health education programs for Nevada’s largest managed care organization. As a Program Director with the Dairy Council of Utah/Nevada for more than eight years, Bonnie worked in a satellite office to execute regional and national initiatives directed at students, teachers, health professionals and the public. In this role, Bonnie worked as a spokesperson for the dairy industry as well as the state dietetic association completing more than 100 media interviews on a variety of nutrition topics often using food and cooking demonstrations to deliver messages in terms of food. Currently she is the KVVU Fox 5 Las Vegas Diet Editor and appears in a weekly nutrition/food segment for the local program MORE.
When she’s not talking or writing about food, Bonnie is preparing meals for her two beautiful daughters and husband or eating at the newest restaurant in Las Vegas.
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Jerry Thompson
Director of Cinematography
Jerry Thompson is the Director of Cinematography for Cheflive Media and the owner and founder of Light Forge Studios.
Jerry earned a bachelor of fine arts in film studies from UNLV. A couple years after completing college, he started his own production company, Light Forge Studios. Since then he has been working full time as a director, cinematographer, writer, and editor. He has shot dozens of commercials and television shows, as well as music videos, corporate and instructional videos and promotional videos for shows and entertainers on the strip. Eventually Jerry began working with Cheflive Media, ultimately becoming head of production for their television programming as well as their commercial work.
Jerry still dabbles in his own projects on the side, he just finished writing, directing, shooting and editing Thor at the Bus Stop, his first feature film with brother and long time creative partner Mike Thompson. The film has had several successful screenings at national and international film festivals. Jerry along with Mike have written and directed over a dozen multi-award winning short films together. Thor at the Bus Stop is based on two of their more successful shorts, one of the same name and another called Passenger Seat. The short version of Thor at the Bus Stop won Best Film at the 2003 Spring Flicks short film competition and the Audience Choice Award at the Mercury Film Festival that same year. Passenger Sear won eight awards at Spring Flicks in 2007, including Best Film, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Sound Design, and Best Screenplay. It also won Best Nevada Filmmaker at the Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City, Nevada, as well as the Overall Audience Choice Award.
For his artistic and professional achievements, the UNLV Department of Fine Arts has chosen Jerry as their 2009 Alumni of the year.
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May May Luong
Director of Production and New Media
May May Luong is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. There she majored in Film and minored in Theater.
While studying at UNLV, May May was a teaching assistant for Michel Hugo, ASC. She focused on directing and cinematography and has shot on many formats including High Definition, 16mm and 35mm film. In 2006, while still attending UNLV, May May’s music video, “The Rain,” was shown at the UNLV Spring Flicks film festival held at the Brenden Theaters inside the Palms Hotel & Casino. This video was completed for local artist, Sarah Thiele. It was also shown at the CineVegas Film Festival in June 2006. May May earned the Most Promising Filmmaker award at the UNLV Spring Flicks Festival in May 2006. In 2006, she produced and edited, “Spanking Lessons,” a short film directed by David Schmoeller. It was shown at the 2007 CineVegas film festival and won the CineVegas Nevada Short Film Jury Prize. In 2007, May May co-produced‚ “Wedding Day,” a short film by David Schmoeller which tells a story of three brides and three love stories. “Wedding Day” was shot in three different cities – Las Vegas, Paris and Singapore, which presented unique production challenges. It was shown at various film festivals around the world including the Objectifs Film Distributors Program at the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, Syracuse International Film Festival, the Dam Shorts Film Festival and CineVegas. May May is currently in post-production on the short film ‚”Two Frenchmen Lost in Las Vegas‚” by writer-director David Schmoeller as well as completing production for “Thor at the Bus Stop” a feature film written and directed by Jerry Thompson and Mike Thompson.
May May is excited to be working with Cheflive Media as the Director of Production and New Media.
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Dominic Tedesco
Executive Chef & Public Relations Director
His parents, Italian immigrants, settled in Southern Indiana after the birth of their 1st son. After 6 more sons were born, they welcomed Dominic Gerard into the world in 1963. A total of 8 in all, the Tedesco boys were raised in a Midwest world very unlike their Sicilian roots. However, Tedesco stayed true to his Italian heritage and learned to cook at his mother’s side. From his early childhood, when Chef Dominic Tedesco was barely able to reach the stove, He was obsessed with curiousity about the appetizing aromas that wafted from the pots and pans.
Chef Dominic opened his first restaurants in Indiana and Kentucky. With his Mediterranean look and his southern accent, “The Hillbilly Italian” became quite popular with the locals. He also became well known on the competitive circuit winning various awards for his pizza recipes.
- “Fuoco de Mare” – Pizza Today© Best of the Midwest 2001
- “Don Domenico” pizza – Pizza Today© International Traditional Pizza of the year 2002
- “Loaded Potato” pizza – featured on Emeril Live!© 2003.
- “Don Siciliano” pizza – Pizza Today© International Deep Dish Pizza of the Year 2004.
- “Loaded Potato” pizza – PMQ© America’s Plate 2004.
Chef Dominic’s competitive spirit reached a pinnacle when he qualified to be part of the US Pizza team. Presenting his culinary masterpieces in Salsomaggiore, Italy, he placed 2nd in North America at the World Pizza Championships in 2004. This experience made Chef Dominic realize he wanted to take his career to a new level.
So, at the age of 40, he decided to return to the classroom and finish his culinary degree in Las Vegas. He graduated in 2006. Since that time, he has been sharing his pizzas and Italian dishes with a whole new audience. After a stint at MGM Grand and time spent in the corporate culinary world, he has now found a new home in Dean’s Place, an Italian eatery. As their Executive Chef, he has been able to perfect his dishes further; creating a unique dining experience for all who encounter him. Regardless of a change in geographical location, Chef Dominic has never lost his charm or that Southern accent. His work is truly blooming in the desert.