Jake Kelsey

Pastry Sous Chef

Jake has a long history of working with family-owned businesses. He spent a decade helping grow a small skincare company in New York City from one shop to ten locations worldwide, and later became the first employee at a sustainability-focused startup, expanding its reach to more than 15 countries. During his years in NYC, his curiosity for food deepened — cooking shifted from necessity to a genuine passion. In 2021, he enrolled in culinary school at night while working full-time in retail.

In 2022, Jake and his husband visited Philadelphia to explore neighborhoods and local bakeries. The moment he walked into Mighty Bread Co., he felt the familiar spark he’d found in other tight-knit, purpose-driven teams. The atmosphere, the breakfast sandwich — and even the Mighty Bread hat he bought — all confirmed he had found something special.

Later that year, Jake left retail and traveled to Paris to pursue a Boulangerie Diploma at Le Cordon Bleu, officially beginning his career as a chef. He sent Chris DiPiazza a Mighty Bread “love letter” from the Eiffel Tower—a photo of him in his Mighty Bread hat—and the rest is history.