about us
We make healthy cooking fun for children!
Our Story
LIFT Enrichment was founded in 2010 to teach kids the essential skill of cooking and promote healthy eating. While studying abroad in Italy, our founder, Eric Horwitz, discovered his passion for cooking. Later, while working with children at an after-school program, he found his true calling combining his love for cooking with teaching kids.
Eric became the director of an after-school studio in Pacific Palisades, where he taught diverse subjects and worked closely with parents. Seeing the need for more accessible programs, he realized enrichment classes could be taught directly at schools. That’s how LIFT Enrichment was born.
What began as a small cooking program quickly grew. By 2014, LIFT Enrichment was teaching at over 50 schools. Today, we reach 17,000 students weekly at more than 250 schools across California, New York, and Texas.
We believe it’s essential to teach kids how to cook—it’s a skill they’ll use every day. Some school lessons may fade over time, but knowing how to cook is a skill they’ll rely on throughout their lives.
Our workshops combine hands-on learning with lessons about culture, nutrition, and practical cooking skills. It’s an exciting, engaging experience that leaves kids inspired, confident, and ready to cook at home.
Core Values
WIN-WIN
Each partnership between our students, staff, and school clients is built on the principle of creating a win for everyone involved. Anything less, and we don’t move forward.
FOLLOW THE PROCESS
We are passionate about processes! Everything we do follows proven instructions refined through time and experience. Our internal team and chef teachers follow these processes to guarantee exceptional service and seamless operations.
GET IT DONE
We always get it done—no matter what. Our chef teachers know how to complete every workshop, no matter the challenge. This mindset is shared across our entire team—we face every obstacle head-on and stay focused on delivering results.
BRING THE FUN
At the end of the day, we’re teaching cooking to students, and we LOVE bringing joy to their lives. Teaching is a rewarding experience, and we embrace this value to ensure that our workdays are filled with fun and good times.
Meet the Team
Eric Horwitz
Founder
Eric is originally from Ventura, California, and currently resides in Dubai. Eric loves cooking, lifting weights, playing padel, and volunteering with Entrepreneurs’ Organization to support fellow entrepreneurs.
Slava Repetina
President
Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Slava currently lives in Warsaw. Slava oversees the company and works closely with the leadership team to ensure smooth operations and continuous growth. She is passionate about travel and professional development.
Alex Sanchez
Program Director
Alex is originally from California and is currently based in El Salvador. He works with school districts to bring culinary workshops to Title I schools. He enjoys spending time with his family, surfing, and exploring local cuisine.
Noelle Brooks
HR Director
Originally from St. Louis, Noelle is currently residing in southern Mexico. Noelle has extensive experience in education and oversees the hiring, training, and management of the instructor team. She loves traveling, exploring new cities, and trying local restaurants.
Emily Rolle
Operations Manager
Based in Dominica, Emily leads the operations team, handling logistics, scheduling, and client services. She enjoys beach days, camping, and baking bread with her daughters.
Mara Croitoru
Recruitment Specialist
Originally from Bucharest, Romania, Mara is responsible for finding and hiring talented Chef Teachers, helping to build a strong and reliable team. She has a deep love for travel and enjoys exploring new destinations. In her free time, she loves hiking and discovering new culinary experiences.
Marija Todorovic Kanic
Marketing Manager
Marija, originally from Belgrade, Serbia, now calls Ljubljana, Slovenia, home. With a decade of experience in digital marketing, she leads campaigns to share LIFT Enrichment’s mission with schools and families. She enjoys good coffee, the sea, and making special memories in the kitchen with her son.
Mariana Rodriguez
Program Manager
Mariana is originally from Venezuela and is currently based in Spain. She works with school districts to bring LIFT Enrichment’s healthy culinary workshops to students. She enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with her family.
Alinny Miranda
Recruitment Specialist
Based in Rio de Janeiro, Alinny brings over five years of experience in human resources to her role. She focuses on recruiting talented Chef Teachers and bringing them onto the team. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and discovering new places.
Althia Bonit
Training Coordinator
Althia, from the Caribbean island of Dominica, oversees the training and preparation of Chef Teachers to successfully lead culinary workshops for students. She loves traveling and attending art and music festivals.
Gabrielle Charles
Administrative Assitant
Originally from Martinique and currently based in Dominica, Gabrielle supports the Administration Team by managing chef teacher communication and helping internal operations run smoothly. She has a deep passion for food and enjoys building strong connections across the team.
Daniel Bodyluk
Administrative Assitant
Based in Ukraine, Daniel supports the Administration Team by helping day-to-day operations run smoothly. From managing requests to assisting with internal processes, he helps keep everything working like clockwork. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking and powerlifting.
Ramiro Escala
Program Manager
Ramiro is from Argentina and currently lives in El Salvador. He works with school districts to bring healthy cooking programs to Title I schools. In his free time, you can find him catching waves, cruising on his skateboard, or hitting the gym. He’s passionate about staying active and eating well, and he hopes to inspire others to do the same.
Alyssa Dotson
Account Coordinator
Alyssa grew up in North Carolina, but her love for adventure has taken her from Italy to El Salvador, where she now lives. As an Account Coordinator, she supports school districts with scheduling, logistics, and ongoing communication. With a background in molecular biology and nutrition science, she brings a thoughtful and detail-oriented approach to her work. Outside of work, you can usually find her surfing, skating, or soaking up the sun.
Shanelle Nichols
Administrative Assitant
Based in Dominica, Shanelle supports the Administrative Team by assisting Chef Teachers and helping daily operations run smoothly. A dedicated athlete, she has represented her island in Netball and Fencing. She’s passionate about education and community, and enjoys reading and spending time with her daughter.
Rossett Julianes
Training Coordinator
Based in the Philippines, Rossett supports our chef teachers as they get started at LIFT Enrichment by guiding them through onboarding and training. With a strong background in recruitment and administration, she helps new chef teachers feel confident and prepared. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her son and family and getting creative with arts and crafts.
Roj Llagas
Partnership Coordinator
Roj is based in the Philippines and helps connect LIFT Enrichment with school districts and Directors across the country. He plays a big role in setting up meetings and building great partnerships that bring our workshops to more students. When he’s not working, he loves cooking Filipino dishes and spending time with his cats.
Gabriela Rodriguez
Program Manager
Gaby is from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and helps bring healthy cooking programs to Title I schools as a Program Manager at LIFT Enrichment. She works closely with school districts to introduce our workshops and build lasting partnerships. At home, she loves cooking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and son.
Bárbara Franco Lima
Partnership Coordinator
Bárbara is based in Uberlândia, Brazil, and plays a key role in introducing LIFT Enrichment to new school districts. As a Partnership Coordinator, she reaches out to schools to spark interest in bringing healthy cooking workshops to their students. She loves learning new languages and exploring different cultures, especially through books and literature.
Sean Wong
Recruitment Specialist
Sean focuses on finding talented Chef Teachers and helping them join our growing team. He’s passionate about people, leadership, and building smooth systems that make recruiting more effective. Originally from Trinidad & Tobago, Sean also enjoys playing bass, singing, staying active, and spending time outdoors.
Sadiya K Todd
Recruitment Specialist
Sadiya helps find and hire amazing Chef Teachers to join our team. With a background in HR, recruitment, and culinary management, she makes sure we bring on passionate and talented instructors. She’s originally from Trinidad & Tobago and loves cooking, reading, traveling, trying new cuisines, and relaxing at the beach.