Paula Smagacz

Paula Smagacz began her culinary career after deciding to attend a tech school in Milwaukee in 1997, where she also worked part-time jobs while studying. Her path included positions at Bellagio in Las Vegas starting as an on-call cook handling various stations, moves to St. Louis and Wisconsin, then to the Fairmont in Pittsburgh, five years at an all-inclusive resort in Turks and Caicos, three years at Santa Anita Racetrack in California including major events like Breeders' Cup, and a role as sous chef at the Ritz-Carlton in St. Thomas before returning to Las Vegas. She specializes in culinary arts with a focus on team leadership and diverse hospitality operations across multiple locations.