Jörg Amsler, of Saugus, Mass., owns Truly Jorg’s. He completed a four-year apprenticeship in Zurich and went on to earn numerous prestigious pastry honors at the Beaver Club Restaurant in Montreal. Jörg has been the executive pastry chef on the Royal Viking cruise ship, interned in France and currently serves as the New England Patriots pastry chef.
Jason Ellis
Jason Ellis, of of Farmingdale, N.Y., is president of Top Tiers. The Johnson and Wales University graduate launched his business in 2003 after winning Best Wedding Cake at the New York Food Show. Jason launched his cake business in his parents’ remodeled commercial kitchen. He dreams of dominating New York City’s pastry market, followed by the rest of the world.
Nikita Jackson
Nikita "Nikki J" Jackson, of Rowlett, Texas, owns Absolutely Edible Cakes & Catering. The self-taught cake designer, well-known for her life-size bride cake, has been honored by the Garland Texas Chapter of the NAACP as the Entrepreneur of The Year and The South Dallas Business and Professional Woman’s Club Inc. as the Business Woman of the Year.
Kaysie Lackey
Kaysie Lackey, of Seattle, owns The People's Cake. A self-taught chef with a fine art background, she placed in the top 20 at the 2008 Grand National Wedding Cake Competition in Tulsa, Okla. Kaysie most recently won the Topsy Turvy Cake Contest hosted by Cake Central and Global Sugar Art, beating almost 300 entries.
Richard Ruskell
Richard Ruskell, of Beverly Hills, works as the executive pastry chef at Montage Beverly Hills. A graduate of The French Culinary Institute in New York City, Richard has received the Lifetime Achievement Medal from the Oklahoma Sugar Arts Show and was named one of the "Top Ten Pastry Chefs in America" by Chocolatier magazine.
Joshua Russell
Joshua John Russell, of Atlanta, works as a cake designer at Highland Bakery. The Johnson and Wales University graduate has carved out a space for himself in the high-end cake industry. Ultimately, Joshua hopes to publish a cake book and secure his legacy, and believes winning this competition will allow him to focus on doing so.
Orlando Serrano
Orlando Serrano, of Chicago, owns Orlando Serrano Cakes. Originally planning on becoming a Disney animator, he attended the Art Institute of Chicago and studied art, while simultaneously attending culinary school. Orlando combined his two loves of art and baking to become a top cake decorator and baker at Roeser’s Bakery in Chicago before opening his business.
Marina Sousa
Marina Sousa, of Capitola, Calif., owns Just Cake. Her work has been featured in numerous national publications. Marina has designed cakes for high-profile celebrity events and was acknowledged as one of the top cake designers in the country. Marina hopes one day to have a commercial kitchen, studio space, classrooms and a home office in one single location.
