Gerhard Bussen '01

Director of Culinary Services; Sodexo Live!

Gerhard Bussen is Director of Culinary Services with Sodexo Live! Gerhard Bussen is Director of Culinary Services with Sodexo Live!, overseeing a diverse portfolio of cultural institutions, conference centers, ski resorts, and stadium venues across the Midwest and Northeast — while also supporting national accounts and programs — spanning 800+ team members and nearly $50M in managed volume.
A Culinary Institute of America graduate, Gerhard's 30-year career spans luxury cruise ships, Five-Diamond hotel openings, private catering, and large-scale live events including Super Bowl and Formula 1. He has cooked professionally in over 80 countries across four world tours, building a culinary philosophy rooted in scratch production, seasonal sourcing, and menus that reflect place and purpose.
Gerhard approaches foodservice as a systems problem — designing kitchens, teams, and workflows that deliver consistent culinary quality at scale without losing the craft. (Chicago, Il)