J. Kevin Walker, CMC, AAC, is the former Executive Chef of Ansley Golf Club in Atlanta. He began his culinary career at The Arizona Biltmore before attending The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He has successfully served as the Executive Chef of the Lafayette Club in Minnesota and at Greenville (S.C.) Country Club.
Walker became the Executive Chef of Cherokee Town AND Country Club in Atlanta in 2002 and in that same year achieved the Certified Master Chef (CMC) designation. The CMC designation is the highest level of certification a chef can achieve. It represents the pinnacle of professionalism and skill, and today, there are less than 70 CMCs in the U.S.
After spending nine years as Cherokee T&CC’s Executive Chef, where he helped the club build an outstanding culinary program, Walker moved to Indian Wells, Calif., to be the Executive Chef of the exclusive Vintage Club in 2011. After realizing three years later that he and his wife missed being close to family, he moved back east to become Director of Clubhouse Operations at Grandfather Golf and Country Club in Linville, N.C.
Walker has trained many talented young chefs to become successful Executive Chefs at many top-tier clubs nationwide. With his wealth of experience and knowledge, he has also won many national culinary awards during his career. He was named National Chef of the Year in 2007, received the American Culinary Federation’s Presidential Award in 2009, and has won multiple Gold Medals at national culinary competitions. He has also been an accomplished coach and manager; he coached Daniel Gorman at the Chaine des Rotisseurs Young Chefs Competition in Turkey.
Walker enjoys spending his free time with his family: wife Betsy, three grandchildren, and three dogs. He also enjoys training for and competing in triathlons.