ABOUT
Our mission is simple yet profound: to simplify the complexities of food-based entrepreneurship and increase diversity throughout the supply chain. We achieve this by offering comprehensive culinary entrepreneurship programs, developing robust food safety management systems, and providing strategic business support tailored to the unique needs of food enterprises. Our commitment is to equip our clients with the training, tools, and guidance they need to meet local, federal, and international food regulations, streamline operations, and build sustainable, successful businesses.
Rochelle E Howell
Founder and CEO
Rochelle E Howell has been in the food industry for over 22 years. Having served as a catering chef, food service manager, food and beverage/hospitality coordinator, health inspector, bakery owner, health educator, and Corporate Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager, she has experience to match her education. Her passions are people development and food safety incident management. She has a quick mind and is known for giving sound practical advice, being sincere but using constructive humor to build rapport, and working with diverse populations. She has a knack for finding a creative and effective yet efficient solution for any problem
Our History
The Paperwork Chef began its journey under the name My Chef Too, founded by Rochelle Howell in 2014, fueled by what can only be described as positive peer pressure. Rochelle, with her deep expertise in public health and food safety, was working as an inspector in St. Louis County, where she was tasked with conducting inspections and investigating foodborne illnesses. What made her stand out was her unique blend of tough love and genuine care. Her approach to enforcement wasn’t just about ensuring compliance—it was about educating and empowering those she worked with.
Business owners, managers, and employees alike found her method refreshing. Rochelle didn’t just point out what was wrong; she taught them how to make it right and keep it that way. Her ability to effectively gain compliance, educate staff, and improve overall facility operations resulted in significant improvements in food handling practices and manager-employee relations. These changes led to increased business for the establishments she worked with and a noticeable reduction in customer complaints.
The success of her methods didn’t go unnoticed. It wasn’t long before owners and managers began requesting Rochelle’s services outside of her official duties. They wanted her as a consultant and trainer, someone who could bring the same level of insight, expertise, and care to their businesses on an ongoing basis. And so, My Chef Too was born—a consultancy dedicated to helping food businesses achieve regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and sustainable growth.
Evolution into The Paperwork Chef
As Rochelle’s reputation grew, so did the scope of her services. What began as a consultancy focused on food safety and compliance expanded into a comprehensive business concierge service that now includes culinary entrepreneurship programs, food safety management systems, and strategic business support.
Recognizing the broader needs of the food industry and her own mission to increase diversity throughout the supply chain, Rochelle rebranded her company as The Paperwork Chef. This new name reflects the expanded mission to not only assist food businesses in their regulatory needs but also to empower them with the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive.
Commitment to Social Impact
Under Rochelle’s leadership, The Paperwork Chef also evolved into a social enterprise. Today, the company dedicates a percentage of its profits to improving social determinants of health, focusing on economic stability and education access and quality. The Paperwork Chef works to increase the number and longevity of viable food-based businesses, particularly in underserved communities, and ensures that youth from low-income backgrounds have exposure to food-based STEM careers, access to mentors, and opportunities for training and success.
From its roots in tough-love inspections to becoming a trusted partner for food entrepreneurs worldwide, The Paperwork Chef stands as a testament to Rochelle’s vision of a food industry that is not only compliant and successful but also inclusive and impactful.
