Matt Barnes - Director of Design
Matt leads the GLCD team and has designed and engineered a multitude of food service production, serving and dining areas for healthcare, corporate and university settings.
Whether it’s new construction or a multiphasic renovation his designs excel in both functional planning and aesthetic appeal, while ever conscious of project budget parameters.
He combines his strong graphic background, mechanical engineering experience and architectural training to design foodservice environments that function efficiently yet remain pleasant and desirable in their orientation to basic human needs for comfort and dignity.
Matt received his Bachelor of Architecture from Lawrence Technological University and has been designing in the foodservice sector for over 30 years.
Ryan Day - Creative Design Team Lead
With Ryan’s background as an Executive Chef brings a litany of firsthand knowledge to the design department.
Having worked his way through the kitchens of large cities like Chicago and San Francisco, he has gained a unique understanding of the many different approaches to preparing food and the equipment and processes required to do so. This experience has given him an understanding of how great design can establish a solid base for a successful kitchen.
Ryan excels in transferring his experience and understanding into his designs. His ability to envision himself within the kitchen space and his technical aptitude come together to create clear and accurate design documents for client presentations and architectural coordination.
Andy Arata - Technical Production Team Lead
Andrew Arata joined Great Lakes Culinary Design in 2018 as our first Technician.
His past experience of 16 years in the automotive industry made him the perfect addition to our team. His extremely detail-oriented approach is vital in our process of document production.
In previous roles, he was tasked with high technical work such as designing/engineering battery components and managing a quality assurance department, ensuring all company standards and procedures are met.
His addition has been a vital improvement to the team.
Ami Sikorski - Estimator
Ami has over 20 years of experience in accounting. She’s worked in multiple fields, from pharmaceutical to automotive, and now in foodservice. Ami’s current role for the design team is Project Estimator working out of our Southfield, MI office.
“With my 20 plus years of accounting experience I feel I bring an analytical mind to every project and had the pleasure of working in the foodservice contract department with Great Lakes Hotel Supply prior to joining the design team.”
When asked what sets the Great Lakes Culinary Design team apart, Ami said “It’s our people. We have an amazing talented team built from real-world industry experience that helps us bring our client’s visions to life!”
Outside of work Ami and her husband Gary of 19 years have 2 beautiful teenage daughters. They are an active family and Ami serves as a youth pastor for her church as well as a coach for a competitive Winter Guard team. She loves to read, roller skate, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Deanna Wrobbel - Designer
Deanna joined Great Lakes Culinary Design in 2021 after spending four years as a food service design consultant for another local firm.
She has an extensive background in the field of Interior Design. A Michigan native, she earned her BFA in Interior Design at The Art Institute of Tampa in Tampa, FL and returned to Michigan to continue her design career with residential kitchen and bath design. Additional experience includes commercial millwork design, project management, and foodservice design. She also has experience starting a signage and visual graphics department from the ground up.
Outside of work, she enjoys going on mini “staycations” around the Great Lakes with her husband and daughter, renovating her own home, and growing a fruit and vegetable garden.
Dana Day - Associate Designer
Dana brings with him 40 years of experience in commercial kitchens, starting, as many do, as a dishwasher and moving his way up the line to hold positions such as Banquet Chef, Chef de Cuisine, and Corporate Chef. He has extensive experience in fine dining, café/cafeterias, institutional dining, and corporate dining.
Dana is a native to our Metro Detroit area, having studied both at Oakland University and obtaining his culinary certification at Schoolcraft College.
When not working, Dana and his wife, Lisa, like to spend time with their children in the great outdoors! Camping, biking, kayaking, and any activity that involves food or dogs. Dana also loves his smoker and is always experimenting with new recipes: “If it’s edible and fits on the smoker, I’m going to try it!”
Franklin Gómez - Design Technician
Originally from Mollendo, Peru, Franklin has since made Madison, WI his home for the last 20 years.
Franklin began his journey with design receiving a degree as Architecture Technician from the Madison Area Technical College in Madison, WI. It was here that he was brought into the digital drafting world of AutoCad where the path led him to the world of culinary design.
When not designing, Franklin loves to play the guitar, is great at doing custom body work on his car and loves to cruise around Madison with his fiancé. According to Franklin, “She is my biggest critic when it comes to the things I do to my car, by the way!”
Jake Moore, Design Technician
Jake is based in the Southfield office. He joined the team fresh out of college where he was the Captain of the University of Michigan’s Men’s Gymnastics Team and studied in the school of Architecture. A casual conversation with a friend on the Gymnastics Team led him to Great Lakes! Jake’s attention to detail, education and leadership skills have made him a true asset to the GLCD team. Jake works directly with our project managers to provide utility drawings and rough-ins that provide the Architect’s engineering team and contractor what they need to support the equipment being provided.
Outside of the office, Jake splits most of his time between climbing, renovating his home, and sailing on Union Lake with his wife and family.
Louis Eakins, Designer
Louis is an integral part of the Great Lakes Culinary Designs team. He’s well versed in foodservice after a few years working with Great Lakes West National Accounts as Project Manager. He officially joined the Design team in 2022.
Louis found the foodservice design path after a professional history starting with plumbing working alongside his father who owns a successful 40 + year old plumbing contract business. He found an affinity for foodservice when he ventured on his own to run a commercial bakery. He quickly fell into a love with culinary design, independently studying Revit and Auto Cad during his time with the National Accounts team.
When not working, Louis not only loves to bake for family and friends, but also plays hockey and is a big Red Wings fan.
Taylor Jewell - Designer
Taylor is a native Detroiter and an urban farmer. He’s a youth soccer coach and devoted father. Taylor says “I spend my time restoring vintage furniture & antique travel trailers. I’m a lover of big dogs and all things Lego. I root for the Detroit City Football Club (semi pro soccer), the Lions (hardest job in sports) and our Red Wings.”
After nearly a decade in the Marine Corps’ airwing and developing tools for working on AV-8B Harriers, he left active duty for college and became an industrial designer.
Taylor loves to travel and have managed to spend time in 38 states and 17 countries so far. He enjoy’s spending time in the kitchen and view each meal as another design solution. He says, “I’m excited to be on the team and looking forward to participating and making a positive impact.”
Tia Deines - Designer
Great Lakes Culinary Designs welcomes Tia Deines as the first Designer to be based in our Denver office. Tia is a Colorado native and has a substantial background in both foodservice and design. Her education includes Culinary School, achieving her BFA in Interior Design Focusing on Sustainability with CIDA Accreditation, and most recently her ILFI certification, which means she is certified to work on Living Future and Living Building Challenge Projects.
Professionally, Tia has worked with prominent design firms across the country and has over a decade of foodservice and interior design experience. Her career in foodservice design started as a Revit Associate, then Project Manager and has moved into a Designer role. She produced educational documentation, drawing standards, templates, and with her Advanced Revit Certification created content for the firms she’s worked with. Additional experience includes owning a space planning business which incorporates biophilia, ergonomics and psychology of color and space. She is also a member of Women In Design, Denver Chapter and participates in their events.
When not working or learning, Tia takes advantage of all the outdoor Colorado activities like gardening, hiking with her dogs, camping, snowboarding, & paddleboarding. She enjoys concerts and anything that has to do with art and music.
