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Meet William Turner

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Today we’d like to introduce you to William Turner.

William, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised in South Carolina and came to Phoenix in 2017 when I was 37 and not quite sure what to do next in my life. I had spent several years in South Carolina working as an Executive Banquet Chef in beautiful country clubs and then traveled around the country working in different national parks as a chef. 

When I arrived in Phoenix though, I realized that I wanted to do something new and different as a chef. I felt ready to make a career change, so, I took a position as an assistant chef at a cooking school in Scottsdale. Working in the cooking school was very different from the daily grind of running a kitchen and it opened my eyes to the possibility of cooking as a private chef in homes for small, elegant dinner parties.

As the requests for my in-home cooking for private parties trickled in, I soon realized that there was a definite business opportunity there. So, I got serious about starting my own private chef business. I felt like I was on a mission. I started by building a basic website and made a few business cards. Within a week, I was off to the races. Requests started picking up and a chance opportunity to cook on TV in Tucson changed everything. Private Chef William Turner was born!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I first started my business, I didn’t have a car and that could have easily derailed my plans, but, with todays’ rideshare services I made it work. For the first 20 or so parties I was hired to work, I had no choice but to use Lyft as my transportation. I also started out by using whatever decent pots, pans, knives, and cooking equipment I had to get the job done. Basically, I just started. That’s really my advice to anyone who’s thinking about starting their own business. Just start!

Becoming my own boss and starting my own business has definitely been a gradual learning process. One of the smartest things I did from the beginning though was to surround myself with the right people. I began by hiring a really helpful business coach who encouraged me to hire a professional publicist. I also learned the importance of using social media today. 

I’ve successfully found several supportive people in my life who have motivated me and stepped in with quality, helpful advice. Sometimes though, it’s really smart to just listen to your own inner voice, trust yourself, and go with your own instincts. 

Please tell us about your business.
My business, Private Chef William Turner, provides in-home private chef services as well as party consulting. If you want to host a beautiful, delicious dinner party or any kind of special celebration in your home, you give me a call. 

Not only do I cook a wide variety of amazing food, I can customize any type of special menu you want. I can also guarantee that I will personally cook you the best steak you’ve ever had in your life. 

Actually, for the past couple of years, I’ve gradually become known as the go-to chef for destination bachelorette parties in Scottsdale. Yes, catering for Scottsdale bachelorette parties has become a very big part of my business and I love it. Scottsdale is a perfect destination for bachelorettes and brides-to-be looking for an awesome getaway and hiring a chef makes a lot of sense. For one, it’s a private dinner in a comfortable environment and, secondly, it’s convenient. 

My private chef experience is more than great food and outstanding service though, it’s entertainment, it’s interactive, and it’s a lot of fun. And most importantly, when the dinner party’s over, I do all the clean-up. 

Since I’ve started, I’ve had the pleasure of cooking for well over 400 private dinner parties across the Valley. I’ve also assembled a top-notch team of support staff that includes servers, bartenders, and attendants. 

This is a people-pleasing business and you can’t be successful at it unless you love people. For me, my first love is people, and food is the way I express that love in a tangible way.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
In 1993, when I was 13, my mom beat cancer. Obviously, nothing could ever top that. But I also have great memories of enjoying our beach outings on the South Carolina coast where I was raised. 

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Image Credit:
Credit
Laura Lieder

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