Bill Billenstein ‘10

Senior Director of Food Excellence, ISS Guckenheimer | San Mateo, CA

Bill Billenstein ‘10 is senior director of food excellence for ISS Guckenheimer. He started his career in the kitchen at the age of 13 working on the weekends in a bakery and cafe in his home state of Connecticut. After several years of baking he decided that he wanted to pursue hot food and began his journey toward becoming a chef. Since graduating from The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in St. Helena, CA, Bill has worked with many acclaimed chefs including Top Chef Masters winner Chris Cosentino, and Jeremy Fox at the now defunct, Michelin-starred vegetable-focused restaurant, Ubuntu, in Napa, CA. He has cooked in and run several restaurants in California, Montana, Arizona, and South Carolina, and is one of the founding members of the Virginia Tech Dining program, The Right Track, which was one of the first programs nationally to bring plant-based meals to students daily. Bill has spent several years leading the ISS Guckenheimer at Google culinary team to create delicious plant-forward options and dining experiences. @billbillenstein