Meet Our Instructors
Our team of passionate instructors brings a wealth of culinary and visual Arts expertise and vision to every class. Dedicated to fostering a welcoming community, they guide students of all ages through the transformative power of Culinary and Visual Arts!
Meet the Instructors
Derek Amodio
Culinary Artist
Derek Amodio was born and raised on Long Island, NY, where his culinary journey began at just 14 years old, working at a small-town bagel shop. From there, he moved on to work as a line cook at an Italian restaurant, where he discovered his passion for cooking. His hard work and dedication quickly propelled him into a sous chef role and eventually to executive chef, before taking his talents to NYC to further hone his craft.
After several years in the Big Apple, Derek relocated to New Haven, CT, where he spent nearly a decade running multiple kitchens and working as a private chef before eventually settling in Pennsylvania. Despite his time in New Haven, he swears that New York is still the pizza capital of the world!
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Derek has extensive knowledge of a variety of cuisines, including Italian, American, Thai, Japanese, Latin American, and Greek. He takes pride in his ability to transform even the simplest of recipes into a memorable culinary experience.Â
Tina Arnt
Culinary Artist
Chef Tina Arnt has more than 35 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry, including 18 years as a high school culinary educator. She studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence and later earned her Vocational II Teaching Certificate at Penn State. Today she teaches at Western Montgomery Career & Technology Center, where her greatest joy is mentoring the next generation of young chefs. Born and raised in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Chef Arnt grew up in a Pennsylvania Dutch family that lived close to the land, growing their own food, preserving the harvest, and cooking traditional dishes entirely from scratch, nothing from a box, nothing wasted. Those roots run deep, but don’t let the simple upbringing fool you: whatever the occasion, Chef Arnt is the one who brings the party! Â
Kaylin Brice
Art Therapist / Visual Artist
I am a board-certified art therapist (ATR-BC) with a Master of Science in Art Therapy and Counseling from the College of New Rochelle, graduating in 2014. With over 12 years of experience working with individuals ages 5 through older adulthood, I am passionate about the intersection of art, mental wellness, and community connection.
My approach is grounded in the belief that creativity can foster self-expression, strengthen relationships, and create opportunities for personal growth and connection. I value making art accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds, creating welcoming spaces where individuals can explore their creativity, build confidence, and connect with others through shared artistic experiences.
I am particularly interested in community-based arts programming that brings people together through collaborative creativity, including opportunities for children, caregivers, families, and individuals across the lifespan to engage in meaningful artistic experiences. Whether through therapeutic interventions or community art initiatives, I believe the creative process can serve as a powerful tool for connection, self-discovery, and collective expression.
McKenzi Custus-Bantum
Pastry Artist
McKenzi is a pastry chef with over six years of professional experience and a lifelong love for baking inspired by her grandmother. What began as a family tradition has grown into a passion for creating desserts that blur the line between art and food. With an eye for detail and a love for creativity, she enjoys transforming simple ingredients into beautiful, memorable treats. McKenzi is excited to share her knowledge, inspire creativity, and help others discover the joy of baking.
Keilan Holmes
Visual Artist
Hello! My name is Keilan Holmes, and I am a multidisciplinary artist and designer from Spring City, PA. In 2026, I graduated from Tyler School of Art and Architecture with a BFA in Graphic and Interactive Design and have since pursued working full-time as an artist.
Tim McGinnis
Culinary Artist
Chef Tim McGinnis brings over 30 years of industry experience to the table, including 20 years teaching culinary arts, most recently at Western Montgomery Career & Technology Center in Limerick. He studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence and hospitality at École de Savignac in Savignac, France, and holds a Master’s degree in Food Marketing from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. With all that training behind him, his favorite food is still a good Italian hoagie. At Kitchen and Canvas, Tim loves teaching old-school, back-to-basics techniques like fresh pasta, charcuterie, butchery, and pickling and fermenting, the kind of skills you can put to use right away back home. Tim lives in Montgomery County with his wife and two kids, and in the warmer months you can usually find him out in his massive backyard garden with the kids in tow.
Nicole McGonigal
Visual Artist
Nicole is a dedicated educator and accomplished local artist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development and Education from Penn State University and her master’s degree in Education, with a focus on Reading Specialist studies, from Holy Family University. Since 2015, she has taught students both locally and around the world. As a mixed-media artist, Nicole’s work has been exhibited internationally, featured in national art magazines, and recognized with numerous awards. Her artwork can also be found in permanent hospital installations and community murals, bringing creativity and inspiration to spaces around the world.Â
Paula Nardo
Culinary Artist
A culinary graduate of Walnut Hill College (historically known as The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College) and Drexel University with a degree in food science and nutrition, Paula brings over fifteen years of experience in food services. Her background includes working as a weight loss counselor at Nutrisystem in Horsham, PA.
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Paula has been a member of the Upper Merion Area School District food service team since 2015 and currently serves as the kitchen manager at Robert's Elementary School. Known for her creativity and commitment to student nutrition, she develops innovative recipes that engage students while promoting sustainability and reducing food waste.
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Her passion for maximizing ingredients inspired her presentation, "Turning Scraps to Smiles", where she shares practical, creative strategies for transforming food scraps into appealing menu items. An avid baker who enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, Paula is excited to expand her impact by teaching culinary classes and inspiring others through her creativity and love of food.
Erin Raybold
Visual Artist
Hi, I'm Erin! PA native, all-around nerd, and art enthusiast. I've been a creative since my grade school days and have dabbled in everything from ceramics to fiber arts to screenprinting, having obtained my Bachelor's in Art Education from Temple University. The 2D world is my bread and butter - give me any medium for drawing and painting, and I'm a happy camper. My true love, though, is illustration and character design (ask about my Dungeons & Dragons characters at your own risk, I *will* yap for 3 hours about them given the opportunity). I can't wait to see you at the table for some laughs, lessons, and most importantly to help pull your ideas from imagination to reality!
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Zoe Ricotonne
Culinary Artist
Chef Zoe Ricottone grew up in her mother’s coffee shop in Maryland. Her mom put that creativity and energy to good use helping her create menu items for the shop and baking goodies for the guests!
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She knew that food, and the science behind food, would be her passion as she grew older. She graduated from Johnson and Wales in Denver, Colorado with two Associates degrees, one in Culinary Arts & one in Baking and Pastry, in addition to her Bachelor’s in Science in Culinary Nutrition. She has been working in the food industry for over 15 years. Throughout those years she’s been an Executive Pastry Chef, Sous Chef for an interactive dining concept, Test Kitchen Chef and On Air Talent/Food Stylist with QVC!
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Zoe has a passion for teaching others about cooking, creating decadent menus, and bringing a smile to everyone’s faces around her. Outside of the kitchen you can find her skiing, taking yoga classes or strolling around a farmers’ market.
Mark Serra
Culinary Artist
Chef Mark Serra hails from New England, where he grew up in an Italian American family that made food the center of everything. That upbringing set the course for a career spanning more than twenty years of professional culinary management, with leadership roles at acclaimed restaurants across Connecticut and Vermont, including time at the Four Diamond and James Beard Award-winning Four Columns Inn and Restaurant in Newfane, VT, and as executive Chef/owner of Common Ground in Brattleboro, VT, the oldest collective whole foods restaurant in New England. He's since taken on high-volume campus dining as Executive Sous Chef with Sodexo, where he oversaw food production for 5,000 students daily.
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Mark's background spans the full range of the kitchen, from grill and sauté to meat and fish fabrication and saucier work, along with deep experience in banquet and catering service for events of over 1,200 guests. He brings a career's worth of hands-on technique, along with the family-table roots that started it all, to every class he teaches.
Amber Stetler
Visual Artist
Amber Stetler is a professional artist, designer, and educator with more than 20 years of creative experience. A graduate of Moore College of Art and Design, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Textile Design and 2D Fine Art, Amber brings a vibrant blend of artistic expertise, imagination, and passion to Kitchen & Canvas. Her work spans painting, illustration, graphic design, fashion, and publishing, and her artwork has been featured in galleries and exhibitions throughout the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond.
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As an abstract expressionist, Amber believes in the power of art to tell stories, explore emotions, and encourage self-expression. Drawing inspiration from her experiences as an artist, mother, and educator, she brings a thoughtful and welcoming approach to the classroom. At Kitchen & Canvas, Amber is excited to inspire young artists to experiment, embrace their individuality, build confidence, and discover the joy of creating something uniquely their own.
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Timo Van Der Neut
Culinary Artist
Hi everyone my name is Timo! With nearly 15 years of culinary experience, I’m excited to share my passion for cooking with all food lovers! My goal is to help every person build confidence in the kitchen, one step at a time. With an emphasis on creativity, we’ll explore new ingredients, learn new skills, try new things, and most importantly, have fun with our food!
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When I’m not in the kitchen, you can usually find me playing guitar, wrestling with my cats George and Mandy, or watching Food Network reruns. I can’t wait to cook with you!
More Instructors will be announced soon...
Culinary and Visual Artists
Benjamin Vozzo
Culinary Artist
Benjamin Vozzo was selected as the Culinary Arts Instructor at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN) starting in January 2020. Mr. Vozzo has an Associate of Culinary Arts from the Restaurant School of Philadelphia, and a Bachelor of Science in Food Marketing from Saint Joseph University. He has experience working abroad in Europe learning to prepare Spanish, French, and Italian cuisine.
Since 2016, Mr. Vozzo worked as the Culinary Resource Manager at The Culinary Arts Institute of Montgomery County Community College (MCCC). Prior to MCCC, Mr. Vozzo was a Culinary Instructor at Star Career Academy and served as Executive Chef at several upscale restaurants locally and throughout Key West, Florida.
Meet Matthew Wright-Conti
Founder & Owner | Kitchen and Canvas
Kitchen and Canvas started with a pretty simple idea, inspired by two of the most important people in my life: my daughters.
As a dad, I've spent a lot of time looking for experiences we could enjoy together. Not just activities to keep the kids busy, but opportunities to actually connect, try something new, and make memories. Somewhere along the way, I started thinking about how wonderful it would be to have a place that offered those same opportunities for everyone....kids, adults, couples, friends, and families alike.
And that's where Kitchen and Canvas began.
I've spent the better part of my career working in arts education and nonprofit leadership, most recently serving as Executive Director of Community Music School in Trappe for nearly eight years. I've always believed that the arts have an incredible ability to bring people together, build confidence, and create community. And while my background is primarily in music and performing arts, I've come to appreciate that creativity takes so many different forms, including what happens around a kitchen island or with a paintbrush in hand.
Kitchen and Canvas is really an extension of everything I've loved about my career, with a whole new spin. I wanted to create something that felt a little different. A place where you could come for a date night, learn to make homemade pasta, try your hand at painting, celebrate something special, or just spend a few hours doing something you wouldn't normally do.
You don't need to be an artist. You don't need to know how to cook. You just need to show up, be willing to try, and hopefully have a really great time along the way.
More than anything, I want Kitchen & Canvas to feel like a place where people belong. A place that's welcoming, inclusive, a little unexpected, and full of opportunities to connect with one another.
When I'm not working on Kitchen and Canvas, I'm usually spending time with my husband and our two girls, who continue to remind me why creating meaningful experiences matters so much.
I'm incredibly excited to bring this idea to life right here in Collegeville, and I can't wait to see what we all create together.
Welcome to the Table!