Meet the Team

Lee Hillson was named Executive Chef in August 2005, having joined T. Cook's as Sous Chef five years earlier. He has gained both local and national notoriety with this elegant and rustic interpretation of Mediterranean cuisine as well as his generous donation of both time and talent to countless charitable organizations.

As a former University of Arizona football player, "chef" seems like an unlikely career choice for a guy who also loves shooting and Brazilian jiujitsu. But then he was inspired at 14 by his first football coach who was also an Executive Chef at a restaurant where Watson was employed as a dishwasher. Cooking seemed much cooler and definitely more fun, and once he was promoted to prep cook a few months later, the die was cast.

Sean just might be the Renaissance man of the 21^st Century. He has worked as a professional sailor in the yachting industry, buyer in the retail industry, retail development manager for an internet startup, project manager for a major oil company, an IT infrastructure manager and a commercial/residential general contractor. The common lesson he learned in all of these fields is that "the way to make a business successful is by taking care of your customers better than your competition will." 

John confesses to being a little "OCD" regarding organization, which could be a big reason for his success as a T. Cook's Restaurant Manager. With a phenomenal range of skills, John took a dual career path that has dovetailed perfectly for his current role at T. Cook's.  John started working for mom and pop restaurants 15 years ago and has progressed through the restaurant and resort business, including a gig at the Four Seasons Scottsdale prior to joining T. Cook's more than eight years ago. 

Matt is a suspiciously happy guy. Consistently cheerful and energetic, he works long hours, yet is always brimming with enthusiasm. When asked his secret, he replies, "I get to taste wine for a living...and even get paid for it." You've got to envy the guy just a little bit.

Whether it's placing rose petals on a turned-down bed, preparing a bubble bath topped with rose petals, or arranging a couples' astrology reading, the Director of Romance at our Phoenix, Arizona resort, Robert Vickrey, is the mythical magician that keeps couples returning for more "love memories" and romantic weekend getaways.

Added to the team in 2005 after graduating from culinary school, Brickley quickly began applying her inherent passion and new found culinary pedigree toward her growth at T. Cook's. Within just a few years, Brickley blossomed from cake decorator to PM Pastry Chef, to her current benchmark of Assistant Pastry Chef, working hand-in-hand with T. Cook's current Executive Pastry Chef Travis Watson, helping to craft and refine one of the Phoenix area's most exalted pastry programs.

Ashley cites her family and her childhood as providing her biggest influences in the kitchen. A graduate of the Scottsdale Culinary Institute, Alford has quickly worked her way up the T. Cook's kitchen ranks, from holding a pantry station externship while still in school to PM Sous Chef, to Alford's current responsibility as an inspired leader of the restaurant's morning team, as AM Sous Chef.