209 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE EXECUTIVE CHEF, OWNER Shaibu’s Gourmet Group, LLC St. John, Virgin Islands PRESIDENT Artichoke Joe’s Casino San Bruno, CA Millennium Magazine Featured Listee SHAIBU ABDULAI Shaibu Abdulai grew up in Ghana, a country that held a traditional approach to personal and professional cooking. Desiring to enter the culinary industry, Mr. Abdulai immigrated to the United States, completed coursework at Stratford University, and obtained a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration and management from the Culinary Institute of America. His innate expertise in the culinary arts allowed him to travel across the globe to perfect his craft, including to Costa Rica, Abu Dhabi, Alaska, Washington, D.C., and New York. Establishing himself in the U.S. Virgin Islands, he served as a seasonal chef at Caneel Bay Resort before establishing Oasis Private Chefs and Shaibu’s Gourmet Grab and Go. Currently, he excels as the executive chef and owner. Impressively, Mr. Abdulai has received numerous accolades for his cooking. He was a gold medalist at the Culinary Competition of the State of New York and at Culinary Skills USA, and previously earned a bronze medal from the American Culinary Federation Competition. Recognized extensively by local media, he intends to bridge the culinary gap between West African and Afro Carib-American cuisines while opening windows for others to experience different cultures. Commencing his career in 1978, Vincent DeFriese served as a security alarm technician for nearly 30 years, where he worked with various burglary alarms and fire alarms. During his tenure, Artichoke Joe’s Casino became a frequent customer of his services and, over time, the casino asked Mr. DeFriese to join their company. Departing from the security systems industry in 2006, he joined Artichoke Joe’s Casino as a surveillance and facilities manager. Advancing through the ranks, he became president of the organization in 2020, where he remains today. A member of the California Gaming Association, Mr. DeFriese spends his spare time donating to local charities. Additionally, he is a board member of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and maintains his role as president of the San Mateo Softball Association. He cites a highlight of his career to be bringing his girls’ softball team to Japan in 2018. He draws upon prior coursework in electronics and business management. Looking toward the future, Mr. DeFriese intends to witness the continued growth and success of his career and begin consulting in the securities industry. VINCENT DEFRIESE
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