Our advisory council serves as a collaborative think tank of experienced industry professionals. Offering strategic guidance and expert insights to support the GCTA's mission and long-term growth.
The council's diverse perspectives help identify emerging trends, address critical challenges, and strengthen connections across the culinary tourism industry. Ensuring that the association remains innovative and responsive to its members' needs.
Current Council Members
- Alyssa Schoenfeld - Bites of Boston Food Tours
- Staci Giovino - Enjoy Carmel by Carmel Food Tours
- Shannon Largen - Walk Eat Nashville
- Matt Schillizzi - City Food Tours
- Debra Smith - Taste of Thomasville Food Tour
Alyssa Schoenfeld - Bites of Boston Food Tours
Alyssa Schoenfeld is the Founder of Bites of Boston Food Tours, a company she launched in 2011 to share her love of food, culture, and storytelling with both locals and visitors. For Alyssa, food has always been more than just a meal—it’s a way to connect with people, celebrate traditions, and discover the heart of a place.
Alyssa’s vision for Bites of Boston grew out of her own travels, where the most meaningful and memorable moments often revolved around shared meals and the discovery of unique local food traditions. Wanting to bring that same sense of connection to her own city, she created tours that highlight Boston’s diverse culinary landscape, blending delicious tastings with stories of history, culture, and community.
Over the years, Alyssa has built lasting partnerships with chefs, restaurateurs, and food makers across the city, from family-run cafés to world-renowned kitchens. These collaborations allow her tours to showcase not only Boston’s flavors but also the people and traditions behind them.
For Alyssa, Bites of Boston is more than a business—it’s a labor of love. She treasures the relationships she’s cultivated with her partners and guides, as well as the thousands of guests who have joined tours to experience Boston in a unique and memorable way. Her mission remains the same as when she began: to celebrate local food, support small businesses, and create meaningful experiences that connect people to each other and to her beloved city of Boston.
Staci Giovino - Enjoy Carmel by Carmel Food Tours
Staci Giovino founded Enjoy Carmel by Carmel Food Tours in 2012 to reveal the culinary soul of Carmel by the Sea. Her background as a commercial interior designer taught her that crafting spaces and curating experiences require the same attention to detail and storytelling. Through her tours, she connects visitors directly with local artisans and small businesses, transforming casual tourists into genuine advocates for the community.
Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, USA Today, California Meetings & Events Magazine, and numerous travel publications.
Shannon Largen - Walk Eat Nashville
Shannon Largen is the owner and Chief Eating Officer of Walk Eat Nashville, a food tour company recognized among the top culinary experiences in the U.S. Founded in 2014, Walk Eat Nashville has become a beloved way for visitors and locals to explore the city’s culinary and cultural landscape; Shannon purchased the company in 2021 and has continued to grow its reach and reputation. Prior to this role, she spent 16 years with the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp as Senior Director of Training, where she created and delivered programs for thousands of hospitality staff across the city.
Two of her most popular courses focused on customer service and Nashville insights, equipping cab drivers, police officers, airport staff, and hospitality employees with the knowledge to better serve visitors. She also launched the Music City Greeter program, founded the Music City Concierge Association, and is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier International. Shannon brings a deep background in hospitality, training, and culinary tourism to the Global Culinary Tours Association.
Matt Schillizzi - City Food Tours
Matt Schillizzi is the Owner of City Food Tours, Philadelphia’s premier food tour company. After joining the team in 2016, he acquired the business two years later and has since transformed it into one of the city’s most celebrated experiences. City Food Tours now welcomes over 6,000 guests including many FAM tours each year, and serves as the official tour operator for Reading Terminal Market, one of the most iconic foodie destinations in the country.
Under Matt’s leadership, the company has doubled its team of guides, added dedicated operations and social media staff, and earned major recognition including the Gold Award for Philadelphia’s #1 Best Tour by The Inquirer in both 2024 and 2025. City Food Tours has also been featured in national campaigns by Comcast RISE and GetYourGuide, ranked in the top 1% of “Things to Do” by TripAdvisor, and spotlighted by local outlets like Philly Gay News and PHL17 tv station.
Before diving into Philly’s food scene, Matt spent a decade working in higher education. He holds a B.S. in Music, an M.Ed. in Higher Education, and a CAPM in Project Management. He currently serves as Vice President of the Alumni Association for Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance, and sits on the Preservation Board for Reading Terminal Market.
Outside of work, Matt’s interests include playing the marimba (since 5th grade), working out, visiting his family at the NJ beaches, travelling around the world, and - of course - doing food tours everywhere he goes.
Debra Smith - Taste of Thomasville Food Tour
My name is Debra Smith, and I am the owner of Taste of Thomasville Food Tour in Historical Downtown Thomasville, Georgia. I started my tours after teaching 30 years of teaching in The Thomasville School System! I was looking for something fun to do in my spare time, And I had that Ah ha moment…Why can’t a good tour in Thomasville work. In 2013, I had my first Taste of Thomasville Tour.
We have many accomplishments. In 2018, we were named Thomasville Small Business of the Year. In 2022, we received the Georgia Travel Trailblazers of Georgia Award. In 2025, we were named #2 Best Food Tour by USA Today.
We now have 4 tours that we offer Taste of Thomasville Day Tour, and our AfterHours Tour. In December, we offer our Victorian Sweets Tour. And for schools we offer a Children’s Tour for field trips.
If you are ever in South Georgia/North Florida come “Come taste your way around Thomasville “