Shawn Davis, Chef Big Shake, started cooking in a professional kitchen when he was just 12 years old. His mother decided her son needed a healthy distraction over the summer break.

In just seven years in his seasonal position, Shawn had worked his way from up from dishwasher to head chef. Under Gio Palermo’s mentorship at the C. J. Palermo restaurant, Shawn learned the ins and outs of the restaurant business.

Little did Shawn know that his experience at the Palermo restaurant would prove to be life-changing not only for his passion for food, but also for the inspirational, entrepreneurial journey he would take.

In 1983, when Shawn Davis, a Bayshore, New York native was a mere 12-years old, his mother decided that her teen son needed a healthy distraction when school let out. So, when a coworker told her about a job opening in Ocean Beach, Fire Island at C.J. Palermo’s restaurant, she got Shawn onto the ferry.  That 30-minute trip turned into a seasonal post for Shawn and within seven years he worked his way up from Dishwasher to Head Chef. Under Giovanni ``Gio” Palermo’s mentorship, Shawn learned the ins and outs of the restaurant business and was even affectionately referred to as a “black son” by Gio himself. Since Shawn lived with Gio and his family every summer and worked side-by-side with him each day, the title was more than fitting. When Shawn left C.J. In Palermo's in 1990, he realised his experience there proved to be life-changing; it not only ignited his passion for food but also laid the groundwork for his inspirational, entrepreneurial journey ahead.

From 1989 to 1991, Davis attended Norfolk State University in Virginia, wherein he studied Hotel and Restaurant Management. In 1994, he accepted a job with G.E. Capital.  Working in various roles from Project Management to Collection Center Manager, he completed DMAIC process training and even received a Black Belt certification. It was at G.E. Capital that he met his now-wife, Robin. On their first date, they realised they shared a passion for entrepreneurship and decided to start a business. The next day, they did just that. Shawn and Robin had several businesses, and a catering company was always one of them.