Timeless Tastes with a Modern Flair

Originally from Selb in Northern Bavaria, Hans Mooser brings more than 30 years of culinary and hospitality experience to his role with First Hospitality. He began his career with a three-year apprenticeship at the Rosenthal Casino in Selb and earned his Hotel Management and Culinary Arts degree in Pegnitz, Germany, graduating with honors in 1992.

Hans worked as a chef in boutique hotels across Germany before joining Hilton Hotels International in London at the Kensington Hilton. In 1998, he moved to Chicago to continue his career with Hilton, spending 16 successful years in a variety of culinary leadership roles. He later served as a chef instructor and operations manager at a private cooking school for eight years, and went on to hold executive chef positions with Kokua Hospitality at the Allerton Hotel, as well as the Millennium Knickerbocker and other Chicago hotels. 

Hans joined First Hospitality in July 2024 and now oversees food and beverage operations for voco Chicago Downtown-Riverwalk and Holiday Inn Chicago at the Mart.

Leah Gilley is a seasoned culinary leader with extensive experience in large-scale catering, banquets, and high-volume event execution. Trained at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City, her career spans fine-dining kitchens in Manhattan; upscale restaurants on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket; national tour catering for major artists, including Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, and Stevie Nicks; and large-scale event production in Chicago, where she executed high-profile engagements at McCormick Place before joining Voco Chicago.

Leah is known for her hands-on leadership philosophy of "leading from the front," excelling in operational efficiency, creative menu development, and building strong, high-performing teams. Outside the kitchen, she enjoys traveling, collecting vintage cookbooks, and volunteering to teach children foundational cooking skills. She lives in Chicago with her wife, her cat Pablito, and her dog Noodles.