Ellen Jaffe Jones
Speaker/Emcee
Ellen Jaffe Jones is a keynote speaker, author, plant-based athlete and certified personal trainer with 339 5K or longer age-group race placements since 2006. She’s won Gold twice at the US National Senior Games and is a sponsored athlete.
Ellen has followed a plant-based diet for 45 years, avoiding the breast cancer that claimed her mom, aunt, and sisters…her family was part of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes studies. She was a 2-time Emmy winning Miami TV investigative reporter and has been a popular speaker since 2010 before the publishing of her books, Eat Vegan on $4 a Day, Kitchen Divided, Paleo Vegan, Vegan Fitness for Mortals, Vegan Sex and Vegan for One.
Kyoko Faison, Pure Kitchen
Kyoko Faison, the chef behind the Pure Kitchen, a vegan, grab-and-go cafe in South Tampa specializing in organic, plant-based meals, snacks, and desserts with a menu that changes daily or weekly, featuring globally-inspired dishes, from curries to pasta. It offers a variety of options for different diets, including gluten-free choices, emphasizing fresh, natural, and clean ingredients in a casual, fast-paced environment where food is made from scratch.
Johnny Douglas — Owner & Founder of My Hungry Vegan
Johnny Douglas is the proud owner and founder of My Hungry Vegan (MHV Café), a Black-owned vegan food brand dedicated to showing people that plant-based living can be flavorful, soulful, and full of joy. For over 10 years, Johnny has been crafting delicious vegan soul food and creating memorable experiences for individuals looking to explore a healthier, more intentional way of life.
Through MHV Café, Johnny combines his love for food, community, and creativity to reimagine traditional comfort foods through a plant-based lens. From pop-ups and private dining to catering, cooking experiences, and plant-based education, his mission is simple: connect people through food and plant a seed that inspires healthier choices and lasting change.
My Hungry Vegan is more than food—it’s an experience, a movement, and a reminder that choosing a healthier life doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor, culture, or community.
Kristi Capone, Owner of Avocado St. Pete
Avocado. offers personal chef services, menu planning and meal preparation, and special event menu creation. Executive Chef Kristi Capone is at the helm of Avocado., encouraging hungry folks throughout Tampa Bay to enjoy the plant-based comfort food her private clients have come to love.
Avocado. has been nominated for Creative Loafing’s “Best of the Bay” two years in a row, earning the runner-up prize for Personal Chef Services in 2025. Chef Kristi was also a finalist in the LocalShops1 “Top Local Chef” competition in 2018. She has volunteered her time at the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival ‘Tasting Tent’ and, in March 2026, served five gallons of her vegan cauliflower chowder as part of ‘Empty Bowls,’ Daystar Life’s fundraiser that helps fight local food insecurity. She also offers private vegan cooking classes for people of all ages who want to develop greater self-sufficiency in the kitchen.
In her cooking, Chef Kristi focuses on a variety of world cuisines featuring fresh vegetables and herbs, grains, and legumes; Mediterranean cuisine is a particular favorite—and specialty—of hers.