Pittsburgh, PA
About Us
At Young Chefs® Academy, our mission is to make a positive lasting impact on children and families through teaching the joy and value of cooking in a welcoming environment that encourages discovery and creativity.
Rated 4.7 on Google (1,359 Reviews)
Franchise Owner
A native of central PA, Pittsburgh East Owner Laree Rolley now calls Pittsburgh home after moving to the city in 2006 to obtain her MBA from Carnegie Mellon. After working for several large CPG companies including Heinz and MillerCoors, Laree took time off to raise her children. In 2020, Laree ventured into the self-employed world by opening a Romp n’ Roll franchise. After realizing the impact she could make on the lives of children, she knew she wanted to find additional opportunities to bring enriching activities to the children of Pittsburgh. Having struggled to find culinary classes and summer camps for her oldest daughter, Laree heard about Young Chefs Academy and knew she had to bring this amazing opportunity to the city. There is no reward like teaching children life skills that they will carry with them their entire lives. Outside of her businesses, Laree spends her free time with her husband, Brian, watching their children, Sydney, Carter, and Camden, play sports and participate in other school activities. She also enjoys visiting all the fun children’s spots in the city with her toddler, Colbey. Laree savors taking her dog Max for walks at our beautiful parks. Her family enjoys several cooking traditions including a Pizza/Movie Night every Friday, and Saturday morning chocolate chip pancakes! Laree desires to continue to expand Young Chefs to more children in the Pittsburgh suburbs with plans to open a location in the North Hills in late 2025.
Founder & CEO
Founder and CEO, Julie Burleson, established Young Chefs® Academy in 2003 with the vision of cultivating/serving children’s strong interest in the culinary arts. It has grown with locations throughout the US to be a welcoming environment that provides a “real” setting so that the students can take what they learn at YCA™ to their own homes.
“The kitchen is the pulse of the home… where we learn about life and each other,” says Burleson. “Young Chefs Academy nourishes those values and gives kids an innovative environment to learn and thrive. In this busy world, what could be better?”
Over the years our franchisees have been showcased across some of the largest networks, which is a testament to our values and community activities.