Military Bay, USA is home to a community of service members and veterans that has an annual economic impact of more than $3 Billion. No surprise when you consider that the southern corner of Hillsborough County has been home to MacDill Air Force Base since the 1940's. Military Veterans, military spouses, transitioning service members and the local businesses that support them are part of the fabric of the Tampa Bay Chamber - engaged in programming, our military advisory council, advocacy work at the national and state level, and even our Chamber's Board of Directors. Case in point: Gaston Merideth, Founder and CEO of Gaston’s Culinary Services. The leader of this Chamber Member company, Board Member, and Coast Guard Veteran was profiled recently by the USCG's Quarterly Magazine, The Long Blue Line.
Merideth's Coast Guard story was featured in the Spring Edition's Portraits of Service. He joined the Coast Guard following in the footsteps of an older brother, serving his military career based in Port Huron, Michigan.
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Even after transitioning from his military career to his culinary career, Merideth's love of mentoring, giving back to the community, and love of the Coast Guards has remained a part of his life. He's a 20-year board member of the USCG Selective Services and has been a coveted trainer and mentor of aspiring culinary students at the USCG Air Station Clearwater.
Prior to starting the award winning Gaston's Culinary Services, his civilian career also included roles as Executive Chef & Food Services Director for Universal Studios Orlando and Marriott International. He's served as an instructor at the Culinary Arts School at Manatee Technical Institute and was also a State of Florida Food Safety Management and Test Administrator.
Congratulations to Merideth and his entire team at Gaston's Culinary Services for the recognition in the USCG Magazine! One more example of the quality humans who call Military Bay, USA home! Click to see the full article in The Long Blue Line – Spring 2024.
