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Welcome

The DZA Advantage

Utilizing the Executive Chef Search services of DZA Associates offers several compelling advantages


  1. Unlike others, we do not present the same candidate to more than one club at the same time.

  2. We provide our client clubs with a deep and talented pool of carefully screened candidates, all of whom have the professional culinary skills and personal temperaments to flourish at the club for many years to come.

  3. Unlike others, we are the only private club executive search firm to require written responses from proposed candidates as part of our internal evaluation process. We want to be sure that our placements really know the business – and can communicate in an articulate, persuasive and grammatically correct manner.

  4. (DZA) also offers an optional “On-site Culinary Strength Test” This includes a hands-on exercise challenging the final chef candidate(s) to demonstrate their skills by actually cooking, which we can personally administer at your club. Each candidate receives a “Tasting Exercise” with ingredients representing materials commonly found on club menus. Candidates are instructed to write a menu and prepare a four-course meal within a four-hour period, than served to your Chef Selection Committee for evaluation. The number of portions to be determined according to the number of individuals participating in the evaluation process.

  5. Denise Zanchelli has industry experience and has successfully worked with private clubs and luxury properties for more than 25 years. She has more extensive personal contacts - and knows what it really takes.

  6. Our "no excuses" guarantee and unique “after placement follow-up” insure a smooth and productive transition. (We have had to use our guarantee only once, confirming a significantly greater percentage of successful placements than any other firm in the private club executive search business.)

  7. We purposely limit the number of assignments we accept at any given time. When you engage DZA Associates, you get personalized, full-time attention.

Our Guarantee

DZA Associates provides the following guarantee to clubs using their Executive Chef Search services.

One (1) Year Unconditional Warranty

If our placement leaves the club's employment for any reason within the first year, DZA Associates will perform another complete search charging only out-of-pocket expenses. For positions under the direction of an Executive Chef, a six month guarantee will apply.