Marshall O'Brien provided a highly unique team building experience, unlike anything our leadership team had experienced before. Initially the team members thought they were well outside of their comfort zone but Marshall created a safe, playful learning experience for our group. It was a great way for our leadership team to set goals in creating a menu, define roles based upon interest and experience, collaborate across sub-teams as we shared our resources (i.e., ingredients) to create not just a meal, but an elegant experience. In the end, you know that the event hits the mark when your team members reflect back months later about the fun, collaboration and richness that was created and the new relationship windows that are opened that help drive team and organizational performance. Marshall creates an atmosphere like having your friends or family over for dinner... great food, great fun and in the end where do you gather... in the kitchen of course.

Rodrigo Gonzalez
Waste Management

"Thank you for the wonderful team building experience you and your staff put together. It was extremely well organized and met our objective without a doubt! We had many of our folks working together to create their own masterpieces who had never been in contact before! Your preparation prior to the event made me feel very comfortable that the event was going to be a success and sure enough, we tasted it!"

Vanessa Harrison-Chambers
SunOpta, Inc.

The experience was a fun, creative and a delicious way to build on the teamwork within our work group.
Our work team has been together for more than 8 years and has evolved and developed into a cohesive team that communicates
very effectively in most of our day to day interactions. Moving into the kitchen for this event was an environment that we hadn't worked in together in the past.
Most of the team didn't have a lot of comfort so this was an excellent experience for all of us. It enabled collaborations and compromise on topics where we didn't have a lot of expertise. We used creativity and collaboration, without a lot of technical knowledge and were able to
create a menu that was both appealing to the eye as well as delicious. It also served as an excellent way to build on our relationships
outside the office while most importantly being a lot of fun!

Angela Hurd
Progressive Ins

“Our group found our cooking experience with Marshall to be a unique and fun way to do team building. We got out of the office and into an environment where it was imperative to work cohesively as a team in order to be successful. We learned a lot about one another and we built a sense of trust among our this new group. Of course we had a lot of fun and laughed quite a bit, but most importantly everyone came away from the evening excited to work together and confident in the capabilities we have a team.”

Marilyn Werner
General Mills

The team learned that each person in the team can be different and unique, and those unique qualities can be used to compliment each other, thus making the team stronger. The team also learned to trust each other, in that one person doesn’t have all the answers, but collectively, the team probably does. I learned that recognizing each members strengths, and putting each member in a position to succeed by using those strengths, will develop each team member, and allow the group to accomplish much more.

Bob Gumatz
Cenex, a brand of CHS

Thank you so much for an outstanding interactive dinner experience. I’ve heard that our group was very spirited so we appreciate all your work to make this an enjoyable evening for everyone.

Deb Smith
Cargill

The experience we had as a team was invaluable. We picked up so many communication skills from this. We were required to talk to each other and make sure we had the right ingredients and enough ingredients to make our meals...which in a team setting...you should do the same. What if someone uses up all of the sugar, but someone else needed some for their recipe? The same skill applies to working on a project with a team! If that person would have talked to the other person, they could have split it or redirected their efforts to something else!
The environment was great too! Marshall was a great facilitator. He was helpful, personal and a great leader! We learned a lot as a team, but I think everyone took away a little something from that event for their own personal uses.

Bryenne Albright
Best Buy

“When I'm hosting an event, and I want it to be special for the participants, the first thing I do is find out when Marshall is available. Besides great food and inventive presentation, Marshall's spirit and enthusiasm make the event extra special. Plus he's a real partner. I know his total focus is on having the event work.”

Jim Earley
Trail Blazer Coaching

“Marshall is well respected in the food industry and known for his creativity and integrity. Very fun person to work with.”

Leo Bogee
Mother Sauces

“I met Marshall as a business connection from my coach in 2006. I was astounded at his professionalism and drive for such a young man. He is focused on success and continuous improvement.
His concept of using cooking as the medium for team building is creative and fun.
I believe Marshall will go far in life.
As a former manager in a large corporation, I can see the direct value of the process he used to get people to show their true strengths.”

Mary Leonard
Chocolat Celeste

“Marshall provided several organizations we serve with a creative food preparation series of team building exercises that resulted in fellowship and a great meal. Company members from different work groups were mixed in teams to bring new communication and trust across business units through problem solving vignettes leading to a diverse meal conclusion. His blend of fellowship and problem solving resulted in higher communication comfort and trust among those involved….”

Steve Wilcox
Resultants for business

“Marshall is a master with creating an environment to help teams improve communication, motivation, support and trust through cooking. I’ve had the experience to utilize Marshall and his team for team building events with leadership as well as sales groups. The environment allowed for teamwork and humor through the creation of a whole meal. The experience portrayed the many different roles that everyone takes on day to day to accomplish a common goal. We even discovered some new leaders in the process as well as a new way to lead! I highly recommend Marshall if you are seeking help in creating collaborative teams and learning more about how your team interacts with one another.”

Jeff Velch
Travelers

“Marshall organized a brilliant team building exercise for the sales force. The parameters set forth for the cooking event gave the right latitude to allow creativity while at the same time challenging the team to meet the goals and work together.”

Greg Skaggs
Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics

"I would personally like to recommend Marshall for his extraordinary work and making our event one to remember. He is known for his fun personality, his ability to make people laugh, all the while building team work centered around - FOOD. If you are looking for a great team building event, I encourage you to call Marshall. He will ensure your team has a fun night to remember."

Scott Brophy
US Bank

“I have only good things to say about Marshall O'Brien and Taste Success!
I have hired him to work with two very different client groups...both with fabulous results. His skill and experience as a chef, coupled with his comfortable ease with corporate teambuilding make him a terrific partner for ensuring a successful cooking event. I would definitely want to work with him again!”

Peter Bailey
Prouty Project

“Marshall is an exceptional team-building leader with a very creative, effective, and fun service of bringing teams together while cooking and developing relationships which are desperately needed in today's pressure-packed corporate environments. A talented communicator, I recommend his company highly for any company that wants to reward their employees while improving overall communications and morale through out the organization."

Lynn M. Florell
Florell Consulting & Associates

“Marshall and his team brought a new perspective to team building. His events are much more than a cooking class, his creativity and personality leads people to stretch themselves comfortable and take away valuable learnings about themselves and teammates. His programs are unique, fun, challenging and worth every cent.”

Scott Schwefel
Insights

“Marshall has a genuine passion for improving people's lives through food, whether learning about it, preparing it or eating it. He combines boundless energy with vast creativity and enormous culinary skill to build experiences that enhance relationships and impact lives.”

Susan Diamond
Jigsaw Unlimited

“Marshall performed a networking event for us that included professional executive women from different organizations within the Twins Cities. The purpose of the event was to get all these women to network and share their stories.

Marshall's team was an important step into making our function a success. Relationships were commenced among the women and the activities helped generate conversation. Marshall's team was professional and helpful.

When asking the participants for feedback, each individual mentioned that they thoroughly enjoyed the activity and looked forward to it next year. Overall, it was a wonderful success due to the aid of Marshall's organization. Thanks again!” - Kim Stull

Kim Stull
Price WaterhouseCoopers