Yusuf adds another amazing element of cultural diversity to the NORMAN’S Team as he hails from the Ancient and historically fascinating country of Turkey.

He started working in the restaurant business at the age of 13 in a wine bar in Istanbul learning about everything from polishing glasses to the local wines. He began working in the kitchens of a ‘Renaissance Hotel’ at 17 years of age in Istanbul learning all kinds of cuisines. And took a role in front of house as Bartender. In 1991 Yusuf graduated from Turkey’s famous ‘Eresin Tourism and Hospitality School. He started his management and hospitality career working for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as an Assistant Dining Room Manager traveling routes all over the Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii.

He set his sights on living in America and moved to New York City after receiving employment offer from the famed ‘Ciprani Restaurant’ Group learning a vast array of management skills. A new opportunity arose in Orlando and Yusuf, who had enjoyed his time in the Caribbean, moved south to Florida in 2002. He worked as the Dining Room Manager at ‘DOC'S’ with Chef Neil Connolly, who was the personal Chef for the Kennedy Family during their time in The White House. From there he moved on to work at the prestigious AAA 5 Diamond Restaurant, ‘Victoria and Albert’s’ at Walt Disney's Grand Floridian Resort. He continued on in his dream to become a General Manager and took a job at NORMAN’S where he excelled at understanding Chef Norman’s global flavors and techniques.

Yusuf also takes on the role as the Sommelier which is his other great passion. His love of teaching and training is something that fits right into the philosophy of working at NORMAN’S where the mission is not only to provide jobs but a vast education for the entire team.

Camilo Velasco was born and raised in Cali, Colombia and began cooking at the age of seventeen. After moving to America, Velasco decided to pursue his growing passion and enrolled in culinary school. While attending Valencia College, Camilo began working for Marriott Hotels.

Camilo spent the summer of 2009 cooking in his native Colombia. He quickly began to appreciate the many flavors he grew up tasting and began allowing these flavors to develop his cooking style. Velasco then moved back to Orlando and began training under Chef Scott Hunnel at the AAA Five Diamond award restaurant Victoria and Albert’s. In 2011, Camilo Velasco joined NORMAN’S as Sous Chef.

Camilo’s cultural background resonates perfectly with Chef Norman Van Aken’s “New World Cuisine.” Camilo fondly remembers his first dinner at NORMAN’S in which he recognized flavors from his childhood. “I was immediately touched by Chef Van Aken’s food. It is a true pleasure and honor to train under such culinary genius and cook the ‘sabores’ that captivated Chef Norman and nourished me as a child.”

Scott Geisler is a native of Orlando whose family has seen Central Florida grow from orange groves to a world class tourist destination.

While attending college, Scott took his first job in a small restaurant and fell in love with the business. After graduating from Rollins College with a degree in Organizational Communication, Scott followed his passion working in several restaurants before finding a home at NORMAN’S.

With over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, Scott helps to oversee NORMAN’S dining room and maintain its award winning wine list. Scott’s grace is expressed nightly in his attention to detail and desire to transform each dining experience into a lifelong memory.

He strives to develop rapport with each guest and thoroughly acquaint them with Chef NORMAN’S famed “New World Cuisine.”

Born into the hospitality industry, Laura grew up greeting guests in a family owned and operated hotel in the Highlands of Scotland. Ullapool is a quaint fishing village nestled in a rugged valley. The main dining room of the hotel overlooked Loch Broom where Laura’s father kept his overflowing lobster cage. Orders for lobster were accompanied by entertainment – the Chef running down to the water to retrieve dinner.

Upon moving to Orlando, Laura completed schooling and worked in the customer service industry at the Orlando Watersports Complex as the Lead Sales Manager. In 2007, Laura was instrumental in opening a new event services company, Chic Event and Furniture Tradeshow Rental, in which she managed customer relations and sales direction.

She continued her education at the University of Central Florida. Laura strives to surpass the expectations of the clients she hosts and prides herself on the elegant execution of even their unexpressed wishes and needs.

Since joining NORMAN’S, Laura has established herself as a true ambassador of our New World Cuisine culture and has won over respect of both clients and staff alike.