Alex is a writer and owner of a Denver-based food and restaurant digital marketing business called The 5th Sense. After years of struggling with her own mental health, as well as swapping stories with countless chefs, managers, clients and friends about the issues they face, she knew she had to do something about it.

In May 2018, she wrote an article about mental health in the Denver restaurant industry for 303 Magazine. After an overwhelming response, she called one of the subjects of her story — John Hinman — to ask if he’d be willing to help her grow the story into something more tangible.

Together, they started CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach & Wellness) just weeks before the news of Anthony Bourdain’s suicide was released. In the year since, Alex and John have hosted bi-weekly meetings for people in Denver’s restaurant industry to get together and discuss what they’re struggling with in a room of peers who understand.