Mary Ann West is a writer and chef located in Westport CT. She is a contributor to Huffington Post: www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-ann-west and can be reached at mwestwrites(at)gmail.com. Current projects include a cookbook & Food Network style TV show. She has extensive experience including: American Red Cross Disaster Public Affairs specialist (25 year volunteer) and 30 years (10 years with Grey Global, WPP) Event and Meeting Planning, strategic disaster planning and managing media on both a local and national level.