Claude Ako and Sharon Ako are the joint owners of the foodservice company Believers.  Claude Ako is a 38-year culinary veteran trained in Paris, France. Claude graduated with his Associates from Le Cordon Bleu Academie d’ Art Culinaire de Paris. He then moved back to his native country Togo, Africa to open his own catering company which he successfully managed for five years. He later returned to Europe to increase his knowledge of international cuisine.  Claude went on to work in Germany, Italy, Spain, and many other countries working with chefs that expanded his knowledge. Now, as an experienced culinary professional he moved to America and worked under world-renowned chef Wolfgang Puck at his restaurant Spago, in downtown Chicago for five years.  Since then, Claude has worked at Rome’s Joy Catering at the Parkway Ballroom as the Executive Chef for 16 years, and now with his wife is ready to embark on his own business once again.

Three years after receiving her bachelor's in psychology, Sharon Ako began culinary training in the Le Cordon Bleu Program at The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago.  In 2002 she graduated the program with honors and immediately began work at Inspiration Cafe in their foodservice job-training program. Sharon began working at what is now, Inspiration Corporation, assisting in the continuous improvement and development of their food service training program. In her 13 years at Inspiration Corporation, she has tirelessly served the population there. Providing individuals affected by homelessness the essential skills necessary to be successful in the field of culinary arts.  During her tenure at Inspiration, she established a catering service through the culinary training program, assisted with the development of two full-service restaurants, and later obtained her foodservice sanitation instructor certification. She has worked full-time running Believers with her husband, Claude since 2015.

Together with a combined 60 years of experience in the foodservice industry and the grace of God, they have developed a company that cares about the people they serve and aims to provide the highest quality service around.