The Judges and Mentors

Meet the Netflix® Stars

Click a name below to learn more about that cast member.

• Sara Schonour
• Rodolfo Goncalves
• Edwin Chiu
• Cindy Ngar
• Menuka Gamage
• Hannah Walden
• Vanessa Barcelo
• Jacob Swiezy
• Randi Leese
• Shanice White
• Stephen Day

Sara Schonour

Engineer

Sara Schonour wears many hats: accomplished engineer, lighting enthusiast, and entrepreneur. As the founder of Luxsi, she combines engineering, education, and entertainment in her cross- curricular creative consulting practice. Prior to Luxsi, she spent 16 years at the world-renowned architecture firm CannonDesign, where she built their award-winning Lighting Studio from the ground up. Her expertise spans speaking engagements, educational outreach, strategic consulting, and more. Sara earned a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University.

Rodolfo Goncalves

Baker

Rodolfo Goncalves, originally from São Paulo, Brazil, moved to New York City in 2004, where he discovered a passion for baking. His journey has been filled with creativity and challenges, shaping cakes into anything imaginable. Along the way, he was recognized by Brides Magazine as the creator of the “Most Beautiful Cake in America,” won two Cake Wars competitions, and claimed victory in “Wiener Cake Wall” on Food Network®. He also earned the title of champion on Netflix®’s Baking Impossible, alongside his partner Sara Schonour. Additionally, Rodolfo previously owned a bakery in New York City, showcasing his skills and dedication to the craft.

Edwin Chiu

Engineer

Edwin Chiu’s passion for Electrical Engineering began at an early age when he created a unique automatic device from a disassembled remote control car. He continued to explore his interests throughout his education, building electric vehicles from elementary school through college. After college, he took a job at SpaceX where he designed the Falcon 9 engine controller, as well as control electronics on other vehicles: Dragon, Crew Dragon, Falcon 1, Falcon Heavy, Grasshopper, and F9R-dev. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Edwin co-founded RespiraWorks, to develop an open-source and freely licensed intensive care unit (ICU) ventilator. The organization has since grown to include over 200 volunteers in 11 countries. In 2021, Edwin showcased his creativity and problem-solving skills as a contestant on Netflix®’s Baking Impossible.

Cindy Ngar

Baker

Cindy Ngar is a first-generation Vietnamese American pastry chef, cake artist and entrepreneur. She is the Owner/CEO of Cindy’s Little Cakery and Flutterby Designs by Cindy LLC. What began as a hobby evolved into a passion, and in 2009, Cindy took a leap into the world of cake design. Fifteen years later, her love for the craft remains as vibrant as ever. Her artistic approach celebrates love, connection, and the belief that magic exists within everyone. Through her edible creations and ventures beyond cake design, Cindy hopes to inspire others to embrace their creativity and pursue their dreams. Her journey is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and the power of turning aspirations into reality.

Menuka Gamage

Engineer

Menuka Gamage is the founder and president of Nanopuppet, where he developed a proprietary muscle alloy miniature robotics technology that brings Nanopuppet’s greeting cards to life. As an Electrical Prototyping and Research Engineer at Perception Robotics, Menuka served as the primary engineer on multiple federally funded R&D projects (NSF and NASA SBIR Phase I & II), working on advanced technologies such as pressure-sensitive polymers for wearables and robotic sensors for NASA spacesuits. Menuka holds degrees in Business and Economics from California State University, Los Angeles, and in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering from California State University, Northridge.

Hannah Walden

Engineer

Hannah Walden is a project engineer at Frito Lay with an extensive background in woodworking and hobbyist electronics. Together with her father, she runs a YouTube channel called “Atomic Dairy”, which features a variety of creative projects they’ve constructed over the years, including secret doors, desks packed with technology, giant lawn dinosaurs, and much more. With nearly 15 years of shop experience under her belt, she is constantly looking forward to the next project. Hannah holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Southern University.

Vanessa Barcelo

Baker

Vanessa Barcelo is the owner of One Love Cakes, bringing 14 years of cake decorating experience to her craft. Each day offers her new opportunities to learn and explore the science and artistry of creating spectacular cakes. Vanessa values the ability to give back to the community through fundraisers and charities. Through her cake decorating and participation in shows, she has reached numerous people worldwide. This experience has reinforced the belief that achieving one’s goals requires perseverance through hardships. When faced with challenges, she emphasizes the importance of learning from failures and continuing to strive toward one’s ultimate aspirations.

Jacob Swiezy

Engineer

Jacob Swiezy is a hobbyist, engineer, food enthusiast, and athletic fanatic. He works as an electrical engineer at a private space company focused on enabling widespread access to space. His engineering background and innate curiosity have driven him to tackle diverse projects, including rockets, robots, and AI tools. Outside of work, he applies his engineering skills to DIY electronics and home improvement projects. Jacob holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Randi Leese

Baker

Randi Leese founded RLCakeDesigns while still in high school. Early in her career, while working at a local bakery, she became fascinated by how cake designers incorporated art into baking. It wasn’t long before she recognized her natural talent for cake decorating and began creating her own designs for friends and family. Her creative and unique designs quickly garnered a loyal following and a growing clientele. Randi has had the pleasure of bringing many clients’ confectionery dreams to life. Each cake is freshly baked with the finest ingredients and lovingly crafted to perfection. She takes pride in using her creativity to design exceptional cakes, which consistently delight her clients.

Shanice White

Engineer

Shanice is a mathematician and mechanical engineer with experience across multiple industries, including nuclear engineering, aerospace, transmission and distribution, and manufacturing. While her career has taken her through the world of engineering, her true passion lies in food. She loves cooking and sharing meals with family and friends, as well as exploring new cuisines. An avid traveler, Shanice has enjoyed visiting destinations such as Norway, Barcelona, and Jamaica—some of her personal favorites.

Stephen Day

Baker

Steve studied at Cardiff College of Food Technology before perfecting his pastry craft in culinary hubs such as London, Tel Aviv, Elat, Paris, and Hamburg. For 28 years, he served as the pastry artist at The Boca Raton Resort and Club, where he created exquisite desserts for celebrities worldwide and designed intricate, life-sized showpieces from sugar and chocolate. His dazzling holiday displays became a beloved tradition, delighting guests year after year and serving as the backdrop for countless photos. Now retired, Steve enjoys a slower pace of life—trading early mornings filled with buttercream and sugar for peaceful walks on the beach at sunrise.