How a Free SDA Program Helped Launch a Single Mom’s Catering Business

When Kat Mulingtapang talks about food, she lights up. The Filipina - born in the Philippines and raised in California - says the kitchen has always been the center of her life. “Being around the table breaks down a lot of barriers and it also opens up a lot of conversation,” she explained. “A lot of the recipes that I even put out now are three or four generations old. My grandmother was still cooking well into her 90s, so food and community have always been at the center of who I am.”

Mulingtapang spent years in the food and beverage industry, including serving as general manager of a café right here in the Southland. She recently completed the ServSafe Manager Certification Training & Exam through the Southland Development Authority (SDA) and the Illinois Restaurant Association. The free program, helps food business owners and managers meet state requirements. But maybe more importantly, it gives their teams confidence and credibility.

“Through our partnership with the Illinois Restaurant Association, the SDA has already helped 46 people in the South Suburbs earn their ServSafe Manager Certification. Each one of those certificates means a new opportunity for someone to advance in their career or strengthen their business,” said Marisela Zambrano, a Relationship Manager at the SDA.

For Mulingtapang, the impact was obvious. “What Jamie [Makuch, Relationship Manager] and Marisela do with connecting us and providing these certification programs at no cost is so essential,” she said. “For me particularly, the food manager certification provided by SDA has really been a huge benefit to my team. It’s given us the knowledge and the confidence to maintain the highest standards of food safety, while also showing our customers and community that we’re committed to being professional and, more importantly, compliant.”

Mulingtapang recalled a moment when that commitment was put to the test. “The last two compliments we received were from health inspectors from Cook County. Our report had zero exceptions. The inspector said that in Cook County, we had the cleanest and most organized kitchens she’d ever seen. That’s a direct result of being so particular about how we maintain the kitchen and having this training available.”

Today, Mulingtapang brings that same commitment to her own venture, Bamboo & Stone. The business was born out of a passion for sharing authentic, umami-driven flavors that bring people together. It elevates the idea of street food into something both familiar and unforgettable. Mulingtapang’s 20 years in the food and beverage industry go a long way with her business - as she creates dishes that reflect heritage, community, and care.

Life-changing opportunities for workers

She also shared the story of a high school student who started out as a barista at the same café she was managing. “We were looking to promote him because of his work ethic, but we couldn’t justify higher pay or more hours for just making coffee and serving ice cream,” she explained. “I said, ‘Take this certification because this will really add value to what you already bring to the table.’ He took the certification (at no cost, which was such a blessing) and turned into our assistant kitchen manager. He was able to maintain shifts on his own, oversee the entire café, get more hours, receive a title, and continue after high school as a full-time employee.”

Another story stands out for Mulingtapang. “We had a single mom who wanted to start her own business. She couldn’t afford the $500 it normally costs for this certification. Through this program, she was able to get certified, obtain an EIN, and launch her own catering business. We’re not just talking about a great partnership between SDA and businesses. This is a real, tangible life opportunity for individuals to make something for themselves.”

“The certification cost is a huge barrier for many small business owners and workers. By removing that cost, we’ve been able to open the door for 46 people - and we’re just getting started,” said Zambrano.

Mulingtapang says the difference between a food handler’s certification and a manager certification is night and day. “A food business cannot run, cannot even open, without somebody with a manager certification physically onsite,” she said. “What this does is tell the public and the health department that you have somebody accountable for the decisions being made. Someone who knows food safety, allergens, and how to keep the public safe.”

That accountability extends all the way to everyday decisions. “Somebody has to know what they’re doing in order for the building to even open and serve food. If the food’s been out for four hours and it’s not to temperature, do we throw it away? Do we reheat it? How do we reheat it? These are the kinds of things a certified manager knows how to handle.”

The future of food service is also changing, Mulingtapang notes. “One of the bigger trends happening right now is the rise of food allergens. People are becoming more aware of their body, people are aging, and even young people are being raised to take their health more seriously,” she said. “That’s going to be the biggest challenge restaurants face in the next five years, and the manager certification already covers those allergens. That’s why this is so important.”

As she launches Bamboo & Stone, Mulingtapang is grateful for the support SDA provides. On that note, Zambrano concluded: “The real success is in what happens after the exam. We’ve seen students promoted into management, single parents launch catering businesses, and health inspectors walk out impressed with our local kitchens. That’s how we measure impact.”

About the Southland Development Authority

The Southland Development Authority, a not-for-profit economic development organization, is committed to driving equitable and sustainable economic growth in the south suburbs of Chicago. Through innovative programs, strategic partnerships, and impactful direct investments, the SDA is building a vibrant, inclusive economy that drives wealth growth for individuals, businesses and municipalities. Combined with the benefits of the South Suburban Land Bank and the Monarch Fund, the SDA serves as a model for regional development.