Meet ELI BERCHAN

We recently connected with ELI BERCHAN and have shared our conversation below.

ELI, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I draw my resilience from a life that’s required strength at every chapter. I grew up in war zones, where uncertainty lived right outside your door and you learned early that you either adapt or you don’t survive. That environment shaped my mindset long before I even understood what resilience meant.

Then, at 35, I lost everything and had to rebuild from the ground up on a completely new continent. Starting over at that age forces you to find strength you didn’t know you had—because reinvention stops being a choice and becomes a responsibility to yourself and the people who depend on you.

But the deepest core of my resilience comes from my family. My wife and kids are my anchor, and losing my firstborn, Gabriel, changed me in ways that don’t fit neatly into words. Carrying his memory, honoring his place in our lives, and showing up for Grace and Marcus fuels a different kind of courage—one that doesn’t run out, even on the hardest days.

So when people ask where my resilience comes from, it’s really a mix of survival, loss, love, and purpose. Every challenge taught me something, and each one pushed me to keep building, keep growing, and keep choosing hope, even when the world felt like it was falling apart.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Professionally, I wear a few hats that all tie back to one core passion: bringing people together. I’m the owner of **SUMAC Cuisine**, a catering and events brand built on the belief that food is more than flavor—it’s connection, culture, and care. We specialize in weddings, private events, and curated experiences that feel personal, intentional, and rooted in story. Every event is crafted to make people feel seen. That’s what excites me most: creating moments that turn into memories.

As a **wedding and events creator**, I get to combine creativity with logistics—a mix of imagination and precision that honestly keeps me on my toes in the best way. There’s something powerful about shaping the energy of a room, guiding an experience, and watching people light up because of something you built behind the scenes.

I’m also a **senior facilitation consultant**, helping leaders and teams communicate better, collaborate smarter, and navigate tough conversations with purpose. Facilitation feels like the quiet superpower of business—it’s where growth happens, ideas move, and people actually start hearing each other again.

What’s special about my work is that everything I do is infused with the journey that brought me here—loss, resilience, rebuilding, and a deep understanding of how precious meaningful moments really are. That perspective shapes the way I serve people.

As for what’s new: SUMAC Cuisine is expanding into more **immersive culinary experiences**, blending storytelling, culture, and curated menus that reflect both tradition and innovation. We’re also rolling out **bespoke micro-event packages**, designed for clients who want intimacy and luxury without the overwhelm.

Ultimately, my work is about creating experiences that matter—whether that’s through a beautifully plated dish, a seamlessly executed wedding, or a room full of people finally communicating with clarity. Everything I build is driven by heart, purpose, and a commitment to leave people better than I found them.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, there are three qualities that truly shaped my path—especially through the chaos, the reinventions, and the wins that came after the storms.

### **1. Adaptability**

Growing up in war zones, you learn quickly that stability is a luxury. That early training in uncertainty became an unexpected superpower later in life—especially when I lost everything at 35 and had to rebuild on a new continent. Adaptability isn’t just about surviving change; it’s about learning to pivot with intention, not panic.

**Advice:**
Start by practicing flexibility in the small things—your plans, your routines, your expectations. Get comfortable with “Plan B” and treat challenges as creative prompts, not dead ends. Adaptability grows when you stop seeing change as a threat and start seeing it as raw material.

### **2. Emotional Resilience**

Losing my firstborn, Gabriel, reshaped me at a soul level. It taught me how to hold grief and love at the same time, how to move forward without leaving him behind, and how to build strength that isn’t loud but deeply rooted.

**Advice:**
Resilience isn’t built in isolation. Lean on your community, your faith, your mentors—anyone who helps you process instead of suppress. And don’t confuse resilience with emotional numbness. Real strength is staying soft in a world that can be harsh.

### **3. Craftsmanship & Curiosity**

My work—whether in catering, events, or facilitation—thrives on the little details. I’ve always believed that excellence is a habit, not a season. Staying curious keeps me innovative, and caring about craft keeps the quality sharp no matter how big the vision gets.

**Advice:**
Take your craft seriously but not yourself. Stay curious, ask questions, study people you admire, and commit to always learning—not from ego, but from hunger. Consistency beats talent when talent stops showing up.

—

If you’re early in your journey, my biggest encouragement is this:
**Invest in who you’re becoming as much as what you’re building.**
Skills can be trained. Character is formed. And when life inevitably tests you—and it will—your character will carry you through the chapters your skills aren’t ready for yet.

That’s the quiet truth behind every resilient story.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Yes—I’m actively looking for a co-founder. I want to build with someone who’s not just looking for a role, but looking for ownership. Someone who wants to pour their energy, creativity, and ambition into something that truly belongs to them, and who’s excited to grow a venture from the ground up and reap the rewards of that journey.

I’m looking for a partner with an entrepreneurial mindset—someone who’s bold, collaborative, values-driven, and committed to building something meaningful, not just chasing quick wins. Whether their strengths lie in operations, creativity, strategy, or scaling, what matters most is the hunger to create and the heart to stick with it.

I love collaborating with individuals who think boldly, move with integrity, and are excited about creating experiences, services, or ventures that genuinely serve people. Whether it’s in food, events, facilitation, or a completely new frontier, I’m looking for partners who value purpose as much as profit and who understand that great things are built by great teams.

If anyone reading this feels that spark or wants to explore possibilities, I’d love to connect.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.eliberchan.com + www.sumaccuisine.com
• Instagram: @eliberchan + @sumac.cuisine
• Yelp: SUMAC Mediterranean Cuisine + Eli Berchan Wedding and Events Creation