Annette Watkins lived her first 13 years in Rochester, N.Y., but considers herself a native Floridian. She graduated from the University of South Florida in 1981,with a B.A. in Communications, and spent many years working in marketing with Revlon Cosmetics, and later as a pharmaceutical sales representative.

In 1993, Annette was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease. “The experience has been bitter sweet,” says Annette. “After spending quite some time floundering, and trying to learn my new purpose, I was ready to ask God, what do you want me to do?”

“I am really thankful for is the opportunity to be one of three wonderful hosts on “Cooking Without Looking,” says Annette.

“Not only was it always a “dream job,” I’ve had a passion for, but it helps and inspires so many people. There is definitely a need out there for a show like this, and I hope we make it not only interesting for our audience, but lots of fun.”

Annette has a 21-year-old son, Patrick who has recently “left the nest “ and is pursuing his music passion.

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Celia Chacon was born and raised in Chicago,Illinois. She met her husband, Victor in high school. They married in 1973, and have two children.

After her husband moved to South Florida in 1988, Celia followed in 1989 with our two children. Celia worked with a law firm as a paralegal until 1993 when she began to lose her sight.

“During the time I was losing my sight, I felt in a state of depression and not knowing what life would bring,” says Celia. “I was able to overcome this depression with the aid of my mother, husband and children who were and are still very supportive of all of my efforts.”

Celia attended the Broward County Light House for the Blind where she learned new skills and met new people. “This was the beginning of a positive new life.

Celia is a board member of The Learning Center for Vision Imparied Seniors of Broward Count County She is also involved in the arts and craft classes with the Vision Impaired Seniors in Pembroke Pines, FL.

In 2002, a mutual acquaintance introduced Celia to Renee Rentmeester, the founder of Vision World Foundation, and Creator/Executive Producer of “Cooking without Looking” and that was the beginning of Celia’s involvement with the show, and the beginning of a new friendship.

Celia currently teaches blind teenagers kitchen skills. In her spare time, Celia develops new recipes for “Cooking Without Looking.”

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Ren’ee Rentmeester was born and raised in Green Bay, WI. She began her career in TV when she was 17 years old at WLUK-TV in Green Bay, WI. Ren’ee worked in the newsroom as a news production assistant, and was a late night movie receptionist.

She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire in 1982 with a B.A. degree in Journalism and minor in International Relations.

Ren’ee began working in 1984 for the CBS-TV affiliate in Miami as a Promotion/ad Copywriter; Associate News Writer/Producer; News Assignment Editor; and later as the Press and Community Relations Director/Producer.

A two-time Emmy nominee, Ren’ee’s nominations were for the writing/producing of a special, “Youth Violence: Walking the Line” a 30-minute TV Special about youth gangs in South Florida; and a series of :30 Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for Black History Month chronicling the Civil Rights Movement in the ‘60’s, and the South Florida people who participated.

The American Heart Association awarded Ren’ee for the series of PSAs on middle-aged strokes.

A volunteer for the March of Dimes, she received the Volunteer of the Year Award for her service to the organization.

In 1996, Ren’ee opened her own Advertising/Public/Media Relations company where she serviced organizations including the Orange Bowl Committee, a Miami Dolphin player; a wife of a Miami Heat player; Mrs. Florida; and many large to mid-sized businesses.

While running her business, she began researching descriptive TV and people who are blind/visually impaired in 2000. Through hundreds of hours of research, and communicating with thousands of visually challenged people, she created “Cooking Without Looking,” the first TV show for people who are blind/visually impaired. She also created Vision World Foundation, the parent company of “Cooking Without Looking” to help people who are disabled on an individual basis.

Ren’ee has sat on the boards of the March of Dimes; Women’s Business Development Center; the Miami-Dade County Women’s Chamber of Commerce; Save the Children; the West Palm Beach Lion’s Club, and served as a Governor on the Board of Governors of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

She speaks regularly to community and business organizations as well as school children on behalf of people who are blind/visually impaired.

She has a teen-aged daughter, Lauren who sometimes helps on the show.

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Sabrina credits her culinary knowledge to watching cooking shows on PBS and Food Network. For years she begged her mother to teach her how to cook but with no luck. . It wasn’t until her early twenties that she learned her way around the kitchen thanks to the television.

“I would watch a cooking show and then head to the kitchen to try out the techniques and recipes and still do that till this day.”

In 1999 Sabrina was diagnosed with Stargaardt’s Disease, the juvenile version of Macular Degeneration at the age of 25, which ended her career as a newspaper layout designer and editor. She took a few years off from working to raise her son and adjust to her visual impairment. In 2005 she began working and volunteering for the National Federation of the Blind of Florida and it was through that work that she got involved with “Cooking Without Looking” Appearing as a guest chef on the show during the second season to promote some of the NFBF programs, Sabrina quickly fell in love with the show’s concept, message and purpose.

“’Cooking Without Looking’ combines two of my passions, cooking and blindness advocacy. I knew right away I wanted to be part of the show.”

So for nearly a year, she persistently pestered Renee Rentmeester, the creator and executive producer of the show wearing her down until she brought Sabrina aboard to be a co-host on a new segment “Macular Moment,” which premiered during the third season.

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After 30 plus years as a Neonatal Respiratory Therapist, I went to cooking school in Atlanta at the United States Personal Chefs Association Culinary Arts Institute. The idea was to slowly change jobs to become a Personal Chef. This was in 2002. His wife Patty and I started their own business, Fox Culinary Productions. In May of 2003, he contracted Viral Meningitis from one of the tiny babies he was caring for. In less than 48 hours Tom was in the dark totally. He has only slightly regained a small amount of vision back, just shapes and shadows. In 2004 Tom went back to Indian River State College, Culinary Arts Program to relearn how to be a Blind Chef. I graduated in December of 2005. Patty and Tom have been cooking ever since.

They have clients that they cook for every several weeks to performing in home cooking classes for kids to adults. They are in their sixth year of teaching kids cooking camp at the YMCA. They have had the pleasure of teaching all types of kids including visually and hearing impaired children.

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