Leaders in Their Respective Fields
Kirk Matthews
Kirk Matthews
Kirk Matthews
President & CEO
The founder has extensive leadership experience spanning multiple industries and ranging in size from start-up to > $500M. In the 1980s, he directed various foodservice departments of both General Mills and Ecolab that resulted in an average annual growth rate of ~ 153%. Since then, Mr. Matthews has introduced companies
President & CEO
The founder has extensive leadership experience spanning multiple industries and ranging in size from start-up to > $500M. In the 1980s, he directed various foodservice departments of both General Mills and Ecolab that resulted in an average annual growth rate of ~ 153%. Since then, Mr. Matthews has introduced companies that marketed water purification equipment to developing countries/disaster markets and that improved broadband Internet service to rural America. Now he's returning to his roots to help independent restaurants.
Mark Allison
Kirk Matthews
Kirk Matthews
Chief Public Relations Officer
Mark has worked around the world in culinary arts for 37 years. His restaurants have earned fame throughout Great Britain and he was personally honored by Prime Minister Tony Blair for his dedication to the Education and Hospitality field. From there, he was recruited to be the Dean of Culinary Arts at Johns
Chief Public Relations Officer
Mark has worked around the world in culinary arts for 37 years. His restaurants have earned fame throughout Great Britain and he was personally honored by Prime Minister Tony Blair for his dedication to the Education and Hospitality field. From there, he was recruited to be the Dean of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University and most recently was the Executive Chef of Culinary Innovation at the Cabarrus Health Alliance. Mark is a frequent lecturer and judge in various international competitions, writes for numerous culinary publications and has been featured on the Cooking Channel and PBS’s ‘Overdraft’ with President Bill Clinton.
Chad Clark
Kirk Matthews
Chad Clark
Chief Sponsorship Programs Officer
This accomplished ‘hunter/closer’ has over 20 years of experience directing sales and marketing teams across the US. Building relationships with C-Suite leaders, Chad has used experiential and traditional marketing as well as social and digital media to generate successful campaigns with companies such a
Chief Sponsorship Programs Officer
This accomplished ‘hunter/closer’ has over 20 years of experience directing sales and marketing teams across the US. Building relationships with C-Suite leaders, Chad has used experiential and traditional marketing as well as social and digital media to generate successful campaigns with companies such as Kellogg’s, Kraft, Unilever, Hershey’s, ConAgra, Pepsi, NASCAR, the PGA, the NFL, 5-Hour Energy, Toyota and Oakley. These campaigns have driven up to $200M in annual sales.
MJ Daya
Christa Hovis
Chad Clark
Chief Citilicious Club Officer
MJ has been a franchisee of various hotel properties, a franchisor of hair and beauty products, restaurant owner, business consultant, and social-media marketing pro and for the last 8+ years … one of Charlotte’s most successful event promoters. This diverse and extensive entrepreneurial background will serve
Chief Citilicious Club Officer
MJ has been a franchisee of various hotel properties, a franchisor of hair and beauty products, restaurant owner, business consultant, and social-media marketing pro and for the last 8+ years … one of Charlotte’s most successful event promoters. This diverse and extensive entrepreneurial background will serve him well as he and his team builds membership in the Citilicious Club.
Christa Hovis
Christa Hovis
Christa Hovis
Chief Special Events Officer
This multi-faceted executive has used her considerable skills to direct and implement hundreds of product launches, fundraisers, grand openings, board meetings, executive retreats, conferences, trade shows, incentive and destination events all over the country. These events have served 50 to 5000 people and ha
Chief Special Events Officer
This multi-faceted executive has used her considerable skills to direct and implement hundreds of product launches, fundraisers, grand openings, board meetings, executive retreats, conferences, trade shows, incentive and destination events all over the country. These events have served 50 to 5000 people and have had budgets that have ranged from $50K to $2.5M. Christa has also earned the distinction of 5 national and 10 regional awards for best planning and design and holds numerous certifications including ISO 9000 Quality Auditor, and Lean Six Sigma.
Chris Lawing
Christa Hovis
Christa Hovis
Chief Financial Officer
Over the last 28 years, Chris has accumulated a wealth of financial and administrative experience as Director of Finance, Area Controller, CFO, and Fractional CFO for a range of start-ups, mid-sized companies and Fortune 500 corporations. Because of this broad experience, Chris will be adept at handling all of the
Chief Financial Officer
Over the last 28 years, Chris has accumulated a wealth of financial and administrative experience as Director of Finance, Area Controller, CFO, and Fractional CFO for a range of start-ups, mid-sized companies and Fortune 500 corporations. Because of this broad experience, Chris will be adept at handling all of the issues USRA is likely to encounter as it grows. But most importantly, the entire (and very long) list of references contacted was quick to emphasize how much Chris could be trusted with the Company’s finances.
Carlo Martini
Carlo Martini
Carlo Martini
Chief Restaurant Development Officer
With vast leadership experience across many of the services we will be offering, this C-level sales executive will be perfectly suited to recruit, train and direct his teams to help independent restaurants.
In addition, Carlo spent the first third of his career in the financial world and is easily able
Chief Restaurant Development Officer
With vast leadership experience across many of the services we will be offering, this C-level sales executive will be perfectly suited to recruit, train and direct his teams to help independent restaurants.
In addition, Carlo spent the first third of his career in the financial world and is easily able to communicate the financial priorities and strategies needed by independents to survive short-term and to thrive long-term.
Greg Nance
Carlo Martini
Carlo Martini
Chief People Officer
This talented and collaborative executive has led high-profile HR departments at Fortune 500 companies such as Delta Air Lines, Marriott Hotels & resorts, ARAMARK and ADP, as well as mid-sized companies such as Staci-US and Levy Restaurants. Greg is skilled at recruiting, hiring, onboarding and developing large number
Chief People Officer
This talented and collaborative executive has led high-profile HR departments at Fortune 500 companies such as Delta Air Lines, Marriott Hotels & resorts, ARAMARK and ADP, as well as mid-sized companies such as Staci-US and Levy Restaurants. Greg is skilled at recruiting, hiring, onboarding and developing large numbers of employees quickly. He is known for improving employee engagement as well as building and re-engineering critical HR functions that have resulted in increased revenues as well as improved client satisfaction.
David Shaw
Carlo Martini
Jason Spooner
Chief Information Officer
This problem solver has directed innovative infrastructure, cyber security, virtualization, business intelligence and cloud technologies within Fortune 500 firms and startups for over 20 years. Decisive, strategic and results-driven, David also has an extraordinary talent for building channel partnerships and cus
Chief Information Officer
This problem solver has directed innovative infrastructure, cyber security, virtualization, business intelligence and cloud technologies within Fortune 500 firms and startups for over 20 years. Decisive, strategic and results-driven, David also has an extraordinary talent for building channel partnerships and customer loyalty. Last but not least, David is also the owner of the Shaw Foundation, which is dedicated to providing education to the community in regard to today’s rapidly changing technology.
Jason Spooner
Jason Spooner
Jason Spooner
Chief Marketing Officer
A seasoned marketing professional, Jason has extensive experience helping startups, established businesses, and Fortune 500 companies scale their businesses while delivering a profitable marketing ROI. Over his career, Jason has worked with dozens of well-known brands, including NAPA Auto Parts, Heinz-Kraft, Sutte
Chief Marketing Officer
A seasoned marketing professional, Jason has extensive experience helping startups, established businesses, and Fortune 500 companies scale their businesses while delivering a profitable marketing ROI. Over his career, Jason has worked with dozens of well-known brands, including NAPA Auto Parts, Heinz-Kraft, Sutter Home Wine, Baron Funds, Kindred Healthcare, and Avocados from Mexico. Jason has personally managed, spent, and reported on $50MM+ in marketing budget allocation across his professional life.
Pino Venetico
Jason Spooner
Pino Venetico
COO of the Commercial Kitchens
This highly motivated and results-oriented leader has extensive experience handling all aspects of management, finance and business operations. Early in his career Pino was the CFO for Intermarine USA. After transitioning into the restaurant market, he developed, owned and operated various restaurants includ
COO of the Commercial Kitchens
This highly motivated and results-oriented leader has extensive experience handling all aspects of management, finance and business operations. Early in his career Pino was the CFO for Intermarine USA. After transitioning into the restaurant market, he developed, owned and operated various restaurants including il Pasticcio which was named by USA Today as one of the top 10 Italian restaurants in the country. More recently, Pino served on the Board of the GA Restaurant Association and then co-founded the Independent Restaurant & Bar Association of GA.
Ron Wolf
Jason Spooner
Pino Venetico
Chief Productivity Services Officer
This highly professional and results-oriented leader has extensive experience in the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industries. Earlier in his career, Ron was Director of Food & Beverage Training for Holiday Inn Worldwide and then Director of Franchise Training for Bass Hotels and Resorts. Ron
Chief Productivity Services Officer
This highly professional and results-oriented leader has extensive experience in the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industries. Earlier in his career, Ron was Director of Food & Beverage Training for Holiday Inn Worldwide and then Director of Franchise Training for Bass Hotels and Resorts. Ron went on to develop The Original Pie Bar and then That Pie Place Mobile Food Services before founding and directing the GA Restaurant Association and then the Independent Restaurant & Bar Association of GA.