Who We Are
In the fast casual segment, Fresh brings operational excellence and scalable growth strategies to its portfolio of best-in-class brands as well as a relentless focus on delivering fresh ingredients, chef-driven menus and making everything from scratch to provide a delightful and approachable dining experience.
Fresh Hospitality is a team of the very best that the restaurant industry has to offer. We are Chefs, Farmers, Investors, Entrepreneurs, and franchisees, with hundreds of years of combined experience, who work toward one common goal – helping restaurant entrepreneurs succeed.
"We believe that the food is the star"
-Mike Bodnar, Chairman
ALL
J Michael Bodnar - Partner & Chairman
Mike Bodnar is a veteran CEO with 45 years experience running both public and private companies. He has found success across a multitude of industries through his adherence to operational excellence and ability to pinpoint technology-driven growth opportunities.
John Michael Bodnar - Partner
John Michael has had a very successful career including: Jim ‘N Nick’s Board of Directors, Bodnar Investment Group Board of Directors, Founding Member of Fresh Hospitality LLC, and Board of Directors for all Fresh Entities. He serves as the Chairman of the Board for Taziki's and Fatback. He is also General Manger of Bodnar Farms, LLC’s. A valuable member of the team, John Michael offers years of invaluable experience.
J Matthew Bodnar - Partner
Matt Bodnar, named to Forbes “30 Under 30”, called a “Rising Restaurateur Star” by the National Restaurant Association and a “Strategy Pro” by Restaurant Hospitality Magazine, is a partner here at Fresh. Bodnar joined Fresh in 2011 after several years at Goldman Sachs. He sourced and lead the firm’s investment in I Love Juice Bar, vertical farming startup Square Roots, Vui’s Kitchen, Grilled Cheeserie, and many more deals. Bodnar is also the co-founder of Fresh Capital and Chairman of Fresh Technology.
Michael S. Tidwell - Partner
Mike's background includes receiving his MBA from Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management and over 8 years as a senior public accountant at Ernst and Young. Michael enjoys continued success as a senior executive in his family’s Captain D’s restaurant business, which is the largest D’s franchisee. His background makes him a crucial contributor to the Fresh team.
Chris Meyer - Director of IT Services
Chris started his career as a help desk manager, and still acts as the last line of support for our team. Beyond troubleshooting, Chris is the brains behind the security, maintenance, and design of every IT infrastructure we’ve built.
Crystal De Luna-Bogan - Chef & CoFounder - The Grilled Cheeserie
Crystal De Luna-Bogan, a Le Cordon Bleu trained chef, founded the Grilled Cheeserie with her husband, Joseph. Crystal’s extensive culinary background, including such fine-dining restaurants in Southern California as Napa Rose, The Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Hills and Clementine, has helped mold her into an elite chef with a developed understanding of flavor profiles. Joseph and Crystal's hard work was rewarded when The Grilled Cheeserie was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives along with so many other successes.
David Gilbert - Partner - Fresh Advisory Service
David is a true Hospitality leader and veteran. He has been in C-level positions for hospitality companies since the mid 90s when he served as the EVP and CAO for Shoney’s. He went on to hold similar positions for Cracker Barrell before taking on the role of COO for the National Restaurant Association. Currently, he is the President of the Hospitality group at Heartland Payment Systems.
Doug Van Scoy - Partner
In 1974, Doug went to work with the investment firm of Smith Barney and stayed until his retirement in 2001. During that period he held various positions, and ended his career in 2001 as the Deputy Director and Senior Executive Vice President of Smith Barney. Today he serves as a Partner at The Fresh Capital Group, Good Smoke LLC, and Pit Partners.
Harold Martin - Partner, Taco Mac
Harold L. Martin, Jr. is a seasoned business leader with over a decade of retail and food and beverage experience with McKinsey & Company and, more recently, as a restaurant operator.
Jason McConnell - Chef & Founder - 55 South, Cork & Cow, Red Pony
McConnell graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in political science, but soon thereafter realized his love for food was something that simply couldn’t be denied. He attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY where he was trained to be a professional chef. Upon graduation, McConnell returned to his Tennessee roots to share his love of food and cooking with the fine folks of Franklin.
Jess Liberman - Managing Partner at Fresh Accounting
Jess graduated from WVU in 2005 and quickly became an audit senior at Deloitte, moving onto talent management for the company. She currently is the resident master of all things accounting for Fresh.
John Bakkegard - CFO Taco Mac
John has been part of Fresh Hospitality since the mid 90's, serving as Controller for Bodnar Investment Group. He served as the CFO of Jim N Nick's, and currently leads as the Chief Development Officer at Taziki's.
John Currence - Founder & Chef - Big Bad Breakfast
James Beard Award winner, Top Chef Masters contestant, and acclaimed author - John Currence knows food. He founded City Grocery, an Oxford Restaurant, and has gone one to open up 4 additional brands (including Big Bad Breakfast, and Snackbar) across multiple locations and states.
John Hunt - CoFounder - I Love Juice Bar
John is a successful entrepreneur who owned a company that imported furniture from Indonesia, then started a company – and the factory – that manufactures national brand makeup brushes and accessories for the world’s largest cosmetics retailers. Before founding I Love Juice Bar with his wife, Vui, John consulted for clients, with a focus on business start ups, brand development, marketing strategy, operations, and growth and development.
Karl Worley - Chef & CoFounder - Biscuit Love
Chef Karl Worley grew up in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, where he learned to cook from his grandfather in Bristol, Tennessee. He received his culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University in 2010. Through sourcing top quality seasonal ingredients, he is known for creating delicious dishes that honor the deep-rooted traditions of the South.
Keith Richards - Founder & Chief Development Officer - Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe
After a trip to Greece with his wife in 1997, Keith returned to the South with a palate for Greek cuisine. The first Taziki’s opened in 1998 with 1,100 square feet just off of Highway 280 in Birmingham. Now, almost 20 years later, his dream of providing Greek culinary creations for families looking for healthy choices has kept customers coming back time and time again.
Laura Wilson - Founder - Citizen Kitchens
Laura Wilson has been cooking professionally in Chattanooga, New Orleans and Nashville for over 20 years, working as executive chef at restaurants such as the Red Fish Grill and Ombi. She is now the Owner Operator at Citizen Kitchens, a membership-based food business incubator for Nashvilians looking grow a food-based business.
Mark Waldo - OP for Fatback, CEO Hugh Baby's
Pat Martin - Pitmaster & Founder - Martin's Bar-B-Que
Pat Martin learned the art and craft of West Tennessee-style smoke and meat 25 years ago in the tiny town of Henderson, TN before making Nashville his home. It became a consuming passion that eventually led to a business when he opened the first Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint in October of 2006 in Nolensville, Tennessee - just south of Nashville. Today, there are four locations in the Nashville area, including the newest serving those seeking great BBQ in Downtown Nashville.
Ian Niemeyer - Senior Associate of M&A and Business Development, Fresh Hospitality
Ian is an experienced M&A and capital markets professional with five years of investment experience. He has supported the deployment of over $350 million of debt and equity capital across restaurants, technology, healthcare, industrials, and government services.
Ian holds a BA in Economics from Morehouse College where he graduated as valedictorian.
Rusty Isaacs - Operating Partner - Mountaineer Roasting
Rusty has a degree from West Virginia University. A true Mountaineer, he currently serves as the head roaster & Operating Partner at Mountaineer Roasting Co. in Charleston, WV.
Rusty Rushton - Operating Partner - Fresh Purchasing
Rusty brings a wealth of restaurant industry management experience to his role of COO for Fresh Hospitality. After starting as an hourly employee for a food business in 1976, he quickly moved up the ranks. He served as director of operations for Wendy’s locations in Seattle and Portland. He then became a franchisee for Wendy’s in Mississippi until selling in 2002. In 2009 he opened a Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Sarah Worley - CoFounder - Biscuit Love
Sarah Worley was born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania, yet she considers the South her home now that she’s spent nearly half of her life in Nashville. She holds a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales and an Accounting degree and MBA from Belmont University. She and Karl work side by side not only in their restaurant but also in being the proud parents of their incredible daughter Gertie.
Scott Tashie - Founder, City Silo
A Memphis native, Scott spent years away from Tennessee — first attending college in Colorado and then later playing professional golf. That’s when he discovered juicing.
When injuries took Scott out of the golf game, he returned to Memphis, he got involved with an existing juice bar and decided he wanted to grow in the juicing industry. Soon thereafter, he met John and Vui Hunt, founders of I Love Juice Bar, as their first stores in Nashville were just getting started.
Shaun Shankel - CTO of Fresh Hospitality / CEO of Fresh Technology
Shaun Shankel is a veteran musician turned technology leader. He graduated from Indiana University Bloomington before starting his career as a producer and songwriter. After over a decade making music for major labels and smaller companies, he moved his skills over to ToGo technologies. Starting as a leader in the sales department, he now is the CEO of both ToGo and Fresh Technology all while earning his MBA from West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics.
Dan Simpson - CEO of Taziki's
With an MBA from West Virginia University College of Business and Economics, Dan is constantly improving upon his already impressive abilities in business administration and management. With experience as a founder, CEO, and CDO, Dan understands what it means to be a serial entrepreneur.
Tim Mullen - CIO of Fresh Hospitality / COO Fresh Technology
Tim Mullen is a veteran Information Technology and Business Operations leader with experience running technology departments for some of the largest and best known restaurant groups in the world. With a deep understanding of business principles, he develops innovative solutions that constantly optimize our systems and the systems of our customers.
Tim Tincher - Fresh Financial Services
Toby Rumbarger - Managing Partner for Heritage Construction and Development
Toby Rumbarger is Fresh's go to advisor and project lead for construction and development projects.
Todd Morman - Chief Financial Officer
Todd Morman has worked as a controller for multiple fresh brands, always providing top level intellectual capital. If you need someone who can speak food as well as he speaks accounting – Todd is your man.
Vui Hunt - CoFounder - I Love Juice Bar & Founder - Vui's Kitchen
Vui grew up in Vietnam in a large family that gathered around and loved each other through food, with everything centering in busy little kitchens. Carrying on those family traditions, her home today is one big kitchen, a rotating door of friends and loved ones all gathering around food. “Vui’s Kitchen is an extension of my home” she says, “where the food is comforting, flavorful and made with love!”
Wayne O'Quinn - Partner - Fresh Purchasing
Wayne O'Quinn, C.P.M., A.P.P., has extensive purchasing experience with several multi-unit restaurant companies. His managing suppliers and distribution networks that serviced over 700 restaurants and 300 suppliers, across 125 different commodity products, resulted in millions of dollars of savings and process improvements across the board.
O’Quinn has been in the restaurant industry for more than 20 years, spending the first 10 years gaining expertise in Operations as a General Manager and Regional Manager. He has personally managed more than 25 restaurants in his career, and that Operations experience enabled him to have personal, extensive knowledge and passion to transition smoothly into Purchasing.
MANAGEMENT
J Michael Bodnar - Partner & Chairman
Mike Bodnar is a veteran CEO with 45 years experience running both public and private companies. He has found success across a multitude of industries through his adherence to operational excellence and ability to pinpoint technology-driven growth opportunities.
J Matthew Bodnar - Partner
Matt Bodnar, named to Forbes “30 Under 30”, called a “Rising Restaurateur Star” by the National Restaurant Association and a “Strategy Pro” by Restaurant Hospitality Magazine, is a partner here at Fresh. Bodnar joined Fresh in 2011 after several years at Goldman Sachs. He sourced and lead the firm’s investment in I Love Juice Bar, vertical farming startup Square Roots, Vui’s Kitchen, Grilled Cheeserie, and many more deals. Bodnar is also the co-founder of Fresh Capital and Chairman of Fresh Technology.
Chris Meyer - Director of IT Services
Chris started his career as a help desk manager, and still acts as the last line of support for our team. Beyond troubleshooting, Chris is the brains behind the security, maintenance, and design of every IT infrastructure we’ve built.
Jess Liberman - Managing Partner at Fresh Accounting
Jess graduated from WVU in 2005 and quickly became an audit senior at Deloitte, moving onto talent management for the company. She currently is the resident master of all things accounting for Fresh.
Jesse Goldstein - CEO of Fresh Branding
Jesse Goldstein, also know as the "Food Sheriff," has spent his entire professional career in the food and beverage industry. Beginning as a chef and transitioning into marketing, graphic design and branding, he‘s built a reputation for his work on projects such as the Loveless Cafe, 3st of the Month, Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint and more. He brings a unique understanding of not only the nebulous world of marketing and branding, but also insight into how ideas have to be executed on the ground.
John Bakkegard - CFO Taco Mac
John has been part of Fresh Hospitality since the mid 90's, serving as Controller for Bodnar Investment Group. He served as the CFO of Jim N Nick's, and currently leads as the Chief Development Officer at Taziki's.
Mark Waldo - OP for Fatback, CEO Hugh Baby's
Ian Niemeyer - Senior Associate of M&A and Business Development, Fresh Hospitality
Ian is an experienced M&A and capital markets professional with five years of investment experience. He has supported the deployment of over $350 million of debt and equity capital across restaurants, technology, healthcare, industrials, and government services.
Ian holds a BA in Economics from Morehouse College where he graduated as valedictorian.
Rusty Isaacs - Operating Partner - Mountaineer Roasting
Rusty has a degree from West Virginia University. A true Mountaineer, he currently serves as the head roaster & Operating Partner at Mountaineer Roasting Co. in Charleston, WV.
Rusty Rushton - Operating Partner - Fresh Purchasing
Rusty brings a wealth of restaurant industry management experience to his role of COO for Fresh Hospitality. After starting as an hourly employee for a food business in 1976, he quickly moved up the ranks. He served as director of operations for Wendy’s locations in Seattle and Portland. He then became a franchisee for Wendy’s in Mississippi until selling in 2002. In 2009 he opened a Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Shaun Shankel - CTO of Fresh Hospitality / CEO of Fresh Technology
Shaun Shankel is a veteran musician turned technology leader. He graduated from Indiana University Bloomington before starting his career as a producer and songwriter. After over a decade making music for major labels and smaller companies, he moved his skills over to ToGo technologies. Starting as a leader in the sales department, he now is the CEO of both ToGo and Fresh Technology all while earning his MBA from West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics.
Dan Simpson - CEO of Taziki's
With an MBA from West Virginia University College of Business and Economics, Dan is constantly improving upon his already impressive abilities in business administration and management. With experience as a founder, CEO, and CDO, Dan understands what it means to be a serial entrepreneur.
Tim Mullen - CIO of Fresh Hospitality / COO Fresh Technology
Tim Mullen is a veteran Information Technology and Business Operations leader with experience running technology departments for some of the largest and best known restaurant groups in the world. With a deep understanding of business principles, he develops innovative solutions that constantly optimize our systems and the systems of our customers.
Tim Tincher - Fresh Financial Services
Wayne O'Quinn - Partner - Fresh Purchasing
Wayne O'Quinn, C.P.M., A.P.P., has extensive purchasing experience with several multi-unit restaurant companies. His managing suppliers and distribution networks that serviced over 700 restaurants and 300 suppliers, across 125 different commodity products, resulted in millions of dollars of savings and process improvements across the board.
O’Quinn has been in the restaurant industry for more than 20 years, spending the first 10 years gaining expertise in Operations as a General Manager and Regional Manager. He has personally managed more than 25 restaurants in his career, and that Operations experience enabled him to have personal, extensive knowledge and passion to transition smoothly into Purchasing.
Todd Morman - Chief Financial Officer
Todd Morman has worked as a controller for multiple fresh brands, always providing top level intellectual capital. If you need someone who can speak food as well as he speaks accounting – Todd is your man.
PARTNERS
John Michael Bodnar - Partner
John Michael has had a very successful career including: Jim ‘N Nick’s Board of Directors, Bodnar Investment Group Board of Directors, Founding Member of Fresh Hospitality LLC, and Board of Directors for all Fresh Entities. He serves as the Chairman of the Board for Taziki's and Fatback. He is also General Manger of Bodnar Farms, LLC’s. A valuable member of the team, John Michael offers years of invaluable experience.
J Matthew Bodnar - Partner
Matt Bodnar, named to Forbes “30 Under 30”, called a “Rising Restaurateur Star” by the National Restaurant Association and a “Strategy Pro” by Restaurant Hospitality Magazine, is a partner here at Fresh. Bodnar joined Fresh in 2011 after several years at Goldman Sachs. He sourced and lead the firm’s investment in I Love Juice Bar, vertical farming startup Square Roots, Vui’s Kitchen, Grilled Cheeserie, and many more deals. Bodnar is also the co-founder of Fresh Capital and Chairman of Fresh Technology.
Michael S. Tidwell - Partner
Mike's background includes receiving his MBA from Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management and over 8 years as a senior public accountant at Ernst and Young. Michael enjoys continued success as a senior executive in his family’s Captain D’s restaurant business, which is the largest D’s franchisee. His background makes him a crucial contributor to the Fresh team.
David Gilbert - Partner - Fresh Advisory Service
David is a true Hospitality leader and veteran. He has been in C-level positions for hospitality companies since the mid 90s when he served as the EVP and CAO for Shoney’s. He went on to hold similar positions for Cracker Barrell before taking on the role of COO for the National Restaurant Association. Currently, he is the President of the Hospitality group at Heartland Payment Systems.
Doug Van Scoy - Partner
In 1974, Doug went to work with the investment firm of Smith Barney and stayed until his retirement in 2001. During that period he held various positions, and ended his career in 2001 as the Deputy Director and Senior Executive Vice President of Smith Barney. Today he serves as a Partner at The Fresh Capital Group, Good Smoke LLC, and Pit Partners.
Harold Martin - Partner, Taco Mac
Harold L. Martin, Jr. is a seasoned business leader with over a decade of retail and food and beverage experience with McKinsey & Company and, more recently, as a restaurant operator.
Jess Liberman - Managing Partner at Fresh Accounting
Jess graduated from WVU in 2005 and quickly became an audit senior at Deloitte, moving onto talent management for the company. She currently is the resident master of all things accounting for Fresh.
Dan Simpson - CEO of Taziki's
With an MBA from West Virginia University College of Business and Economics, Dan is constantly improving upon his already impressive abilities in business administration and management. With experience as a founder, CEO, and CDO, Dan understands what it means to be a serial entrepreneur.
REAL ESTATE
J Michael Bodnar - Partner & Chairman
Mike Bodnar is a veteran CEO with 45 years experience running both public and private companies. He has found success across a multitude of industries through his adherence to operational excellence and ability to pinpoint technology-driven growth opportunities.
John Michael Bodnar - Partner
John Michael has had a very successful career including: Jim ‘N Nick’s Board of Directors, Bodnar Investment Group Board of Directors, Founding Member of Fresh Hospitality LLC, and Board of Directors for all Fresh Entities. He serves as the Chairman of the Board for Taziki's and Fatback. He is also General Manger of Bodnar Farms, LLC’s. A valuable member of the team, John Michael offers years of invaluable experience.
J Matthew Bodnar - Partner
Matt Bodnar, named to Forbes “30 Under 30”, called a “Rising Restaurateur Star” by the National Restaurant Association and a “Strategy Pro” by Restaurant Hospitality Magazine, is a partner here at Fresh. Bodnar joined Fresh in 2011 after several years at Goldman Sachs. He sourced and lead the firm’s investment in I Love Juice Bar, vertical farming startup Square Roots, Vui’s Kitchen, Grilled Cheeserie, and many more deals. Bodnar is also the co-founder of Fresh Capital and Chairman of Fresh Technology.
Michael S. Tidwell - Partner
Mike's background includes receiving his MBA from Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management and over 8 years as a senior public accountant at Ernst and Young. Michael enjoys continued success as a senior executive in his family’s Captain D’s restaurant business, which is the largest D’s franchisee. His background makes him a crucial contributor to the Fresh team.
Toby Rumbarger - Managing Partner for Heritage Construction and Development
Toby Rumbarger is Fresh's go to advisor and project lead for construction and development projects.
Wayne O'Quinn - Partner - Fresh Purchasing
Wayne O'Quinn, C.P.M., A.P.P., has extensive purchasing experience with several multi-unit restaurant companies. His managing suppliers and distribution networks that serviced over 700 restaurants and 300 suppliers, across 125 different commodity products, resulted in millions of dollars of savings and process improvements across the board.
O’Quinn has been in the restaurant industry for more than 20 years, spending the first 10 years gaining expertise in Operations as a General Manager and Regional Manager. He has personally managed more than 25 restaurants in his career, and that Operations experience enabled him to have personal, extensive knowledge and passion to transition smoothly into Purchasing.
HOSPITALITY PARTNERS
Bill Darsinos - CoFounder - GReKo Street Food
Bill was raised in the restaurant business in Middle Tennessee, after his parents migrated from Greece to Nashville. Before GReKo, he owned and operated Southside Grill off Nolensville Road. GReKo strives to recreate that experience from the streets of Greece - food made with intention, food made with the freshest ingredients, and food enjoyed with family and friends by the fire that grilled it.
Jason McConnell - Chef & Founder - 55 South, Cork & Cow, Red Pony
McConnell graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in political science, but soon thereafter realized his love for food was something that simply couldn’t be denied. He attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY where he was trained to be a professional chef. Upon graduation, McConnell returned to his Tennessee roots to share his love of food and cooking with the fine folks of Franklin.
John Currence - Founder & Chef - Big Bad Breakfast
James Beard Award winner, Top Chef Masters contestant, and acclaimed author - John Currence knows food. He founded City Grocery, an Oxford Restaurant, and has gone one to open up 4 additional brands (including Big Bad Breakfast, and Snackbar) across multiple locations and states.
John Hunt - CoFounder - I Love Juice Bar
John is a successful entrepreneur who owned a company that imported furniture from Indonesia, then started a company – and the factory – that manufactures national brand makeup brushes and accessories for the world’s largest cosmetics retailers. Before founding I Love Juice Bar with his wife, Vui, John consulted for clients, with a focus on business start ups, brand development, marketing strategy, operations, and growth and development.
Karl Worley - Chef & CoFounder - Biscuit Love
Chef Karl Worley grew up in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, where he learned to cook from his grandfather in Bristol, Tennessee. He received his culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University in 2010. Through sourcing top quality seasonal ingredients, he is known for creating delicious dishes that honor the deep-rooted traditions of the South.
Keith Richards - Founder & Chief Development Officer - Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe
After a trip to Greece with his wife in 1997, Keith returned to the South with a palate for Greek cuisine. The first Taziki’s opened in 1998 with 1,100 square feet just off of Highway 280 in Birmingham. Now, almost 20 years later, his dream of providing Greek culinary creations for families looking for healthy choices has kept customers coming back time and time again.
Laura Wilson - Founder - Citizen Kitchens
Laura Wilson has been cooking professionally in Chattanooga, New Orleans and Nashville for over 20 years, working as executive chef at restaurants such as the Red Fish Grill and Ombi. She is now the Owner Operator at Citizen Kitchens, a membership-based food business incubator for Nashvilians looking grow a food-based business.
Pat Martin - Pitmaster & Founder - Martin's Bar-B-Que
Pat Martin learned the art and craft of West Tennessee-style smoke and meat 25 years ago in the tiny town of Henderson, TN before making Nashville his home. It became a consuming passion that eventually led to a business when he opened the first Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint in October of 2006 in Nolensville, Tennessee - just south of Nashville. Today, there are four locations in the Nashville area, including the newest serving those seeking great BBQ in Downtown Nashville.
Sarah Worley - CoFounder - Biscuit Love
Sarah Worley was born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania, yet she considers the South her home now that she’s spent nearly half of her life in Nashville. She holds a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales and an Accounting degree and MBA from Belmont University. She and Karl work side by side not only in their restaurant but also in being the proud parents of their incredible daughter Gertie.
Vui Hunt - CoFounder - I Love Juice Bar & Founder - Vui's Kitchen
Vui grew up in Vietnam in a large family that gathered around and loved each other through food, with everything centering in busy little kitchens. Carrying on those family traditions, her home today is one big kitchen, a rotating door of friends and loved ones all gathering around food. “Vui’s Kitchen is an extension of my home” she says, “where the food is comforting, flavorful and made with love!”
Scott Tashie - Founder, City Silo
A Memphis native, Scott spent years away from Tennessee — first attending college in Colorado and then later playing professional golf. That’s when he discovered juicing.
When injuries took Scott out of the golf game, he returned to Memphis, he got involved with an existing juice bar and decided he wanted to grow in the juicing industry. Soon thereafter, he met John and Vui Hunt, founders of I Love Juice Bar, as their first stores in Nashville were just getting started.
TECHNOLOGY
J Matthew Bodnar - Partner
Matt Bodnar, named to Forbes “30 Under 30”, called a “Rising Restaurateur Star” by the National Restaurant Association and a “Strategy Pro” by Restaurant Hospitality Magazine, is a partner here at Fresh. Bodnar joined Fresh in 2011 after several years at Goldman Sachs. He sourced and lead the firm’s investment in I Love Juice Bar, vertical farming startup Square Roots, Vui’s Kitchen, Grilled Cheeserie, and many more deals. Bodnar is also the co-founder of Fresh Capital and Chairman of Fresh Technology.
Austin Fabel - Director of Business Development
Austin Fabel has worked in the food and technology industry his entire career. Working his way through college at Fresh partner brand Big Bad Breakfast to managing CPG operations at Nestle. Austin works to develop the Fresh Technology business through an understanding of the needs and concerns of all stakeholders involved.
Chris Meyer - Director of IT Services
Chris started his career as a help desk manager, and still acts as the last line of support for our team. Beyond troubleshooting, Chris is the brains behind the security, maintenance, and design of every IT infrastructure we’ve built.
Shaun Shankel - CTO of Fresh Hospitality / CEO of Fresh Technology
Shaun Shankel is a veteran musician turned technology leader. He graduated from Indiana University Bloomington before starting his career as a producer and songwriter. After over a decade making music for major labels and smaller companies, he moved his skills over to ToGo technologies. Starting as a leader in the sales department, he now is the CEO of both ToGo and Fresh Technology all while earning his MBA from West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics.
Dan Simpson - CEO of Taziki's
With an MBA from West Virginia University College of Business and Economics, Dan is constantly improving upon his already impressive abilities in business administration and management. With experience as a founder, CEO, and CDO, Dan understands what it means to be a serial entrepreneur.
Tim Mullen - CIO of Fresh Hospitality / COO Fresh Technology
Tim Mullen is a veteran Information Technology and Business Operations leader with experience running technology departments for some of the largest and best known restaurant groups in the world. With a deep understanding of business principles, he develops innovative solutions that constantly optimize our systems and the systems of our customers.