Master Sommelier and President of Operations for Union Square Hospitality Group

I keep my team motivated by setting lofty goals with them and then chipping away at those goals. There is nothing better than showing someone where they were a year ago and where they are now.

I thought I knew quite a bit about restaurants when I met Danny Meyer but I soon realized I really didn’t know a thing. Danny, Richard Coraine and the entire USHG family had so much faith in us while we were trying to reinvent Eleven Madison. Courage of convictions and bestowing faith in others is the best way to attract and retain passionate and talented people.

My Grandfather, who was a restaurateur, was one of my mentors. It was amazing to see how beloved he was in his town, even long after he had retired. It proved the point that any great restaurant is a cornerstone of a community.

Yannick Benjamin was a force of nature when we were studying for our Master Sommelier exam. Yannick was a daily reminder of the dedication needed to get over the hump and to our goal.

Victor Fontana was a legendary restaurateur in Kansas City and another mentor of mine. I worked for him for most all of high school and college. Though he had a beautiful family, he always made us feel like his family as well. You always want to do right by your family.