Participants

Michael Lennox is the CEO and Founder of Atlanta-based Electric Hospitality, a hospitality group
on a mission to create “electric experiences” for their guests, teams, and communities.

A true visionary, Michael opened Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall in 2014 — the first restaurant to open on the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. Since then, Michael and team have opened multiple award-winning concepts that have received accolades from Bon Appetit, Travel + Leisure, and Eater, including Muchacho, an all-day, all-night, West-Coast-inspired coffee and taco shop, Ranger Station, a cozy cocktail lodge situated above Ladybird, and Golden Eagle, a retro-inspired cocktail bar (since closed during COVID).

Seeking opportunities to expand the curated “electric experiences” that Electric Hospitality is
known for beyond simply the restaurant setting, Lennox and his team launched Electric Events
in 2023, the company’s newest and fastest growing business line, offering full-service catering and events to various clients across metro Atlanta. As part of the group’s expansion into full-service catering and events, The Electric Room opened in 2023, quickly becoming a premiere rooftop event venue in Atlanta.

An Atlanta native, Michael has been recognized as one of Atlanta Magazine’s 500 Most Powerful Leaders each year since 2019. He was also named one of Thrillist’s national “Hometown Heroes” for his work with ATLFAMILYMEAL, the 501(c)(3) Michael and Electric Hospitality incubated in 2020, which produced 250,000 meals for families in need during the COVID-19 crisis. Electric Hospitality continues to support local nonprofits, including Giving Kitchen and Second Helpings, through a robust partnership kicking off in 2024.

When Michael is not dreaming up new innovations or concepts, he can be found traveling in search of inspiration, “treasure hunting” at local antique shops, or slowing down with his wife
and kids at their family farm just south of Atlanta.

Originally from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Cole Meierstein spent years traveling the country in search of the perfect cheeseburger. While he found numerous shining examples from NYC to Oklahoma to L.A., the burger of his dreams ended up coming from his own kitchen. His background in the food and beverage industry gave him exposure to acclaimed chefs who inspired him to leave the corporate world and hang out his own shingle. “I just wasn’t having fun any more” in the corporate world, he reflected. “I want to be doing this for my own business”.

The original “Dreamburger” is beautiful in its simplicity: two ground beef lacey-edged patties smashed with razor thin onions, two thick slices of American cheese, crunchy dill pickles, Meierstein’s homemade “Dreamsauce”, all on a butter toasted potato roll. 

“The more I perfected my burger, the more friends and family raved about it, the more I realized this could become a reality,” he stated. Every weekend, he serves hundreds of hungry customers, from first-time visitors to loyal followers. Meierstein’s epicurean quest has become a staple of the East Nashville food community, and one of the most-acclaimed food trucks in the region.

Dreamburger is about to celebrate their 3rd anniversary in Nashville, TN and in that short time they’ve already earned an impressive list of awards including: “Peoples Choice Winner” 2023 Nashville Lifestyles Magazine Annual Battle of the Burgers, The Nashville Scene’s Food Fight Edition “Best Burger”, and recently earned a spot on The Top 25 Best Burgers in World by Burger Dudes.

With more than 35 years of restaurant and hospitality experience, John C. Metz knows what it takes to create, run and maintain a successful restaurant company and has done just that with his many culinary ventures in the Atlanta area.

As CEO, Executive chef and Co-founder of Marlow’s Tavern and Sterling Culinary Management which operates onsite corporate dining café concepts Market Street Café, Bistros, Social Kitchen, Metz has been creating neighborhood gathering places for guests all across the city.

Metz’s love for the restaurant business originated at a young age when he started as a dishwasher at one of his father’s restaurants, soon moving on to prep cook and eventually running the kitchen. Metz brings knowledge and flavor to the menus of Marlow’s Tavern, Aqua Blue, Hi Life and Sterling Spoon. Trained by the best, he began his education at, The Pennsylvania State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management. He then went on to pursue his culinary education from the Culinary Institute of America where he graduated at the top of his class.

Metz began his laudable career in New York City at the 21 Club, Tribeca Grill, Park Avenue Café, Montrachet and Della Famina’s in East Hampton. Metz served as executive director of research and development for Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, the franchisor for T.G.I. Friday’s, developing brands like of Italianni’s, Front Row Sports Grill, Timpano and Samba Room. As well, he headed up research and development for Carlson’s international restaurant division opening restaurants in 12 countries around the world.

In 1996, Metz and partner started their business creating an upscale neighborhood spot, Hi Life Kitchen & Cocktails in Atlanta. Hi Life focused on fresh & local for a menu of reinvented American cuisine and a wine program that boasted over 50 wines by the glass. “Hi Life put our company on the map at a time when those trends were not as developed as they are today,” says Metz. Aqua Blue Restaurant & Bar, another Metz concept, was opened in 2001 and sold in 2018.

Metz is the chief executive, co-founder and executive chef of Sterling Hospitality, co-founding and operating; Marlow’s Tavern, an upscale neighborhood gathering place. In addition, Metz operates an upscale contract foodservice company, Sterling Culinary Management, which specializes in on-site restaurant management. Sterling offers a unique corporate dining alternative to the on-premise business cafeterias of the past by creating a full-service restaurant environment, adding a chef-driven culinary flair to ensure the highest quality flavor and presentation in the Atlanta area. This on-site foodservice and catering company created the unique concepts Bistro del Sol, The GROVE, Market Street Café, Bistro 191, The Bean Counter and Tower Market bringing a true upscale, fresh restaurant experience into the corporate space and 55+ luxury communities. In addition, in 2018 Metz and his partner opened The Spinning Room in Dalton Georgia, an upscale wine & beer bar with small plates and live music.

Metz, who was named “Atlanta 2020 Most Admired CEO” by Atlanta Business Chronicle, brings his knowledge and flavor to all of the menus he creates. Metz is very involved in the industry and communities in which he operates his businesses. He serves on numerous local and national boards as well as many local charity organizations. He is on the National Restaurant Association’s and Georgia Restaurant Association’s Boards of Directors, the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Board and was appointed as vice chairman in 2005 for the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) and later became the chairman of the organization’s board in 2007 and 2008. Currently, he serves as the 22nd Chairman of the Culinary Institute of America board of trustees. In addition, he is actively involved with Special Olympics Georgia and Share our Strength. Sterling Hospitality has raised more than $1.7 million for these and other local community organizations.

Chef Freddy Money, with a rich culinary background and a passion for innovative food presentation, creates memorable dining experiences. He believes in storytelling through food, crafting menus that emphasize ingredients, origin, and texture. Trained in top European kitchens, including the Alain Ducasse Group, he took the helm at Atlas to design unique and stylish dishes for guest enjoyment. Freddy has been appointed as the Culinary Director for Atlas and The Garden Room within The St Regis Atlanta and Nami in Lake Nona, Orlando, Florida. Chef Freddy has contributed his experience, imagination and passion across Tavistock Group hospitality projects at the highest level.

George Motz is a well-traveled chef, author, award-winning filmmaker, and photographer. He has also been called the”Foremost authority on hamburgers’ by The New York Times, and”America’s biggest burger name’ by Eater LA. In the spring of 2004 Motz completed Hamburger America, his second decumentary film which he shot, produced, edited, and directed. The film was nominated in 2006 for a James Beard Award and in 2011 was recognized by the US National Archives as an integral part of American food history. The film’s success led to a state-by-state guide to hamburgers, also titled Hamburger America, a State-by-State Guide to Great Burger Joints. And in 2016, Abrams Books released his first cookbook, The Great American Burger Book, fully updated in May 2023. George can be seen on his show Burger Scholar Sessions on Complex Media’s First We Feast.

George can also be found spreading the word of burger around the globe through workshops, consultations and burger pop-ups. He recently opened his dream restaurant, Hamburger America, in the Soho neighborhood of NYC, which was awarded 2-stars by Pete Wells in the New York Times.

Kevin Rathbun is a big presence on Atlanta’s culinary scene. His physical stature may be what people notice initially, but it’s his robust flavors, genuine hospitality, and big heart that make a lasting impression.

Kevin’s passion for food and hospitality started early. He grew up in Kansas City, where his mother operated several prominent restaurants, and where his father, a jazz musician, provided musical stylings. Kevin started as a dishwasher, worked his way up through the ranks, and never looked back. As a child and teen, he worked hard to become an Eagle Scout (a feat only about 5% of scouts achieve), showcasing his exemplary perseverance, leadership, dedication and integrity, all qualities that set him apart to this day. Following culinary school, he worked in New Orleans, Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta with nationally known celebrity chefs and restaurateurs including Bradley Ogden, Emeril Lagasse, Stephen Pyles, Ella Brennan, and Pano Karatassos.

No matter the style of cuisine, Kevin brought his signature bold flavors and generous leadership style to each project. In 1994, he was nominated for the James Beard Awards “Rising Star Chef” for his work at Baby Routh. In 1996, he introduced Southwestern fare to Atlanta with the opening of Buckhead Life Restaurant Group’s pioneering restaurant, Nava, and then presented Asian-fusion cuisine with the group’s Bluepointe. He then served as the company’s Corporate Executive Chef, overseeing several BLRG restaurants.

After years of building blockbuster restaurants for other entrepreneurs, Kevin decided to make his long-time dream of owning his own place a reality. He discovered a warehouse-style space in Inman Park and became a pioneer in the area, opening his first namesake restaurant, Rathbun’s, in 2004, laying the groundwork for it to become the dining destination it is today. When he opened the doors to the modern American-style eatery, he invited the city of Atlanta to come experience his dream. What a dream it was! Both culinary fans and media caught the vision; a seat at Rathbun’s quickly became the hottest ticket in town. It was named to Esquire’s coveted “Best New Restaurants in America” list, as the year’s “Best New American Restaurant” in Travel + Leisure, and was showered with a host of other accolades.

The momentum kept going at full force. Kevin opened Krog Bar the next year, and followed up with Kevin Rathbun Steak, perfectly positioned on the Atlanta BeltLine, in 2007. In 2013, he opened KR Steakbar in Buckhead’s Peachtree Hills neighborhood. Ever a media favorite, Kevin has appeared on dozens of television programs including The Today Show, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, Good Morning America, CNN, and Good Day Atlanta. On Food Network, Kevin competed against Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America, besting the celebrity chef in “Battle Elk” (you can try the winning recipe on Kevin Rathbun Steak’s menu!) in front of a national audience. He went on to win on the network’s popular Chopped, in a sibling rivalry show with his brother, Dallas-based chef Kent Rathbun. Kevin’s natural combination of talent, skill, grace under pressure, and personality have made him a perennial fan favorite.

Philanthropy and improving his community has always been a major focus for Kevin. His tireless commitment to giving has led him to serve on boards, at events and through donations to organizations both local and national, including Taste of the NFL’s Kick Hunger Challenge, No Kid Hungry, Open Hand Atlanta, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, American Cancer Society, the High Museum of Art, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Les Dames d’Escoffier, March of Dimes, Giving Kitchen and many more.

In 2008, the Atlanta City Council issued a proclamation in his honor, recognizing his excellence as a chef and restaurateur, as well as his generosity to charitable causes. Kevin has been named the Georgia Restaurant Association’s Restaurateur of the Year at its annual GRACE Awards and was honored with 11Alive’s “11 Who Care” community service award. In 2022, the Atlanta Hawks presented him with the “Forever 404 Honors Presented by Sharecare,” acknowledging his ongoing commitment to the Atlanta community.

Kevin’s wife of more than three decades, Melissa, whom he met working at the famed Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, has been by his side every step of the way. She’s a constant source of inspiration and support, and frequent guests will recognize her warm smile that’s a regular fixture in the restaurants. In his spare time, the big-hearted chef enjoys collecting cookbooks, dining out, traveling, and smoking a fine cigar on occasion. He’s humbled to have the support of his Atlanta community, enabling him to continue to be a visionary in both the local and national restaurant landscape.

In 2020, having lived in Athens, Ga for the past 20 years, it was time to return home to where I grew up, Charleston, SC. I wanted to be a part of this community, and to serve the great people here, and my love of burgers seemed to be the best fit.

What started as a wild idea and a love of cheeseburgers, quickly became a pop-up serving at local breweries, and evolved into a thriving food truck, catering, and festivals. Now, a brick and mortar, taking over Fair Deal Grocery, at 47 Cooper St., on the Charleston Peninsula.

Burgers have always been a love of mine, from my Great Grandmother, and her buttermilk burgers to the McDouble. So, after some soul searching, and exploring the history of them and how they hav e been a staple of our culture for the past 100 years, I’ve worked to stay true to the traditional smash burger, while coloring outside the lines with our takes on some local and national ingredients.

Chef Rhasaan’s culinary philosophy is an artful fusion of innovation, tradition, and an unwavering passion for quality ingredients, masterfully brought to life by the tight-knit team of two, with his dedicated wife as an integral collaborator. Each meticulously crafted dish is a testament to this philosophy, tantalizing taste buds and inspiring both patrons and aspiring chefs. This culinary approach, achieved with a small but devoted staff, serves as a beacon of inspiration, illustrating the boundless possibilities achievable through the marriage of creativity and expertise.

A native of Puerto Rico, Chef Hector Santiago, began his culinary career nearly 25 years ago in the San Juan kitchen of his mentor, Chef Giovanna Huyke. Under her advisement, Santiago attended the Culinary Institute of America in New York. Following graduation, he trained in the kitchens of the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia, the Manhattan Ocean Club, Stony Hill Inn in New Jersey and Heartland Brewery. He expanded his culinary techniques with stints in the kitchens of renowned international chefs, including José Andrés, Wylie Dufresne, and Andoni Luis Aduriz.

In 2001, Chef Santiago moved to Atlanta and opened his acclaimed restaurant, Pura Vida. For more than a decade, the highly regarded tapas restaurant provided a venue for Santiago to showcase the authentic flavors and ingredients garnered from years of traveling, cooking and exploring his beloved Latino America. As Chef-Owner of Pura Vida, Santiago was a three-time James Beard Foundation “Best Chef of the Southeast” semifinalist; in 2011 he was named Star Chef’s Rising Star of Atlanta and earned a spot on Bravo’s Emmy-winning show, “Top Chef Las Vegas” (Season 6).

What started as a popular weekend popup at Pura Vida, Santiago officially opened El Super Pan at Ponce City Market in 2015, receiving accolades from VOGUE, Travel + Leisure, Eater, The Local Palate, CNN, Thrillist, USA Today, the Travel Channel, Food Network, Zagat, Food & Wine, and many more. In 2018, he opened a second El Super Pan location at The Battery Atlanta. El Super Pan is a classic Latin kitchen highlighting the bold and rich flavors of Cocina Criolla and the Spanish Caribbean, with a beautiful melody of Indigenous food, Spanish and African cuisine. His inventive takes on tropical cocktails lead guests through a vacation in the Caribbean, highlighting rum flavors from both Puerto Rico and Cuba.

Mark Tripp, a former Ad Guy of 35 years, caught George Motz’s film “Hamburger America,” on PBS one night. Inspired by the burger joints Motz featured, Tripp began experimenting with creating his own burger blend.

For Tripp the flavor of the meat always comes first. His recipe is a combination of USDA Prime cuts of top sirloin, chuck and bacon. He counts on award-winning butcher, Richard Schwartzberg, to grind each batch to his specifications.

What started as a passion project turned into a labor of love. In May, 2019 Tripp had the opportunity to share his burger with George Motz, who gave it his official stamp of approval. Tripp then competed in the LA Food and Wine Festival EPIC Burger Throwdown and has since been featured in KTLA’s LAunscripted, LA Taco, and Infatuation LA.

“That’s F’ing Good,” was Seth Rogen’s reaction when biting into a Tripp Burger during an episode of the The Burger Show hosted by Alvin Cailan with Tiffani Thiessen and Adam Richman.

Joey Ward is the executive chef and owner of Michelin recommended restaurants Southern Belle and Georgia Boy in Atlanta. An Atlanta native, Joey set his sights on becoming a chef at an early age. He often helped his grandad in the kitchen and spent his childhood Saturday mornings watching PBS cooking shows long after the cartoons ended. He went on to work in professional kitchens as a teen and even skipped prom rather than miss his shift. To no one’s surprise, he then graduated from the CIA in Hyde Park, NY before returning to Atlanta to begin his career in earnest

As a young chef, Joey was mentored by award-winning chef Kevin Gillespie, eventually working side-by-side with him to open Gunshow in 2013. Joey then spent six years as its executive chef, a time when he began to showcase his inventive flavor combinations, trademark whimsy, culinary humor, keen eye for presentation, and true passion for leading a business built around the people not just the bottom line.

In late 2019, Joey opened Southern Belle and Georgia Boy as a platform to fully explore his Willy Wonka-esq creativity while building a supportive, collaborative, inclusive restaurant culture where hospitality careers were sustainable and rewarding. Joey has gone on to create world-class, memorable cuisine and guest experiences while staying committed to doing the right thing. Both restaurants use of a service-inclusive model which aims for front and back of house pay-equity and four-day work week; Joey is also an outspoken advocate for causes like No Kid Hungry (he recently was selected to represent NKH on Capitol Hill), mental health and addiction support groups targeted to the restaurant industry, and the importance building a true community through partnerships with sustainable local farmers and artisans.

Ward was recognized as a James Beard Award semi-finalist in the Best Chef: Southeast category and awarded the prestigious Trifoliate Award. When he’s not in the restaurants, you can find Ward spending time with his dogs, Forrest and Frank. He lives in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta.

For more information, visit: www.chefjoeyward.com.