Experience

• 

  Taft Interests

  • Greater Boston Area

  • Owner

    • Apr 2015 - Present
    • Greater Boston Area

    Restaurant entrepreneur, advising, investing and improving select brands

• 

  Boston Restaurant Associates

  • Lynnfield, MA

  • CEO | Board Member (since 2004)

    • 2007 - Apr 2015
    • Lynnfield, MA

    Grow sales by maximizing performance of 18 Regina Pizzerias and 3 Polcari’s full-service Italian-American restaurants. Create brand persona from Regina’s core strengths, thus building a differentiated brand halo that leads to real customer loyalty and memorable marketplace presence. *Successes i...

• 

  Caffino, Inc.

  • San Ramon, CA

  • CEO & Equity Partner

    • 2002 - 2007
    • San Ramon, CA

    With partners from a previous endeavor, purchased and reinvigorated a brand of 26 franchised and corporate-owned units by designing a new live roast coffee bar prototype and strongly differentiated brand. Built customer frequency by introducing marketing discipline and high-margin, mouth-watering...

• 

  Sonofresco

  • Greater Seattle Area

  • President & Equity Partner

    • 2001 - 2002
    • Greater Seattle Area

    Started up innovative manufacturer and marketer of laptop coffee roasters, identifying and capitalizing on new niche in small-batch coffee roasting at retail level. Hired and trained a high-functioning sales force. Additionally, sold “green” coffee blends and roasting equipment.*Grew sales from t...

• 

  Fuddruckers

  • Boston, MA & Austin, TX

  • Chief Operating Officer

    • 1999 - 2001
    • Boston, MA & Austin, TX

    Joined very lean team of recently acquired, 30-year old chain of fast casual restaurants. Developed product specifications, procedures, and new urban concept for 220 units comprised of both corporate and franchised restaurants.*Doubled EBIDTA and achieved double-digit sales gains.*Increased guest...

• 

  Au Bon Pain

  • Boston, MA

  • President

    • 1996 - 1999
    • Boston, MA

    Improved sales and profits, thus poising division for successful sale. Established goals to turn around negative culture of tight controls, infighting, and tired concept.*Increased incremental café sales 40% by positioning bakeries as contemporary, fresh, and easy-to-use.*Designed signature produ...

• 

  Paradise Bakeries of Tulsa, Inc.

  • Tulsa, Oklahoma, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle,...

  • Chairman of the Board

    • 1986 - 1998
    • Tulsa, Oklahoma, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle,...

    Owned and operated 10 Paradise Bakeries.

• 

  Bridgton Academy

  • North Bridgton, Maine

  • Trustee

    • 1994 - 1997
    • North Bridgton, Maine
• 

  Papa Gino's

  • Dedham, MA

  • President & CEO

    • 1993 - 1996
    • Dedham, MA

    Reversed plummeting sales and boosted profits of 230-unit pizza/Italian chain in 5 states. Developed mission/principles, delectable high margin offerings, marketing campaign, and career path/training program.*Reestablished eatery as New England’s dominant fast Italian restaurant.*Spurred a 35% in...

• 

  Skipper’s, Inc.

  • Bellevue, WA

  • Executive VP & COO

    • 1988 - 1993
    • Bellevue, WA

    Restored profitable growth to +200-unit leading restaurant chain in the Northwest. Established SOPs, analyzed/reduced expenses, implemented cost controls, improved brand perception, and spearheaded major remodeling initiative.*Inverted $1M loss to $2M gain in first year; more than double stock pr...

• 

  Pizza Hut Franchisee

  • Executive VP & COO

    • 1984 - 1987