STAY UP TO DATE SHARE YOUR EMAIL NOW

Board of Directors

The Board at American Roadside is composed of the following individuals:

Rich LaVecchia - Chairman and CEO

Mr. LaVecchia has over 35 years of food industry experience. He graduated from Cornell University's School of Hotel/Restaurant Administration in 1982 and, in 1986, started Poseidon Enterprises, a specialty food distributor to restaurants, hotels, and grocery stores, growing company revenues to approximately $30MM.

By 2006, the company was servicing 3,500 customers in the Southeast and was approaching $80MM in sales. Hunt Private Equity purchased a majority stake in Poseidon Enterprises in October 2006 and Mr. LaVecchia retained an ownership interest.

He served on the Board of Directors of the company and orchestrated the acquisition of Lowcountry Lobsters, a $15MM food distributor. Mr. LaVecchia led Poseidon's management team during the integration and remained as an advisor to the business until the end of 2008.

Thomas G. Lewison - Director American Roadside Burgers, Inc.

Tom Lewison has spent 35+ years in the restaurant industry, starting as an hourly employee at Carl’s Jr. Restaurants. He worked his way through the ranks at CKE Restaurants, ultimately moving to Hardee’s Food Systems as EVP of Operations after CKE acquired the brand in 1997. After 22 years with CKE, Tom moved to Charlotte, NC to become President/COO of Bojangles Restaurants, Inc. in 2001.

Through Tom’s efforts, a strategic plan was developed and executed, resulting in a turnaround of the Bojangles brand. This initiative provided the shareholders of Bojangles an above average ROI when the company was sold in 2007.

Currently, Tom is a franchisee of 23 Qdoba Mexican Grill restaurants and an owner of Just Fresh, a fast casual sandwich concept. He is also a partner in 20/20 Restaurant Group, LLC, consultants to the restaurant industry, and a former Wendy’s franchisee. Tom is presently the Board Chair of the Morrison Family YMCA.

John J. Tunney, III- Director American Roadside Burgers, Inc.

Mr. Tunney, III, is an award-winning restaurateur with multiple properties, dozens of appearances on The Food Network, the CW, NBC, ABC and Emeril Live. He created Carltun & Co. at the Oheka Castle, the second largest private residence in the United States. In addition, he designed, owned and operated the following establishments:

  • Carltun on the Park - Long Island, New York
    Carltun on the Park is an 80,000 square foot establishment set on 26 acres which is now a New York landmark and consistently rated in Zagat's top ten restaurants on Long Island;
  • Temple Bar and Grill in Caesar's Palace - Atlantic City, New Jersey.
    New Jersey publications deemed the only 'must see' site in the city;
  • Olio! in the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino - Las Vegas, Nevada.
    Olio! quickly garnered international press and hosted events for HBO, N'SYNC, Britney Spears, Warner Bros., Showtime and many others in its first year of operation.
  • Blue Honu (now Honu Kitchen and Cocktails) - Huntington, New York. Blue Honu was named one of 2007's Top Ten Restaurants on Long Island by Newsday and one of only six Long Island restaurants to be rated "excellent" by The New York Times in 2007. Also, the restaurant won "Restaurant of the Year" amongst 87 competing restaurants in Huntington Township three years in a row.

Mr. Tunney's current properties include:

  • Besito, Roslyn, New York, Besito, Huntington Village, New York, Besito - West Hartford Ct.

Besito Roslyn was rated "excellent" by The New York Times 2007.

Besito Huntington was named one of 2007's Top Ten Restaurants on Long Island by Newsday.

  • Ballo Italian Restaurant and Social Club - Mohegan Sun - Uncasville, Ct.

Inspired by San Galgano in the hills of Tuscany, BALLO Italian Restaurant and Social Club brings to life all the majesty of an Italian cathedral coupled with exceptional service and a fresh, authentic menu of Italian favorites.

In addition, Mr. Tunney has advised and consulted major hotels throughout the United States. All of his restaurants are currently rated "excellent" by The New York Times.

Cary Sucoff - Director American Roadside Burgers, Inc.

Owner/Principal, Equity Source Partners, LLC

Mr. Sucoff has over 28 years of securities industry experience encompassing supervisory, banking and sales responsibilities. He currently owns and operates Equity Source Partners, LLC (ESP), a boutique investment bank providing consulting services to public and private companies and institutional investors.

Over the past 18 months ESP has assisted in arranging the following capital transactions:

  • Contrafect Corp. (private) - Biotechnology (Monoclonal Antibodies) - $32MM
  • BioTime, Inc. (BTX) - Biotechnology (Stem Cells) - $1.5mm
  • Bill My Parents, Inc. (BMPI) - Technology, Social Networking - approx. $11mm
  • Medgenics, Inc. (MDGN) - Biotechnology (protein pumps) - approx. $18mm
  • Premier Alliance Group (PIMO) - consulting - $6.5mm
  • Stratus Media Group (SMDI) -Live Entertainment - approx. $8.8mm

Mr. Sucoff serves on the Board of Directors for Contrafect Corp., BillMyParents, Inc. and Premier Alliance Group. He a former Assistant District Attorney and is currently an Adjunct Professor on the faculty of New England Law/Boston. He is a member of the New York State Bar and a member of the Board of Trustees of New England Law/Boston where he serves as Chairman of the Endowment Committee.

Patrick Kolenik - Director American Roadside Burgers, Inc.

Owner/Principal, PK Advisors

Mr. Kolenik has over 35 years of securities experience including President and CEO of Sherwood Securities/National Discount Brokers which, in 1992, was one of the three largest OTC trading firms in the U.S. The company was sold in 2000 for $1.3 Billion.

Since 2008, Mr. Kolenik has been the principal and sole shareholder of PK Advisors (PK), a boutique consulting firm providing a wide range of strategic advisory services to public and private companies. Over the past 18 months, it has provided consulting services to the following companies:

  • Stratus media Group (SMDI) - Live Entertainment
  • Premier Alliance Group (PIMO) - consulting
  • Bill My Parents, Inc. (BMPI) - Technology, Social Networking
  • BioTime, Inc. (BTX) - Biotechnology (Stem Cells)
  • Contrafect Corp. (private) - Biotechnology (Monoclonal Antibodies)
  • Medgenics, Inc (MDGN) - Biotechnology (protein pumps)

Mr. Kolenik also serves on the American Roadside Board of Directors and is a significant shareholder. During his career, Mr. Kolenik has been associated with hundreds of public and private financing for companies, including a $55 Million capital raise for Benihana Restaurants. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Premier Alliance Group and is President of Cyndel and Company.