Born and raised in Kansas City, MO, John developed a passion for hospitality at a young age while working in restaurants throughout high school and college.
While pursuing a graduate degree in urban planning at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, John visited California’s wine country, where he realized he wanted to pursue a career in hospitality. He relocated to Napa to pursue this passion, working as a sommelier at local restaurants. John then relocated to San Francisco to become the sommelier at the acclaimed Campton Place, which received four stars from the San Francisco Chronicle during his time there.
John began his tenure with Union Square Hospitality Group in 2006 as Beverage Director of Eleven Madison Park. During his six years at EMP, the restaurant won the James Beard Award for “Outstanding Wine Service” and a Grand Award from Wine Spectator. In 2011, John was promoted to Wine Director across USHG, assisting in the growth and inception of some of the group’s most celebrated wine programs, including those at The Modern, Manhatta and Gramercy Tavern. The following year, John earned the prestigious Master Sommelier distinction from the Court of Master Sommelier, an honor held by fewer than 300 individuals globally.
In his current role as President, John leads USHG’s 2,000+ employees across its full-service restaurants, inclusive of Blue Smoke, Ci Siamo, Gramercy Tavern, Manhatta, Tacocina, The Modern, Porchlight and Union Square Cafe. He leverages his extensive hospitality expertise to oversee the group’s restaurant operations, in addition to an ongoing focus on strategic growth and new business.
