Brad Vorhees: Chairman, President, CEO
Brad Vorhees holds an MBA with concentrations in finance and marketing, and worked as a stockbroker for sixteen years after college. In late 2003 he founded Dinners Ready, bringing in a partner early on. As CEO of that company, he led it to an 18 location chain in 18 months, with 20 additional 'coming soon' locations under development. Mr. Vorhees' leadership resulted in the company setting new qualitative standards in the industry in the areas of culinary quality and value, location design, food safety, franchisee support and marketing. However, due to differences of opinion with his partner, Mr. Vorhees negotiated a buy-out of his ownership in early 2006 to form and launch Day-by-Day Gourmet, in which no partners are involved and the highest levels of business and culinary excellence are pursued.
Mr. Vorhees is a stickler for quality and value delivery to the customer and franchisee, and a student of effective team-building and leadership techniques. He will settle for nothing less than for Day-by-Day Gourmet to be the qualitative leader in the industry in every measurable way.
Graham Kerr: Consultant for Culinary Nutrition and Behavior
Famous as the former Galloping Gourmet, Mr. Kerr is without question one of the most highly renowned and regarded food experts in the world. More recently known for his emphasis on nutrition and health, and as a widely published author of many books on the subjects of food and health, he is passionate about educating North Americans to the fact that food which tastes great can also be food which is great for you. His no-compromise approach to menu creation will place the Company's culinary offerings at the forefront of the industry. Mr. Kerr will oversee the design and implementation of all of the Company's culinary offerings, as well as provide a recognizable personality to promote the Company itself. He is fully committed to and passionate about Day-by-Day Gourmet's mission.
Karl Guggenmos: Advisor, Culinary Products
Karl Guggenmos is internationally recognized and celebrated in culinary circles as one of the most influential culinary academics in the world. Currently serving as the Dean of Culinary Studies at Johnson & Wales University, the largest culinary educator in the world, Mr. Guggenmos is a German Master Chef, a member of many of the most prestigious culinary organizations in the world, and a well-known international speaker on culinary issues. Working with Mr. Kerr to develop the Company's culinary offerings, Mr. Guggenmos will aid in managing the Company's products to their final form.
Jeffrey Burke: Food Safety, Manufacturing and Operations
Mr. Burke has had a long career in culinary development with such companies as Campbell’s Soup, Heller Seasonings, Cedar Lane, Specialty Meat Group, Raised-Right Chicken and Poultry and others. He is an expert in culinary science, with concentrations in the area of taste and aroma profiles and the chemical relationships between food ingredients and the human body’s sensory functions. In short, he knows what makes food taste great at the physiological level. He also has a depth of experience in food manufacturing. His commitment to combining these areas of expertise with the simultaneous delivery of excellent nutrition makes him a very important part of the team.
Lee Goehner: Director of Finance
Lee has served in various executive-level roles over the course of his career, including Director of Information Systems, Director of Human Resources, Operations Officer and Financial Officer. He brings extensive experience in the development of both operational and financial management systems for both corporate and not-for-profit entities in multiple nations. Most recently, he exercised financial oversight of a European satellite of an American university. Lee is now responsible for financial oversight and legal compliance of the Company.
India Simmons: Public Relations
India has worked as a television news producer since 1978, garnering three Emmy awards while at KING Broadcasting (NBC), KOMO TV (ABC) and KIRO TV (CBS) in Seattle. Also serving as press secretary for various high-profile political campaigns, she founded PR, Inc. in 1998, from which she directs the Company's public relations efforts. Currently an independent contractor, she looks forward to the day she can join the Company full-time.
Will Stout: Site Acquisition and Leasing
Over his twenty five year real estate career, Will Stout has focused on leasing and property acquisition for some of the largest retailers in the country. Recently, he has executed more leases for CAM franchise operators than any other known leasing agent in the country, and knows what types of locations afford the franchisee the most success at the least cost. He is an expert negotiator and has a proven track record of obtaining the best terms for franchisees with the least relational strain between franchisee and landlord.
Thea Habersetzer: Retail location design
Thea brings a wealth of experience in retail design to the Company, with her most recent position being part of the design team for Starbucks Coffee Company. Passionate about healthy living and eating, she is tasked with the responsibility to make our retail locations accurately reflect our corporate persona. With emphases on great taste and good nutrition, community connectedness, closeness to the land, a commitment to being ‘green’, and helping those in need, she has a lot to communicate about the Company through her design, and she does it well.