About Applied Culinary

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 Andy Revella, EVP of Culinary Development and Executive Chef, has over 55 years experience in the food and beverage industry. He was responsible for the menu development and operations for restaurants including Bennigan’s, Steak & Ale, and Rainforest Cafe. He was also the head of food and beverage at Harrah's Casinos. Andy has developed over nine core branded concepts resulting in numerous new restaurants. In November of 2009, Andy was recognized as the Greenest Chef in America by the Captain Planet Foundation.

Brad Belletto has over 45 years of experience in strategic areas of the hospitality, restaurant, and bar industries. He specializes in full service turn-key consulting and development, offering a menu of services geared toward improving your current operation or creating the foundation for a new concept. Brad has successful hands on experience tackling the challenges of designing, building and operating a profitable company. 

Michael Cox is a proven Operations Leader offering a track record of success in designing business concepts that become highly profitable, award-winning operations. An effective communicator he builds strong relationships and team culture while focusing teams on business and financial objectives. He builds high powered leadership teams, opens and expands concepts nationally, leads business start ups and turn arounds.  Michael has created and managed diverse cultural experiences in large and small upscale restaurants, specialty food retail, and luxury hospitality businesses. He drives fast growing, nationally recognized multi-unit brands including Royal Blue Grocery, Rosewood Hotels, Marcus Hotels & Resorts, Morton’s of Chicago, Mi Cocina, Central Market, Star Canyon, and Carlson Restaurant Worldwide. 

 Antonio Swad started his career in the restaurant industry at a very early age.  He worked his way up to the upper ranks of the industry and has extensive experience at every level of operations.  Seeing a market that was untapped, he founded Pizza Patron in 1986; a pizza franchise focused on the Latino market, and is now a very successful multi-state chain. In 1994, Antonio founded Wingstop and quickly grew the brand into a nationwide chain with hundreds of locations across the country.  With his proven track record of building successful restaurant brands, Antonio brings his expertise to Applied Culinary Technology clientele to help them with developing their branding, franchising, and intellectual property.

 Tom Johnson has been an expert in code compliance, food, beverage and hygienic design since 1985. Tom has extensive knowledge of construction, fire, plumbing, mechanical, as well as food, water, ice, and beverage safety requirements. He has been a voting member of international standards development organizations (SDO’s) beginning in 1987. These have included UL, NSF, and ASHRAE for well over a decade. He advocates best practices in engineering and design in addition to sustainability and environmental safety initiatives.  

Mr. Ron Kyslinger has over 30 years of Automated System Engineering, Design, Operations, Innovation and Business Strategy experience that spans numerous industries. He has consulted various international companies and start-ups across various industries which include but are not limited to: automotive, automation/material handling, robotics, retail, logistics, eCommerce, food, and food service. He is currently advising multiple robotics companies, and is an Executive Advisor to Thomas H Lee (THL) with respect to target companies for investment in their Automation Fund. His corporate experience spans both the supplier and the end-user side of multiple industries and includes the following roles: Global Officer Walmart, Executive Director Amazon, VP C&S Wholesale Grocers, VP Symbotic, VP ES3, GM/Director Comau, Chrysler, Ford, Honda. 

Mr. Jack Landers served in a number of leadership and executive roles, including founding, and leading two businesses.  His experience encompasses 30 years in operations, learning & leadership development in executive HR leadership roles.  

After his extensive career (including two start-ups), he took his experience and began business consulting in 2008, his most recent being Bluesky Adaptive Learning as Owner and Senior Business Consultant. Now he is joining the Applied Culinary Technology team focused on business consulting.   

Jack has a proven track record in global Fortune 500 multi-unit companies, including Brinker International, Blockbuster, PepsiCo, in the United States and internationally, and YUM Brands.

In the past 14 years Jack has focused on developing effective business solutions, comprehensive enterprise learning, content, and technology strategies within food & beverage, hospitality, specialty retail, technology, life sciences & healthcare, financial services, aerospace, airlines, automotive, and oil & gas industries.  

Katie graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2010. Since then she has been working in the Dallas-Fort-Worth area as a commercial photographer specializing in interiors, product, food, e-commerce, and lifestyle images. Katie’s clients include Neiman Marcus, Sally Beauty, Caitlin Wilson Design, Serena & Lily, Oventure, Parks Coffee, and more. Her work has been published in local and national publications such  as House Beautiful, 817 Home Magazine, and 360 West. www.KatieNixonPhotography.com | @katienixon_photo