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Postino WineCafé parent names operations chief

Alex Taylor joins Ariz.-based group from Kimpton

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

November 30, 2018

1 Min Read
Postino WineCafé parent names operations chief
Photos courtesy of Upward Projects

Upward Projects, the multiconcept group behind Postino WineCafé, has named Alex Taylor to the new position of chief operations officer, the company said Friday.

Taylor most recently served as senior vice president of restaurant and bars for the San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotel and Restaurant Group, the Phoenix, Ariz.-based Upward Projects said.

Alex_Taylor_Upward_Projects.jpg

“With Alex’s blend of entrepreneurial spirit and high-level brand building and operational expertise, he is the perfect COO to take Upward Projects to new heights,” said Lauren Bailey, Upward Projects CEO and co-founder, in statement.

“Alex is committed to our goal of ‘scaling with soul’ as we continue to bring our brands to new communities, while protecting the authentic culture we’ve worked so hard to establish,” Bailey said. The company expanded Postino to Houston earlier this year.

Prior to joining Kimpton, Taylor worked as a Phoenix-based regional manager for Starbucks, as director of food and beverage at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nev., and as executive director of food and beverage at the Wynn Resorts’ Encore property. He also owned restaurants in Las Vegas and Austin, Texas.

Upward Projects, which last December drew a significant investment from the Los Angeles-based Brentwood Associates private equity firm, has eight Postino WineCafé locations in Arizona, Colorado and Texas with three new locations planned for Denver and Houston.

Upward Project’s other concepts include the Windsor & Churn pub-style ice cream concept, Federal Pizza and two Joyride Taco House units.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected] 

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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