Leadership Team
Ourleadership team
We are so grateful for our wonderful team. Keep reading to meet the people help us serve life-changing food each and every day!
Ourfounders
RobPerez
What’s your favorite recovery-related saying/mantra?
It is a program of progress, not perfection.
What’s something people might be surprised to find out about you?
That I really am Mexican.
Favorite piece of graffiti/table art in either restaurant and why?
The Feed My Soul Wall at our East End location.
DianePerez
What’s your favorite position/task to work at DV8?
I love washing dishes and working expo…oh, and cleaning!
What inspires you?
Blaring music while I’m driving – or running!
What’s your favorite part of working at DV8?
Getting to work with outstanding people who are some of the best people I know!
Ourmanagement
SethAyers
What’s your favorite DV8 menu item?
My favorite menu item is the Basil Chicken Sandwich.
What’s your favorite position/task to work at DV8?
My favorite job function is greeting and interacting with guest.
What’s your favorite part of working at DV8?
I love that DV8 allows me to embrace recovery and take pride in it!
RyanFeller
What’s your favorite DV8 menu item?
The DV-Ocho
What’s your favorite recovery-related saying/mantra?
“If nothing changes, nothing changes.”
What’s your favorite part of working at DV8?
My favorite part of working at DV8 is teaching people who have never cooked before.
ConnorFrey
What’s your favorite position/task to work at DV8?
I love to do anything in the kitchen, especially the window. Placing the finishing touches on every dish that leaves the kitchen, and watching as guests enjoy their food gives me a sense of pride and accomplishment.
What’s an employee interaction that stands out to you?
The DV8 folks came to see my daughter perform in a play this last Christmas. They brought her flowers, gave her a standing ovation, and really showed my whole family what DV8 is all about: love and support.
What’s your favorite part of working at DV8?
The camaraderie! The people I get to work with everyday have become some of my best friends and inspire me to stay on the path to recovery.
MichaelHarper
What’s your favorite position/task to work at DV8?
I love everything about working in a restaurant, but what I really enjoy is building relationships with our guests. I enjoy getting to know our regulars, meeting the new people who walk in the door, and learning all about the wonderful folks that we have the privilege to serve.
What’s your favorite recovery-related saying/mantra?
I have two that sort of serve the same purpose in my recovery and how I approach everything life throws at me.
“Don’t think, just do!”
I’ve learned this from my sponsor. When you overthink something or try to read too much into a thought, action, or event, you’re usually going to pick it apart and do more harm to your attitude than good. Just go for it!
“Go with the flow.”
This one I stress to the men I get to sponsor. Whatever crosses your path, good or bad, just go with the flow. If you can truly hand over your self-will, it’s going to be okay.
What’s something people might be surprised to find out about you?
For a long time, I played bass in punk rock bands…a lot of them. One of my all-time favorite life experiences was getting to go on tour. One of those tours was with seven other guys, crammed into a small van with built in lofts to sleep in while towing a trailer that hauled our equipment. We covered 10,000 miles in about 25 days that tour, stretching from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, Mexico to Canada, and everywhere in between. I wouldn’t trade that time in for the world.
JackTodd
What’s your favorite DV8 menu item?
The DV-Ocho hands down! I love to add diced tomatoes and cheddar cheese with some Green Cholula drizzled on top!
What’s your favorite part of working at DV8?
My favorite part of working at DV8 is hiring. I love watching the growth in our people coming from arguably the lowest point in their life to seeing them thriving with the structure and accountability their programs provide. I’ve met some of the best people in my life here.
Favorite piece of graffiti/table art in either restaurant and why?
The Chrysalis House table at our South Broadway location is so powerful. It’s a page from AA with the words “I did it for us” highlighted through different sections of the text. If you haven’t already please watch the video of the artist showcasing this piece!
PabloVillagaray
What’s your favorite recovery-related saying/mantra?
From Harper: Would you rather be right or sober?
From Marvin: Proper preparation prevents poor performance.
What’s something people might be surprised to find out about you?
I am 38 years old and have never even smoked pot or another drug not prescribed by a doctor.
What inspires you? What’s your favorite part of working at DV8?
These two are for me one. Seeing people such as Marvin, Harper, Robert T, Hedges and Tasha (and many more) speak about their goals, family and what’s next. Hearing them talk about what they are doing tomorrow and how every new day is a reminder that they don’t ever want to be the person they used to be. Seeing the renewed person they have become and not of what they used to be. I could go on for a long time on this one.
Biggest part: how all staff come together in the recovery community. If one is struggling, no man is left behind. The staff team up without being asked to help one another.
Oursupervisors
Carla
What’s your favorite part of working at DV8?
My favorite thing about working at DV8 is working with other recovering addicts like me, who can relate to me and understand my everyday struggles whatever it may be! Also I love being a key manager and having certain tasks and things other management and employees depend on me to do and do well! I also love doing the display to make all of our bakery items beautiful ❤️ I also love learning the new specials; it’s a lot of fun!
What’s a customer/employee interaction that stands out to you?
There are a few. I have so many regular customers that I know by name and every day they come in and don’t even have to say anything, I already know what they want. I greet them with kindness and they love when you know exactly what they want and how they like it. For example, I have one customer that comes in from out of town sometimes twice a month and sometimes it’s just once a month for 4 days but he has to have his cream cheese cinnamon roll in the oven for at least 15 minutes and if it’s not perfect he’s not happy 😊! It feels amazing having customers come in and tell me they see all my hard work and they appreciate me so much.
What’s your favorite recovery-related saying/mantra?
My favorite recovery saying is “One day at a time” because that’s exactly what it is.
Marvin
What’s your favorite DV8 menu item?
My favorite DV8 menu item is our gluten-free muffins, because when I started to make them they weren’t on the menu. They’ve have grown to be well-liked, so it’s more about a sense of accomplishment for me.
First shift or last shift and why?
My favorite shift is first shift because I am always the first one at the store, so I get to turn on my worship music and get spiritually connected for the day, alone time with GOD and I.
What inspires you?
What inspires me honestly today is everything. For me it’s a matter of perspective: the good times, hardship, pain, loss, triumph. It’s all energy that moves in one’s soul to gradually make him better. To be inspired takes action to construct or build the things desired. A vision without action is just a dream.
Mindy
Favorite piece of graffiti/table art in either restaurant and why?
My favorite piece of table art at DV8 would be the table that the Chrysalis House has made. It is a page out of the Alcoholics Anonymous book and you can see the outline of a mother and daughter casting butterfly shadows with their hands. To me, it represents the promises coming true like they talk about in the big book of AA.
What’s your favorite recovery-related saying/mantra?
My favorite recovery quote is “No God, no peace. Know God, know peace.”
What’s your favorite part of working at DV8?
What I like most about working at DV8 is that we give people hope. Guests come in and tell me about a loved one who is in the grips of addiction. Seeing us, sober, smiling, and having meaningful conversations let’s them know there is still hope for the ones they love.
PJ
What’s your favorite position/task to work at DV8?
My favorite position to work at DV8 Kitchen is the build station in the back of the house. The reason that I love that station is because I love seeing things come together and create something great for someone else to enjoy!
First shift or last shift and why?
One of the things that I absolutely love about DV8 is that it’s a first-shift job! I love that I can get up in the morning and go to work, complete my shift, and still have daylight hours to do things with my kids, like baseball games/practice
What’s a customer/employee interaction that stands out to you?
My favorite customer reaction is while I’m working build, I love when someone comes in and says that our food is absolutely amazing.
Delivery
Kalyn
What’s your favorite position/task to work at DV8?
My favorite position is the register. I enjoy the personal interactions with the guests.
What’s your favorite recovery related saying/mantra?
If nothing changes, nothing changes!
What’s your favorite part of working at DV8?
My favorite part of working at DV8 is the connection and support in my recovery. I love the relationships that I have built and am yet to build being a part of the DV8 family.
Gratitudeand Donor Relations
Morgan
What is your favorite DV8 menu item?
The DV Ocho!
What inspires you?
The staff at DV8 inspire me. They put their recovery at the center of everything they do and give 100% effort at work (and outside of work!) I’m so lucky to surround myself with incredible people who push themselves to do great things and in turn inspiring me to do the same.
What’s your favorite position to work?
Though I don’t work in the restaurants often, my favorite place to be is front of house. I was a server at Sonny’s BBQ for 9 years throughout high school and college and I love providing excellent customer service and interacting with our guests.
