Meet the Avalon Hospitality Team

Our Food and Beverage experts are ready to serve you

When it comes to Food & Beverage services—we’ve got the dream team!

We love solving problems, and developing creative solutions that meet our valued clients’ F&B needs.

We recognize that no two clients are the same—that’s why we’re committed to understanding your business’ unique needs and goals, and creating customized a Food and Beverage plan that meets and exceeds them.

We can’t wait to partner with you on your Food and Beverage program goals!

We believe communication is a two-way street, so we also want you to get to know us, too.

We’re proud of our experience across the Food and Beverage industry, and we think you’ll see why we’re uniquely capable of helping you create a Food and Beverage program like no other.

Say Hello to our team!

CRAIG GRIMES—PARTNER

Craig earned his role as a service industry leader through his dedication and dynamism. He remains committed to driving optimal results through process improvement and organizational goal setting.

Because he keeps his finger on the pulse of the service industry, Craig understands today’s marketplace presents unprecedented challenges but also many opportunities. He loves bringing his expertise to helping clients find unique solutions to the issues they face.

Craig discovered his passion for the F&B industry as a boy of 15, when he started working in the kitchen. While some kids were skateboarding and struggling through algebra, Craig was studying product inventory lists and learning the fine art of expediting.

As he rose through the ranks of the food service industry, Craig maintained his passion for service and his desire to continue learning all he could about the F&B industry.

After earning his BS in Business Management, he parlayed his newfound knowledge of the industry to C-Suite ranks in top-shelf organizations including Marriott Hotels, Lone Star Steakhouse, Levy Restaurants, Cedar Fair Amusement Parks, Native Foods Café, and Compass Group Senior Living.

With his extensive experience, Craig racked up expertise in a wide range of areas, across the industry. Today, he’s our go-to guy in management and hourly recruitment, strategic planning, décor and design, finances, organizational development, executive coaching, performance management, marketing strategy, process improvement, and technology enhancements for point of sale and procurement systems.

Craig’s lifelong passion for unmatched service in the F&B industry makes him a valuable asset to any team. He’s ready to make your brand synonymous with best-in-class.

MARK SOUTHERN—PARTNER

Mark brings his operator and entrepreneur experience to the Avalon Hospitality team. Mark had led teams that span the hospitality continuum—from hotels to restaurants, senior living to contract food service providers.

Like his partners, Mark’s passion for hospitality runs deep and started early. He fell in love with the industry as a child living in Europe and witnessing the high level of service and cuisine in the storied establishments there.

He also has experience operating his own restaurant company. In this capacity, he developed and took several concepts from the drawing board to fully operational. His passion for world-class service and exceptional cuisine helped him develop and helm a group of ten restaurants across four states.

Mark’s also a big believer in lifelong learning. He holds a degree in Hospitality Business Management from Washington State University, and a master’s degree from Harvard University Extension School. He also currently serves on the steering committee of WSU’s Granger Cobb Institute for Senior Living.

Mark was also honored to chair the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) F&B Committee. In this role, he helped develop the HotelKitchen.org food waste initiative.

DAVE FRENCH—PARTNER

Dave is our resident procurement, supply chain, and product expert. Dave’s spearheaded massive initiatives, throughout the hospitality industry. He sees the industry from all angles, having worked closely with customers, distributors, and manufacturers.

One of his many claims to fame includes co-creating Hampton Inn’s clock radio, which was patented in 2005.

In his career working with Hilton and Hilton Supply Management, Dave supported over 6,000 hotels. He helmed the product development and integration efforts of major Hilton brands, including Doubletree, Homewood Suites, Hampton Inn, and Home2Suites.

Following his successful partnership with Hilton, Dave parlayed his expertise into supporting Sysco Guest Supply and Sysco Food Service as their Vice President of National Accounts. In this role, he oversaw and managed their hospitality sector.

Prior to founding Avalon Hospitality Partners, Dave served as Senior Vice President at RDI, a manufacturer in the lodging industry.

Dave holds his BA in Hospitality Business Management from Washington State University. He’s a Lifetime Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) through the Institute for Supply Management. Dave is also a Certified Food Purchasing Manager (CFPM) through the National Restaurant Association.

When not on the job, dreaming up creative and innovative ways to source and move products, Dave can be found at home in Virginia with his wife Jody and their two Westies.

Now that you know a bit more about us, we’d love to get to know you!

Get in touch with us to share your unique F&B needs—we can’t wait to hear all about it and help you find the customized solutions that work for you.

Let’s team up