User:Jomid7/sandbox

Tastemaker. Mondain(e). Entrepreneur.

Steve Salis has proven his ability to incubate an idea into successful business ventures across hospitality brands. His meteoric rise in leading both emerging and institutional lifestyle brands has made him one of DC's most sought after entrepreneurs.

In 2012, at the age of 27, Steve co-founded and led &pizza as CEO from concept to 13 restaurants and a $35m enterprise value in just three years. Today the company has 20 locations in three states and DC and continues to grow at a rapid rate. His deep background in advising many turnaround and start-up restaurants typically ranging in 35m+ in revenues includes a wide range of hospitality brands.

As the successor of a landmark independent bookstore and cafe of both social and historical significance, Steve is committed to preserving the history and legacy of Kramerbooks. He embraces his role as cultural steward of this beloved institution with his vision for recreating this brand as the epicenter of central DC for all generations.

Throughout his career, Steve has created strong cultural identities around the brands he's led and strengthened the communities where these brands exist through job creation, corporate social responsibility and a profoundly keen sense of what it takes to become a connected community.

Named a top entrepreneur by various local business and lifestyle publications, Steve continues to build his hospitality and lifestyle portfolio with opportunities that focus a lens on transforming DC into being the country's leading destination and City.

An accomplished athlete, Steve was both a McDonald's All-American and Parade All-American Basketball nominee, and a scholarship recipient of the University of New Hampshire.