DAVELLA STUDIOS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Project Consultant
Chris is a seasoned foodservice design professional with over 25 years of professional culinary and hospitality experience. He started as a line cook and advanced through the rank at various independent restaurants and decorated hotels in and around New York City and Long Island. He has also helped develop and successfully launch restaurants for multiple operators and restaurant companies. Chris possesses an ideal combination of hospitality design and foodservice experience. Paired with a distinct knowledge base in marketing, product development and manufacturing, allows Chris to provide not only a true understanding of culinary operations but also how to apply his experience to a client's unique vision and solution. In designing a facility, he is as concerned with first cost, fit and flow as he is with durability, adaptability and ease of long term maintenance. This approach is complemented by his operations background; having completed a culinary degree. Working with celebrity chefs, leading hotels and resorts, Chris has been able to learn from the best and has identified the elements common to all successful operations. Chris' combined technical and culinary knowledge has proven to be invaluable.
Trained in the culinary arts, James Davella brings a distinctive, hands-on approach to the consulting and design process. He possesses a keen understanding of chefs' needs and knows firsthand what it takes to create a successful operation-from conception through opening.
After more than 25 years in the hospitality industry, James has accumulated vast expertise in restaurant and hotel operations, culinary design, construction, financial analysis and project management. This unparalleled combination of specialized education and experience has earned James widespread respect and has catapulted Davella Studios to the forefront of the industry.
James holds a Masters in Business Administration from Fordham University's Graduate School of Business, a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration and an Associate of Science in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University.
Matt Daley brings more than 20 years of professional design experience to his role at Davella Studios, having worked on diverse projects throughout his career-including celebrity chef restaurants, hotels, convention centers, stadiums, higher education and corporate dining.
Leading a team of CAD technicians through all phases of a design project, Matt is responsible for the quality and timeliness of project documentation, scheduling resources and interdisciplinary coordination to ensure success.
Matt has an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Aided Drafting/Design from Mesa State College as well as an advanced certificate in Computer Aided Drafting/Design. He holds additional certifications in AutoCAD and is proficient in Revit.
Born in Brazil, Mauricio Porto holds a Bachelor in Advertising and Marketing in Rio de Janeiro , with background in Art and Creative Direction for advertising agencies, having participated in many campaigns for important Brazilian and international corporations, such as Ernst & Young, Icatu-Hartford, Record Publisher, among others.
He also worked as Marketing Director and Designer for Vila Ventura Eco Resort, in Porto Alegre, South of Brazil. The resort plays an important role for nature preservation, tourism, events and sports, and gained major evidence and business growth with his collaboration. In 2014 the place was chosen by FIFA as Official Accommodation for the World Cup in Brazil.
Job Titles:
- CAD / Revit Designer
- Revit Designer
Graduated with a Bachelor's degree of Fine Arts in Interior Design in 2014, Simone brought to Davella Studios the experience from food service industry, having worked for the Melting Pot and Burger 21, where she started as an intern/assistant to the Interior Designer and was promoted to Construction and Design Manager.