THE NEW AMERICAN TAVERN - Key Persons
Damon Kornhauser has 15 years of experience in hospitality management, operations and service design. After beginning his career at the Union Square Café, Damon managed large and small restaurants for Mario Batali and Michael White's AltraMarea Group. More recently, Damon started Ourmagination where he applies cultural dynamics and organizational development in designing service training programs to promote authentic connection for guests and to inspire collective creativity among staff.
Sophia Chitlik is a lifelong civil servant with experience in politics, campaigns, and government. After completing her studies in political community building at NYU, Sophia worked at the White House before becoming one of youngest political appointees in the administration. She is passionate about volunteer outreach, civic education, and building diverse communities. Sophia sees civic education and involvement as the foundation for social change.
Todd Schechter, MPA, is passionate about helping individuals and communities achieve their potential through connection, learning, and collaboration. The New American Tavern is his effort to empower local citizens to deepen their engagement with democracy and with each other. He has worked as a strategy and organizational development consultant with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, and local governments and has worked in restaurants as a host, line cook, busboy and dishwasher. He has the skills, the experiences, the network and the commitment necessary to see this vision through to reality.