Team
Dale Schwartz
Founder/CEO
Mr. Schwartz has extensive experience in the formation, financing and expansion of various companies. In 2006, he founded Pinstripes, Inc. and is currently CEO of this unique bowling/bocce/bistro venture. In 2000, he was Co-Founder, Co-CEO of Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, Inc., a distinctive natural pharmacy retailer. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Schwartz was Chief Executive Officer of Infigen, Inc., a private biotechnology company developing its proprietary nuclear transfer/cloning and genomic technologies. From 1991 to 1996, he was Chief Financial Officer of Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company commercializing its Nobel prize-winning genetic engineering technology. From 1987 to 1990, Mr. Schwartz was a Principal with Odyssey Partners, L.P., a private limited partnership engaged in leveraged buyouts, venture capital and recapitalizations. From 1983 to 1985, he was an Analyst in Morgan Stanley’s Mergers & Acquisitions department, and from 1979 to 1988 he was Founder and President of D & J Sealcoating, Inc., an asphalt sealcoating company. Mr. Schwartz has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University and a Masters in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.
Chris Soukup
Chief Operations Officer
Mr. Soukup has over 35 years of restaurant experience, including both front-of-house and back-of-house operations. He received extensive service training at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, and has managed many high-volume restaurant concepts throughout the United States. He started his management career with the Larimer Group, a collection of restaurants in Denver Colorado, and the majority of his career was spent on the West Coast with Hillstone Restaurant Group. Prior to Pinstripes, he was on the opening team for Cheesecake Factory’s concept: Grand Lux Café Chicago, one of the busiest restaurants in America. Mr. Soukup has been very instrumental in the development of Pinstripes and has been working to grow the brand from its inception in 2006. His passion and drive have helped shape some of the most successful restaurants in the industry.
Cesar Gutierrez
Chief Culinary Officer
Chef Gutierrez brings a strong background in Italian American comfort cuisine. He began his career with Maggiano’s, in the Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant Group working his way through the ranks and becoming Executive Chef. He then joined Cenitare Restaurant Group as Corporate Chef, opening and operating three concepts in the Westin Hotel in Wheeling: Osteria Di Tramonto, Tramonto Steak & Seafood and RT Lounge. He then became Executive Chef of Volare Ristorante Italiano at Oakbrook Terrace, and was also Executive Chef of Pete Miller’s Seafood-Prime Steak and Davis Street Fishmarket at Schaumburg and Wheeling. Prior to joining Pinstripes, he was Executive Chef for Francesca’s on Chestnut and DiSotto Enoteca Gold Coast.
Lida Ahn
Chief People Officer
Ms. Ahn has been a passionate teacher and has enjoyed watching others grow throughout her entire career. She began her career in the hospitality industry with the J. Alexander’s company where she advanced to a leadership role as Lead Trainer. She then joined the Cenitare Restaurant Group in Wheeling, IL, a high-concept restaurant group, where she participated in the opening of Tramonto’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant and the RT Lounge. Ms. Ahn joined Pinstripes as an opening team member and has had a lead role in creating and training staff in all front-of-house systems. Ms. Ahn has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oberlin College and studied at Trinity International University for her Masters of Arts.
Tony Querciagrossa
Chief Financial Officer
Querciagrossa is a seasoned executive with more than 15 years of both public and private equity general management and CFO experience building and leading, highly effective global teams across businesses with varying levels of scale and complexity. Most recently, he was President of Columbus Industries, Inc, a leading manufacturer of residential filtration and an operating company of Filtration Group Corporation. Prior to Columbus Industries, he was President of Purafil Inc. and before that Group CFO of Filtration Group’s Indoor Air Quality businesses. Previously, he served as VP Finance at Medline Industries, Inc, a large manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies with $20 billion in revenues. Querciagrossa began his career in finance with General Electric. Querciagrossa holds a degree in finance from Northern Illinois University.
Christine Ferris
VP of Marketing
Christine Ferris is a seasoned marketing professional with 10+ years of experience working in the restaurant & hospitality industry for award-winning national brands including fast-casual burger restaurant, Smashburger, and most recently full-service casual dining brand True Food Kitchen. Ferris has been instrumental in spearheading strategic marketing initiatives with a proven track record in driving sales and unit growth. Throughout her career, she has overseen key functions on the marketing team including brand strategy, digital marketing, local store and grassroots marketing, public relations, and new store openings. Key accomplishments for Ferris throughout her career include successfully opening more than 150 restaurants, launching new revenue streams via off-premise and catering resulting in double digit SSS% growth, and increasing guest frequency via new CRM and loyalty partnerships. Ferris earned her degree in Marketing from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder.