PRESIDENT
SHANG SKIPPER
A Coastal Carolina Alumni, grew up in Myrtle Beach, SC. Skipper began his restaurant management career at Hard Rock Café in ’95. Shang then moved to Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group in 1999 and managed restaurants for them all over the country including Double Eagle Steak House of New York City and quickly moved his way up in the company to be a Regional Manager at Sullivan’s Steakhouse covering the East Coast. He then moved over to The Grille becoming Regional Manager and then Vice President of Operations, nationwide. Shang’s most recent career move was becoming a Multi-Concept Brand Leader for LMR, LLC in the Raleigh-Durham area of NC. LMR, LLC is a hospitality management company that operates concepts such as Vidrio, Bluewater Waterfront Grill and the Carolina Ale House sports bar and restaurant chain. Shang Skipper relocated again to become President of Mac’s Hospitality Group, a multi-brand restaurant company based in Charlotte, NC encompassing the brands of Mac’s Speed Shop, Southbound, Backstage Lounge, The Music Yard and The Studio.
VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
TONY SALERNO
Born and raised just outside of Washington, DC, Tony began his restaurant career as a dishwasher with TGI Fridays in 1993 and worked his way through the hourly and management positions until he reached General Manager over his 10 years with the company. Tony then relocated to Wilmington, NC with Red Robin Gourmet Burgers opening the brand’s first site in North Carolina. Salerno then helped the brand expansion across the state as the Regional Operations Director. In 2012, he joined Bar Louie Restaurant, LLC as Director of Operations, managing bars in MO, MI, VA, NC, SC, and FL. 4 years later, Tony was hired on to LMR, LLC based in Raleigh, NC as the Director of Beverage and shortly thereafter, the Brand Leader for Carolina Ale House. Today, Tony Salerno is VP of Operations with Mac’s Hospitality Group, a multi-brand restaurant company encompassing Mac’s Speed Shop, SouthBound, BackStage Lounge, The Music Yard, and The Studio.
VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE
KENNY CRENSHAW
A Virginia Tech Alumni, grew up in Richmond, VA. Kenny began his career with Big 4 Consulting Firm Deloitte, followed by a stint with banking giant Wachovia, now Wells Fargo, where he worked in corporate finance for M&A deals. He next spent a year working for a Charlotte-based payroll processing company, HR America, which he was instrumental in a sale of the business to strategic buyer Gevity. Crenshaw then worked for multiple years for a healthcare technology firm, Secure EDI, where he assisted in acquiring 2 business’ and a $40MM investment from London-based private equity firm Abingworth. Crenshaw has been the VP of Finance for Mac’s Hospitality Group, a multi-brand restaurant company based in Charlotte, NC encompassing the brands of Mac’s Speed Shop, Southbound, Backstage Lounge and The Music Yard since 2015. In this time, has overseen an addition of 5 new restaurants, navigated the company through the financial landmine COVID presented the industry, and has overseen multiple platform upgrades to ensure Mac’s is on the cutting edge of restaurant-based technology.
DIRECTOR OF CULINARY
CHEF ANDRES KAIFER
Born and raised in Miami. Andres was inspired by his Spanish heritage and mother to begin his culinary journey at the age of 15 as a dishwasher at Anacapri Italian Restaurant. Andres wanted to continue his career into the hospitality industry and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY. Kaifer’s first management position was at Wish Restaurant in Miami as a Junior Sous Chef. He then opened his first restaurant called Beaker & Gray in Wynwood as Executive Sous Chef and Managing Partner. Kaifer relocated to the Raleigh-Durham market becoming Chef de Cuisine at The Durham Hotel soon accepting his first Executive Chef position in August 2019 at Vidrio of Raleigh, NC. Kaifer now accepted a multi-brand Culinary Director position where he works directly with the President at Mac’s Hospitality Group guiding culinary decisions for Mac’s Speed Shop, SouthBound, BackStage Lounge and The Music Yard.
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
CALLIE MURRAY
A UNC Charlotte Alumni, was born and raised in Charlotte, NC. Callie began her career journey in the restaurant industry as a Hostess, Server, and Trainer through college. Murray fell in love with hospitality and used her restaurant experience and bachelor’s degree to start working at Firebirds Wood Fired Grill’s corporate office and moved through many different positions – Receptionist, IT Assistant, Accounting Clerk, Payroll Clerk, and Marketing Manager. She managed marketing for 23 of the brand’s locations in the northeast for almost 4 years. In total, Murray was with Firebirds Wood Fired Grill for almost 10 years but was lured to Mac’s Speed Shop in 2019 to take on their marketing department as Marketing and Events Manager for the single brand. Within a few months, Callie grew into the Director of Marketing role for Mac’s Hospitality Group. She now oversees Marketing for the group’s flagship brand, Mac’s Speed Shop with 8 locations stretched over the Carolinas, and 4 other brands under Mac’s Hospitality Group’s umbrella – SouthBound, The Music Yard, BackStage Lounge, and The Studio all located in Charlotte, NC. Murray serves as an Advisor on the George Washing School of Business Advisory Council for Digital Marketing. Callie has also been recognized in Charlotte’s Top 30 Under 30 Class of 2021.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & BEVERAGE
JAY SPUNGIN
Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. He grew up in and around his family’s 3 restaurants in Downtown Durham, long before it became one of the culinary epicenters of North Carolina. Jay is a veteran of the Triangle restaurant community, having worked with chefs like Scott Howell and Ashley Christensen. He was then lured to Charlotte, NC in 2019 to work with Jon Dressler, owner of Rare Roots Hospitality as General Manager and golf buddy. Jay then joined Mac’s Hospitality Group in 2021 as Director of Operations/Beverage Director. Spungin now oversees Operations and Beverage for the group’s flagship brand, Mac’s Speed Shop with 8 locations stretched over the Carolinas, and 4 other brands under Mac’s Hospitality Group’s umbrella – SouthBound, The Music Yard, BackStage Lounge and The Studio all located in Charlotte, NC.
