We’re thrilled to have such an incredible, diverse group of accomplished professionals join the Manna family. We all share passion for food, technology, innovation and community. Working together is vital to our future success. More at: manna-app.com/about
Russell Sternlicht
CEO @ Tone It Up
Internationally experienced executive with an extensive background in consumer branded businesses, including hospitality & leisure, luxury goods, food & beverage, specialty retail and soft goods & accessories primarily derived from corporate, private equity and M&A activities responsibilities. Comprehensive P&L experience adept at strategic planning, turnarounds, branding and growth, investor management and fundraising. Diverse financial acumen – experienced in mergers, acquisitions, minority interests, recapitalizations, equity & debt offerings. Significantly experienced with complex transaction restructuring, negotiation, and influence internationally – United States, Europe, Middle East and Far East. Open thinker, intellectually curious and intellectually honest.
Nick Martschenko
Chef & Restaurant Owner @ South End
After graduating the Culinary Institute of America in 1998, Nick Martschenko joined forces with two-time James Beard Award winner Melissa Kelly and then worked alongside Chef/Owner Tom Colicchio at the famed Gramercy Tavern in NYC. With years of experience cooking side-by-side with well-respected members of the culinary world, Nick became Executive Chef at i Trulli in New York City and Solaia in Connecticut and, from 2009 to 2012, he transformed Winged Foot Golf Club's dining program. Over the past 10 years, Nick has poured his heart and soul into South End and SE Uncorked in New Canaan, Connecticut as its Chef/Owner. The New York Times gave South End a “Very Good” rating in a March 2014 review for delivering a “stimulating gustatory experience.”
Wendi Cassuto
Chief Talent Officer @ Sustainable Talent
At Sustainable Talent, we apply our unique lens for identifying talent and pair it with your company's DNA to create the best cultural fit. Our business vision was born out of a desire to change the existing staffing model and create a more personalized approach to connecting candidates with opportunities. Throughout my career as an executive sales & marketing team leader, I have developed a high bar for identifying, honing and vetting talent. My deep experience in building sales & marketing teams has led me to this leadership role at Sustainable Talent, where I bring top interim marketing professionals to elevate your brand.
Heather Mee
EVP, Marketing @ Global Brands Group
Heather leads strategic marketing and branding for Global Brands Group’s portfolio of apparel, accessories and footwear brands. Her focus is on driving growth through creative innovation — innovative marketing, digital transformation, design collaborations, consumer-centric solutions, and global market expansion. Brand initiatives include: Frye, Aquatalia, Katy Perry Collections, Taryn Rose, Spyder, Sean John, B NY and Tahari ASL. She also leads the GBG Innovates program, including TechLinks, the company’s start-up engagement initiative.
Sergei Kuharsky
EVP, Digital, Franchises & Marketing @ BBC Studios
Sergei Kuharsky was among the architects of Food Network’s rise from an obscure cable network with shows of cooks behind stoves to a multi-media powerhouse brand inspiring everyone who eats to celebrate the power and joy of food. Kuharsky has been the strategic marketer behind such brands as Walt Disney Studios, Nickelodeon, BBC Studios and Johnson & Johnson’s Tylenol. He was a founder and board member of successful joint ventures between Food Network and Hearst (Magazines) and BBC and iTV (BritBox SVOD service). He also serves on the board of Hollywood’s Digital Entertainment Group (D.E.G.). He is a graduate of Brown University and The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. On weekends, odds are good you’ll find him firing up his backyard smoker to transform some plain old protein into something mouth-watering. There are rarely leftovers.
Dr. Fred Pescatore, MD
Natural Physician @ Logical Health Alternatives
Fred Pescatore, MD. MPH, CCN is a Manhattan-based traditionally trained physician and internist who specializes in nutritional medicine. He is a globally-renowned health, nutrition, and weight loss expert, as well as the author of 7 books including the New York Times bestsellers - The Hamptons Diet and newly released The A-List Diet. He is the president of the International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists and a member of the College for the Advancement of Medicine. Dr. Pescatore’s extraordinary background in Complementary Medicine led him to open his globally recognized medical center, Medicine 369, in New York City. The rapid expanding practice is credited as one of the most effective and successful integrative medical centers worldwide.
Mario Nelson
Co-Founder @ Byte News
Mario is an operator and problem solver focused on providing valuable, enhanced experiences to consumers. He holds a B.A. and MHA from The Johns Hopkins University and his career began in Deloitte's Healthcare Strategy Consulting practice where he developed a passion for building products and services that were centered around consumers. He's worked with consumer health tech companies to help form revenue-generating partnerships and expand into international markets. Mario is also a co-founder of Byte News, Inc. a consumer mobile app that provides personalized audio news summaries to help users discover the content they enjoy. He is excited to bring his business development, marketing, and strategy experience to help Manna achieve its vision.
Robert Davis
EVP, Strategy @ PJA
Formerly Global Leader, User Experience for top-10 digital agency Answerthink, overseeing digital and multichannel experience practice and leading strategy for global brands including IBM and Lipton. Led digital strategy for SAP, Verizon Wireless/Alltel and Sears-funded startup Manage My Home at Think Interactive. Currently EVP Strategy at PJA, leading brand and digital strategy for Tableau, Red Hat, WEX, Guardian Life, Pimacott and HomeGrown Cotton and numerous early/stage biotech startups. Developed strategy and brand for startup organic content platform for Red Hat now ranked #4 online content source for CIOs. Frequent speaker; developed numerous frameworks integrating design thinking methods into brand innovation strategy; deep in planning for a circular fashion venture.
Ken Pilot
Advisor & Investor @ Deep North
Ken Pilot has over 30 years of retail, C-level operating experience at Gap, J.Crew, Ralph Lauren and others. As a consultant he is focused on shifting the current mindset of omni-channel retail to DTC. Retailers with stand alone divisions often compete against each other rather than working together to support driving sales. Customers don't care which channel supports their purchase, they simply want their purchase supported in a frictionless manner. Reducing "clicks to purchase" can be as powerful in-store as it is online. Ken evaluates Points of distribution, store productivity, inventory maximization, online efficiency, social media reach, mobile capability, customer and sales associate centric apps, conversion and check out. Working with a Best in class mobile platform developer, as well as RFID and AI leaders. Ken will work with companies to strategize pop up solutions, smaller stores, less inventory coordinating technology implementation to improve the in-store experience for customers and associates. The goal is to create a frictionless experience for the consumer and an improved Sales, Profit and ROI.