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MercurysBall2 ago

Meet the Silvestri family that run Casa de Campo - Claudio and Rosthwil Silvestri, their son Philip and British wife Rebecca

https://localprofile.com/2016/01/07/newlyweds-with-a-baby-on-the-way-meet-the-new-owners/

My husband Philip is just as interesting. Born in the US (Phoenix, Arizona to be precise), to an Italian father and a German mother, at the tender age of 4, Philip found himself living in the Dominican Republic..His father, Claudio Silvestri, was the president of the famous Casa de Campo resort, and so Philip grew up enjoying all that paradise had to offer, from golf, to horseback riding, to the freedom of getting around in a golf cart! Mixed in with all that fun, however, Philip also got plenty of real-life experience on internships that took him all across the world, from Japan to Europe. Later graduating from Babson College, Philip started his own web development business in Miami (Boston had proven far too cold), and before long had relocated back to the Dominican Republic and Casa de Campo.

Back in the DR, Philip expanded his web design business into publishing. His first print magazine was CasaLife, the exclusive magazine of the Casa de Campo resort, published in 2005.

A surprise proposal at Disney...we bought a ridiculously large red sparkly Minnie Mouse ring. It was perfect.

On a side note… How we came to “inherit” Plano Profile....

“Once upon a time, a close-knit circle of friends embarked on a Caribbean cruise. Among the ports of call was La Romana in the Dominican Republic, home of the exclusive resort Casa de Campo.” Reminisces Jean Newman, founder of Plano Profile. Part of the group was former Plano Mayor John Longstreet, who, having leased office place from Philip’s father, Claudio Silvestri, is a dear friend of the family. John was also celebrating his 50th birthday and so Claudio, at the time president of the resort, invited the group to celebrate at his villa. (A little background here, not only was Philip’s sister, Jacqueline, born here in Texas, but his parents, Claudio and Roswitha, loved it so much they have had a home and commercial real estate business in this area ever since.)

..Today, just like Toyota, Fedex and Capital One, Philip has chosen to relocate his corporate headquarters to Plano and is managing our DR publications, as well as the web development business, from our offices on 15th Street.

MercurysBall2 ago

Quaker Steak & Lube has ambitious expansion plans - http://archive.is/wip/8VkNy

"We're going for that '50s kitchen look," said Mr. Longstreet, president and CEO since April of the casual dining chain known for chicken wings and a funky car-themed decor.

With Quaker Steak's 40 locations around the country and an aggressive expansion plan under way, Mr. Longstreet figures he spends more time out of the headquarters in Sharon, 75 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, than inside. "So I wanted something interesting, workable and comfortable. I gave my furniture to one of the new managers."

Career: 1969-70: short-order cook, A&W Restaurant, Sharon; 1971-73: dishwasher and executive chef, Old Express, Sharon; 1977-80: managing director, Restaurant Enterprises, Southampton, N.Y.; 1980-83: general manager, Seafood Express, Warren, Ohio; 1983-2000: food and beverage director and senior vice president, operations, Bristol Hotels & Resorts, Dallas; 2000-03: senior vice president of operations and chief transition officer, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Dallas; 2003-09: executive vice president, people strategy, and executive vice president, operations, ClubCorp, Dallas; 2009-10, president, Hospitality Leaders Group, Dallas; March 2010-present: president and CEO, Quaker Steak & Lube, Sharon.

..the corporate base occupies a former freighthouse along the railroad tracks in Sharon's downtown. The management team shares a parking lot with customers and employees of the original Quaker Steak restaurant, which used to be a gas station. About 40 people work at the headquarters, and there are 5,000 employees systemwide, including at company-owned restaurants and franchises...

.. I was 16 and working at the local A&W when a couple of fellows, George Warren and Gary Meszaros (who later founded Quaker Steak), decided to open the Old Express, a white-tablecloth steakhouse. It was in the train station building adjacent to where we're sitting today. I was the chef there by the time I was 17...In 1980, I was in New York and got a call from one of the founders to help with another restaurant they had, the Seafood Express. ..

At that time, they formed a board of directors and asked me to join. So when they called me to take over as president and chief executive, I knew what I was getting into. I knew the dynamics and the brand.

That decision was not difficult, but the decision to leave Texas after 25 years there was. I had been mayor of Plano, Texas, a city of 250,000, from 1996 to 2000.

Any of this ringing any bells for you @ORDOTEMPLIINTERNETIS ?

What's In Store: Love's, Pilot Flying J & Pump-N-Go - https://csnews.com/whats-store-loves-pilot-flying-j-pump-n-go

Love's Travel Stops is now serving customers at new travel stops in Florida, New Mexico and North Carolina...The three new stores feature a variety of restaurant options such as Chester's, Hardee's, McDonald's, Subway and Godfather's Pizza. The reopened location in Milan adds laundry facilities, increased restaurant seating and new showers. The Ellisville and Statesville locations offer Love's Truck Tire Care services, showers and all the new amenities and products expected at new Love's locations.

Three weeks later, the retailer opened another location in New Mexico, this time in Las Vegas. The store, located at the intersection of Interstate 25 and North Grand Avenue, opened its doors on June 28.

Pilot Flying J opened four Pilot Travel Centers in June. The new sites welcomed customers in Bunkie, La.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Monument, Colo.; and Hempstead, Texas.

..Pump-N-Go, a division of Stature Investments, broke ground on two new locations: 2 Magnolia Blvd. in Port Wentworth, Ga., and 4820 Augusta Road in Garden City, Ga..."Currently, we're operating 15 locations under the Pump-N-Go brand with plans to add additional stores over the next six months," said Yash Desai, president and chief operating officer of Stature Investments.

In addition, TARG's Quaker Steak & Lube signed a development agreement Robert Berkstresser, owner of the Petro Stopping Centers/White's Travel Center located at I-81/I-64, exit 205, in Rockbridge County, Va...There are 46 Quaker Steak & Lube restaurants operating nationally as standalone restaurants, as well as in airports, arenas and universities. TravelCenters owns and operates 16 of these restaurants, while the remaining are franchised locations.

Related:

George Floyd, El Nuevo Rodeo, Denny's and Pilot Flying J

Dog Walker discovers Bel Air neighborhood Pizza Place, Chapel, Welder, Cafe, and Freight Biz Google Maps Pins run out of houses owned by: NICA INC. Could be human trafficking tunnel or network in LA.