Detroit Food Scene - Finding Success in a Food-Crazy City

Andrew has over 10 years of experience in both investment banking and business operations. Prior to joining GCG, Andrew was a VP with FINNEA Group, a leading middle market investment bank and held differentiated financial management roles at General Mills. Additionally, Andrew co-owns and operates five restaurants in the Metro Detroit Area. Andrew is a minority owner and sits on the Board of Directors for Pop Daddy Popcorn, a Michigan based ready to eat popcorn company. Andrew is also an advisor and board member to numerous non-profits in the Detroit area and acts a special advisor to Crain’s Detroit Business on the food and beverage category. Andrew received his BA in Finance, with high honor, from Michigan State University.

Wendy began her entrepreneurial career by making a handful of pies in her home kitchen and selling them at local farm markets nearly 25 years ago. Today, she and her husband, Dave, have six retail shops in Metro Detroit, and serve an additional 150 restaurants and grocers in Michigan, Chicago, the Mid-Atlantic, Southwest and Canada. Most important, they're happy to employ more than 100 great Michiganders.

Recognizing and respecting environmental impact has been tightly woven into Wendy’s life and business philosophy for 30 years. Since her company’s infancy, she has taken steps toward ethical consumerism with every action. Wendy remains committed to finding ways to make her life and business thoughtful, from the all-natural, locally sourced, non-GMO ingredients in her pies, to the recyclable boxes in which they are placed and nearly every process in between.

Today, Wendy continues to recognize her responsibility to our earth as she carves out its needs when moving forward with her own; which is why Achatz Handmade Pie Company is recognized as “Pies with a Conscience.”

Erin Sarafa was born and raised in Pontiac, MI. She Graduated from Pontiac Catholic High School and attended Oakland Community College.

Erin spent 8 years working at Coca-Cola, mostly in accounting, A/P and A/R positions. At the same time she worked evenings at The Palace of Auburn Hills in their A/P department for their food service division. Erin and her husband of 21 years and business partner, Mark Sarafa, met while working together at Coca-Cola.

In 1999, Erin (and her then business partner) opened two National Franchise Locations that sold Candles and Home Decor Items. One was located at Laurel Park Place Mall and the other at The Westland Mall. She owned and operated those two successful locations for ten years. While there, her true passion was in sales and customer service as well as in the human resource side of the business.

Today, Erin is Co-Founder and Owner of Pop Daddy Popcorn which is based in Whitmore Lake, MI. Pop Daddy Popcorn and Pretzels are sold in over 1,000 retail locations in 10 States and growing!

Erin gives credit for the success of the company to the tireless efforts and teamwork put forth by her husband, Mark, and their employees, who always put quality first.

Erin and Mark are grateful for the support from the community in which they live as well as all of the support from Family and Friends.

David is a metro-Detroit native who, in addition to Grey Ghost Detroit, currently works as a controller in the private equity industry in Detroit, Michigan. David’s job requirements include accounting, tax and financial reporting. David studied at Loyola University – Chicago receiving a Bachelors of Business Administration with a focus in Accounting before going on to earn his Masters of Science in Accountancy. David participated in three internship programs, before beginning his career in public accounting. David spent time in the very early stages of his career auditing and used this opportunity to develop a comprehensive understanding of the accounting function which aided in his eventual transition to tax. After transitioning to tax David spent time in the Hospitality and Real Estate industries, developing an extensive knowledge of Partnership taxation. After nearly 7 years in the public accounting industry, David left to become the controller at a private equity firm where he has been for 4 + years.

David's role at Grey Ghost Detroit is to handle all aspects of financial reporting, bank reporting, human resources, contract negotiations and general financial operations for the restaurant.