ACG WI: Summer Social | Bacchus

Four-time nominated and two-time James Beard award-winning Chef Paul Bartolotta is the co-founder and owner of The Bartolotta Restaurants, the premier restaurant group in the Greater Milwaukee region. An internationally celebrated chef and restaurateur, Chef Bartolotta has brought his culinary talent and vision to kitchens all over the world – from Italy to Paris to New York to Las Vegas – for more than 30 years. With an education and training steeped in tradition and authenticity, Chef Bartolotta’s culinary skills have earned him numerous accolades from the James Beard Foundation, Michelin Guide, New York Times, the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA), AAA, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and others. His passion for creating authentic experiences continues to inspire the growth of the company that he and his brother, Joe, launched in 1993. Their achievements have earned them national recognition, with a nomination by the James Beard Foundation for Outstanding Restaurateur four years in a row – 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. 

Originally from Wisconsin, Chef Bartolotta offers his vision, expertise, and strengths in new business development to The Bartolotta Restaurants, contributions he has made since he and his brother opened their first concept, Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993, an inviting, authentic Italian restaurant. Today, The Bartolotta Restaurants operates 17 award-winning restaurants and catering facilities, including Bacchus – A Bartolotta Restaurant, Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro, and Harbor House.

Keith Trafton serves as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of The Bartolotta Restaurants, the premier restaurant group in the Greater Milwaukee region. A veteran leader and executive with more than 30 years of experience in accounting, operations, sales, human resources, and information technology, Mr. Trafton oversees the organization’s 16 award-winning restaurants and catering facilities. Having served under Co-Founders Joe and Paul Bartolotta since joining the company as Chief Financial Officer in 2008, Mr. Trafton has successfully engineered the growth of The Bartolotta Restaurants portfolio, while further establishing the company and its family of employees as the region’s most knowledgeable, forward-thinking, and community- minded culinary brand. 

Throughout his 30-plus years in management, Mr. Trafton has remained focused on investing and working with an organization’s most important assets – its people. At The Bartolotta Restaurants, he is responsible for hundreds of employees in dozens of roles at the company’s food and beverage outlets. In 2012, the Milwaukee Business Journal named Mr. Trafton CFO of the Year. 

Mr. Trafton joined The Bartolotta Restaurants following a successful tenure at Milwaukee-based Super Steel Products Corporation, where he served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2004 to 2005 and President and Chief Executive Officer from 2005 to 2008. A legacy brand well known throughout Milwaukee, Super Steel is a leading manufacturer serving the agricultural, construction, industrial, transportation, and defense markets. 

Prior to Super Steel Products Corporation, Mr. Trafton served as Controller for Helgesen Industries Inc. in Hartford, Wisconsin. He has also served as Cost Accounting Manager for Leeson Electric Corporation and as Accounting Manager for Wacker Neuson. 

Mr. Trafton holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Additionally, he is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant.