Jon is the cultural guru of RRH. He makes a stranger family and family feel strange. His philosophy is based on some very basic tenets that remain true to this day:
Take care of the guest, have fun and make money. It is simply, Family first. Do business with strangers as if they were brothers. After loyalty come ability, skill and competence. Promote only able people and find them by testing them.

Jon is a proud Penn State undergraduate and earned an MBA-Finance from University of Texas-Dallas. Jon started in the restaurant business washing dishes at the age of 16 and has never forgotten his roots.  Busing tables, serving, managing and now owning a string of successful ventures. Jon is very proud of the long term relationships he enjoys with team members.

Jon is an avid golfer and loves all sport Philadelphia. When he is not working on his handicap or rooting for his favorite teams, he is busy idolizing his wife or dealing with his brash and sassy teenage children

Kim Dressler is the driving design force behind all of the RRH concepts. Her vision, tastes, color pallets and style are on display in all of the restaurants. So much so, that she is known as The Decorator.

Schooled at University of Maryland, she has an extensive hotel background, prior to working at Morton’s. At Morton’s, she met the love of her life (well, her current love and husband). In 2003, they embarked on their signature Dressler’s Restaurant in Birkdale Village.

Kim is the proud mother of two teens and her third child, her doting husband of 18 years. Kim and Jon were married in Pinehurst on a magically hot weekend. She claims it was the best day of her life.

Kim has not been directly involved in the restaurant operations for some time, devoting her time to being one of the caring and most giving people known to mankind. She will be joining TPH as coordinator of private events.

Charlotte native Jonathan Cox loves adventuring and it shows.  From a stint in a Michelin 2 star restaurant in Vico,
Italy to backpacking through Europe to the dishes he constructs at Dogwood Jonny knows how to grab attention
on the plate and keep it.

His commitment to creating a positive kitchen culture featuring fantastic dishes that are both simple and honest is his
focus- as well as putting aside pride and continuing to learn.

From his beginnings with Rare Roots at Dressler’s Metro to his time in Italy to his current position as Executive Chef at
Dogwood, Chef Cox is always looking for the next adventure.

Our most eligible bachelorette until New Year’s Eve 2020, Ally, was born and raised in Ohio. As soon as she got her wits about her, she left her snow boots and mittens up North and headed South in search of blue skies and warmer weather.

After a few years in Charlotte, she was lucky enough to be welcomed into the Rare Roots family—all thanks to her friend BK (perhaps you’ve heard of her).

When she’s not at work you can find her still working, napping but most likely eating. She also enjoys short walks on the beach, an ever-full glass of Cooper and Thief and all you can eat tacos. She’s recently taken an interest in stand-up comedy, despite the constant feedback that she’s just not that funny.

She has been with the company for 4 years, but boy, does it seem like much longer. What she enjoys most about her job is working one on one with guests and helping to make sure their event is uniquely special. What she loves most about the job is family meal, but her coworkers come in a very close second.

If you ever need to throw a party—this is your go-to girl.

Team member from day one!
Proud father of the most caring and loving 9 year old daughter Maeve.  He is also devoted to his wife Liz.  Kevin came to Charlotte via Buffalo N.Y., Home of the Universe Champion Buffalo Bills and Greatest Hockey team the Buffalo Sabres. He has been behind the timbers for nearly 35 years, so as he sees it:

He has never worked a day in his life.

Born and raised in the Queen City Ellis has been a part of the Charlotte food scene for some time.  She received most of her formative training at the Village Tavern in her early years.  After a stint selling wine and she started with Rare Roots at Dressler’s Metro.   She became a vital part of The Porter’s House opening team in 2016.   She now is at the helm of The Porter’s House as general manager along with Chris Alderman, Jeff Keiser, and Chef Rob Clement.

App State Alum – Go Mountaineers !

Best Friend to Shiloh

Lover of Coors & Converse

#flanneloverfashion

#coorsandconverse

#hoodiesoverhops

Derrick is a native Charlottean. He has been married to his wife Judy for 28 years. They have two kids; a son Alexandre 22 years old who is a senior at Wingate University, and a daughter Darah who is a 19 year old sophomore at Montreat College.

He has been in the restaurant industry for over thirty years. His duties have ranged from dishwasher to GM/Maitre’D. Excellent guest service is his forte. His management philosophy is ” Management with Integrity ” which stresses Professionalism, Execution, Teamwork and Work Ethic, and Positive Mental Attitude.

Derrick loves people and loves serving people. He loves Dressler’s because we emphasize all of those strengths !!

Growing up in small town PA Michele never thought about the strange lands below the Mason-Dixon line, but as fate would have it she was accepted to UNC-Charlotte and this northern influenced southern city became her home.

Learning the volume game at The Olive Garden, the small, chef-driven style of boutique dining at Ann Breeze’s Palatable Pleasures and completing a long stint at 300 East Michele became completely immersed in hospitality.  But, by far the most fortuitous move of all was being hired to be on the opening team at Dogwood where all the lessons of the past coalesced into a fun, challenging, love-filled present and future adventures.

Michele helps run the show at Dogwood now and is curating one of the most thoughtful wine lists in South Park.

Erik has been with Dressler’s Restaurant for four-and-a-half years. During that time, he has enjoyed developing a special relationship with the staff and guests. Much like the rest of the team at Dressler’s, Erik has a keen sense of humor and a strong devotion to his job and the people he encounters every day. When Erik isn’t at work he enjoys spending time with his wife Debbie and son Sean.

Tim Buchanan has had a part in all 6 of the Rare Roots restaurants over the years. Raised in the mountains of NC, Tim started his hospitality industry life in the Berkshires of MA.  Tim became general  manager of Pearl’s Restaurant in Great Barrington, MA when he was 20yrs old.  Pearl’s garnered regional  attention from the Boston Globe as well as national attention from Travel & Leisure, Architecture Digest,  and others.  One of the highlights of his six years at Pearl’s for Tim was being invited to bring his team to  prepare a meal at the James Beard House in NYC.

Tim and his wife, Ericka Faye, moved back to the south at her request and they built a home in Charlotte.  His father-in-law and he built the house themselves while Tim worked for Dresslers Birkdale and  Max’s Allly.  After finishing the home,  Tim spent 4 years as wine director/floor manager at Capital Grille in  uptown Charlotte before returning to the fold and becoming the general manager at Dressler’s Metropolitan.  He along with the rest of the creative team conceived and developed the idea of what is now Dogwood, The Porter’s House, and Fin & Fino.

Tim lives with his two wild and crazy sons (Wylie Augustus ‘The Great’, and Porter Call), his beautiful wife Ericka Faye (also his high school sweetheart), and dog Charlie Buckets.

Currently you can find Tim at the helm of Fin & Fino in Uptown.

Executive Chef Scott Hollingsworth was raised in Cornelius, NC. He inherited a passion for food from his mother at a very early age. Scott has been working in Lake Norman and Charlotte area restaurants for more than 25 years. His commitment to quality, freshness, and creative presentation drew him to Dressler’s Restaurant in October of 2005. Scott has been married to Rhonda since 2001. His interests include his beloved Washington Redskins, fishing, and his dog.

Sarah French is a native of North Carolina and very proud to be from Union County.  She now lives in Tega Cay, SC with her husband Justin and teenage daughter Auri.  She attended culinary school at CPCC and has worked in restaurants for many years.  Sarah started her career as a pastry chef and now still enjoys making cakes and treats for her friends and coworkers.  Her true passion is service, helping to make sure every guest has a wonderful experience.  In her free time, she enjoys watching her daughter play lacrosse and traveling with her husband.

Sarah as been a vital part of the opening of Dogwood, The Porter’s House, and Fin & Fino where you will find her most days.

Beginning his life as a back of the house jack of all trades Jonathan worked his way up the ranks and soon found himself in the front of the house and then managing alongside Jon Dressler’s at Mortons.

Working at all the Rare Roots concepts Jonathan proved himself adept at managing people, guests, and numbers (his second true love).  His first love, though is his lovely daughter Claire who can tell a great joke, be silly, and play a mean guitar.

Spending time at all the concepts has afforded Jonathan with a unique appreciation of the diverse staffs and all the details that make success possible.  Jonathan will be off to new Rare Roots adventures because as he says…”I do what I’m told…”

Natalie is the Wine Director for Fin & Fino in uptown Charlotte.  She has been with Rare Roots Hospitality since 2012 and has worked at Dressler’s Metro, The Porter’s House, and helped to open Fin & Fino in April 2018.  Fin & Fino has given her the chance to develop a unique wine program, with each wine on the list being under 10,000 cases in total winery production. This type of list allows guests to step outside of their comfort zones, not finding some of the big names they are familiar with and getting to know smaller rock stars of the wine world. “There is something happening in Charlotte, there are some amazing players making changes and shaking things up. I am incredibly honored to be a part of the evolving wine scene here,” she says.

Natalie, aka Stewie, aka Snacks on Snacks, loves her dog, boom-chicka-pop, and most things tiny.

Assistant General Manager for The Porter’s House, Brendan grew up in New London, NC and has now been a Charlotte resident for 12 years. Having worked in the service industry his whole life, and in the craft beer world in particular for a stint, Brendan started his journey with Rare Roots Hospitality working at Dressler’s Metropolitan location for three and a half years before moving over to The Porter’s House. A fan of the outdoors, hiking, traveling, and music of all kinds, Brendan takes pride in not only being a plant dad, but a dog dad as well to a rescued Greyhound mix named Bailey.

Josh, who has just recently joined the team at Dressler’s Metropolitan location as General Manager, was born and raised in New York, though he began his career over 25 years ago right here in Charlotte. Josh looks forward to working with a great team at Dressler’s and the entire Rare Root Hospitality family.  In his spare time, Josh enjoys playing golf, cooking, and spending time with his wife Marguerite, four children, three grandchildren and two dogs!

Originally hailing from Pennsylvania, JoAn can confidently call herself a local after spending the past 19 years here in Charlotte, six of those as part of the Rare Roots family. Starting at Dogwood and now serving as Bar Manager for Dresseler’s Metropolitan location, JoAn is a lover of life who is grateful for each experience that comes her way.  (Jo also holds the unofficial title of Superbowl betting manager and is our keeper of the squares every year. Go Steelers!)

Born and raised in Waxhaw, NC, Eli has been a rising star behind the bar since the day he was old enough to drink. He joined Rare Roots Hospitality as a server at The Porter’s House in 2017, but only because he wasn’t old enough to pour cocktails (legally). In 2018, he heard the Call of the Clam and joined the opening team for Fin & Fino, where he learned the ways of the cocktail world under the direction of Brittany Kellum, “BK.” He became Bar Manager of Dogwood in Summer 2020.

Outside of Dogwood, Eli’s biggest interests are music, cooking, golfing, and spending time with his lab/pull mix, Butch.

Chef J. grew up in Virginia Beach fishing and crabbing and at the early age of four learned that fresh seafood means catching it yourself and preparing it that same day. He started working in restaurants at 14 and never looked back. Working everywhere from Key West, Florida to New York in successful restaurants and country clubs and becoming an Award winning Certified Executive Chef, Chef J has a passion for preparing the best and making others happy through the dishes he serves up. 

 Chef J. loves cooking all fusions and regional cooking styles with a forte in seafood and was a contestant of Hell’s Kitchen Season 5 with Michelin Star Chef Gordon Ramsay! He garners much of his motivation to excel from his oldest son who has Autism and inspired him to create HopeforHire.org, a charity dedicated to providing those with Autism restaurant jobs. 

“It’s all about leading from your heart and helping others achieve their dreams, that’s when great things happen. Inspired by fresh ingredients, Inspired by Life”. –Chef J.