ROE & MARVIN

ROLE MODELS

I’ve worked with some incredible people over the years—but a lot of what shaped who I am today started with two people: Roe DiBona and Marvin Beck.

They owned a small Mexican restaurant, and I worked there in one of my very first jobs. Looking back now, I realize that’s when I stopped thinking of it as just a job and started seeing it as a career. At the time, I probably frustrated the hell out of them—and myself. I was young, eager, unsure, and still figuring it all out.

But they gave me something rare: belief, consistency, and space to grow.

Their philosophy was simple: Live well. Work hard. Be happy.

It sounds basic—but it’s anything but. That belief in happiness as a guiding principle left a mark on me.

What I didn’t realize then—but I do now—is just how much I learned during those years:

• I learned about the provenance of a product—why it matters to understand everything you're giving to a guest.

• I learned about the power of training—not just doing it, but truly understanding how and why it works.

• I learned the basics of accountability and simple accountancy—what it means to run a place, not just be a part of it.

• I learned about people—how to build real relationships, many of which I still hold onto today. One of those people is now my best friend.

I also learned about failure. I failed a lot. But what Roe and Marvin showed me was that failure isn’t the end—it’s part of the process. If you’re paying attention, it’s actually the beginning of getting better.

They didn’t ask me to be perfect.

They just asked me to be present, be curious, and keep learning.

And they let me be me—even when I didn’t fully know who that was yet.

I owe a lot to those early days, and to the people who believed in me before I fully believed in myself.

So thank you, Roe and Marvin. You helped build the foundation. And I carry it with me still.