IGNACIO GARCIA-MENOCAL

CO-FOUNDER & CEO

Ignacio launched his career as an Audit Manager at the "Big Four" firm Deloitte & Touche where he helped make a positive impact for clients such as Direct TV, Perry Ellis, Florida Power & Light, Elizabeth Arden, Baptist Health System and the Miami Dolphins. After leaving Deloitte & Touche, he worked for MasterCard as the Director of Accounting for the Latin American Region.

Upon making the leap into the hospitality industry, Ignacio worked at Shula's Steak Houses for five years as Vice President of Finance and was instrumental to the company's sustained financial success. From 2011 to 2014, he joined 50 Eggs Restaurant Group as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, where he managed all business functions of the 400-employee company, including negotiating the $24 million sale of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill to Ruby Tuesday.

In 2014, he joined his lifelong friend, Francesco Balli as Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Grove Bay Hospitality Group. In just a few years, Grove Bay Hospitality Group has experienced tremendous growth and success while receiving numerous awards along the way. In 2018, Grove Bay was awarded "Business of the Year" from South Florida Business Journal, was named as one of the "Top 25 Innovative Multi-concept Restaurant Groups in the United States" by Restaurant Hospitality, and was listed as one of the "Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America" by Entrepreneur Magazine. In 2022, Grove Bay had three of their restaurants recognized by the prestigious Michelin Guide, most of any restaurant group in Florida, with Stubborn Seed being awarded a Michelin Star.

In addition, Ignacio has been recognized in the community by the South Florida Business Journal Magazine as one of it's "Top Movers and Shakers" and in 2018, he was recognized by Ernst & Young as an Entrepreneur of the Year Florida Award finalist. This award recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellent and extraordinary success in areas such as financial performance, innovation and commitment to their business and communities. In 2020 and again in 2022, Ignacio was recognized as one of the most influential CEO's in the country by Nation's Restaurant news. In 2024, Ignacio was honored by the South Florida Business Journal with the Ultimate CEO Award and Power Leaders in Hospitality.

Ignacio holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Florida, a Master of Accounting from Florida International University, and a Certificate of Foodservice Management from Cornell University. He also serves as a Board Member of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association as well as the Federal Reserve Bank – Miami Chapter.