Loyalty. Leadership. Compassion.
Welcome to a transformative journey tailored for food entrepreneurs with a vision to not only grow their businesses but to thrive as leaders in their communities. At GorillaBrave, we understand that building a successful food venture extends beyond culinary expertise—it’s about fostering loyalty, embodying strong leadership, and infusing every endeavor with compassion.
Leadership – Loyalty – Compassion
Our Vision
Gorilla Brave envisions a culinary landscape where entrepreneurs don’t just create delicious dishes, but also build lasting connections with their customers and communities. We believe that leadership, loyalty, and compassion are the cornerstones of sustainable business growth in the ever-evolving food industry.
Core Values
Core Value #1
Go the Extra Mile; Mediocrity is Boring.
Core Value #2
Build Lasting Relationships.
Core Value #3
Be Humble & Honest; Authentic & Vulnerable.
Core Value #4
Lead through Action & by Example.
Core Value #5
Be a Lifetime Student & Have a Lifetime of Teachers.
Core Value #6
Always Pursue Excellence.
Core Value #7
Lead with Love & An Open Heart.
Core Value #8
Be Committed to Dominate Daily; Take Initiative.
Core Value #9
Be Disciplined for Long Term Victory, Strive for Extraordinary
Core Value #10
Do the Right Thing, Even When No One is Watching.
Core Value #11
Create Positive Environments through Positive Attitudes.
Core Value #12
Be Courageous, Not Complacent.
What is GorillaBrave?
Building Bridges, One Bite at a Time
In a world inundated with choices, loyalty is the currency that sets you apart. Our program is designed to help you forge genuine connections with your patrons, turning them into not just customers, but devoted advocates for your brand. Through targeted strategies and personalized approaches, we empower you to create unforgettable experiences that keep them coming back for more.
From crafting compelling loyalty programs to leveraging data-driven insights, we equip you with the tools to understand, engage, and delight your audience. Together, we’ll turn occasional visitors into loyal patrons who eagerly anticipate each new creation from your kitchen.
Guiding Your Culinary Odyssey
Leadership is the beacon that guides your business through uncharted waters. Our program is committed to honing your leadership skills, helping you navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship with confidence and purpose. Through a curated curriculum led by industry veterans and thought leaders, you’ll gain invaluable insights into strategic planning, team management, and innovation.
We believe that true leadership extends beyond the confines of a kitchen—it’s about fostering a culture of excellence, empowering your team, and leaving an indelible mark on the culinary landscape. Together, we’ll help you lead not only with vision, but with heart.
From crafting compelling loyalty programs to leveraging data-driven insights, we equip you with the tools to understand, engage, and delight your audience. Together, we’ll turn occasional visitors into loyal patrons who eagerly anticipate each new creation from your kitchen.
Nourishing the Soul of Your Business
Compassion is the secret ingredient that infuses every dish with soul. It’s about understanding your community, addressing their needs, and giving back in meaningful ways. Our program encourages you to embrace compassion as a driving force in your business, enabling you to create positive impact beyond your kitchen walls.
From sourcing locally to implementing sustainable practices, we’ll guide you in making choices that resonate with your values and resonate with your customers. Together, we’ll leave a legacy of not just culinary excellence, but of genuine care and compassion.
We believe that true leadership extends beyond the confines of a kitchen—it’s about fostering a culture of excellence, empowering your team, and leaving an indelible mark on the culinary landscape. Together, we’ll help you lead not only with vision, but with heart.
From crafting compelling loyalty programs to leveraging data-driven insights, we equip you with the tools to understand, engage, and delight your audience. Together, we’ll turn occasional visitors into loyal patrons who eagerly anticipate each new creation from your kitchen.
Justin Bizzarro
Justin Bizzarro
Justin Bizzarro is a serial food, restaurant, technology, media, hotel, food truck, foodservice, and marketing entrepreneur, who helped build a 24-year-old group of food and restaurant related businesses, he created with his father and business partners out of his family’s basement, in 1998.
He is a highly desired business management, personal and athlete growth, free market, food diversity, and entrepreneurial and biblical leadership speaker.
Justin’s expertise are in human growth, human food farming, employee motivation, leadership and management development, health foods and beverages, global lean manufacturing facilities, vertically integrating businesses, food marketing and advertising, supply chain creation and management, direct to consumer fulfillment, transportation and distribution, personal brand building, restaurant development and construction, restaurant and food truck management, hotel operations, restaurant food delivery, hospital and university foods, global business, private equity, business funding, investor relations, and management and entrepreneur acceleration.
Justin received his BA in International Business and Management from Dickinson College, in 2002, and his MBA from University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, in 2014.
His leadership and entrepreneur podcasts have positively impacted millions of people across the globe.
Sam Fonseca
Sam’s remarkable track record in the restaurant industry is a testament to his passion, dedication, and exceptional leadership skills. With nearly three decades of experience, he has consistently demonstrated his commitment to guest satisfaction and team development. At In-N-Out, Sam’s hard work and dedication earned him a promotion to district manager, where he successfully managed the highest volume division in the company.
This achievement showcased his ability to handle large-scale operations and maintain high standards of customer service. During his tenure at Raising Cane’s, Sam achieved record-breaking sales at the Downey, California location, surpassing $12 million annually. As an area leader at Raising Cane’s, Sam consistently achieved the highest weekly sales, with his restaurants generating over $65 million annually.
His strategic vision and ability to drive growth played a crucial role in expanding Raising Cane’s presence in California from three locations to over 70, contributing to the brand’s success and expansion. As a partner and COO at Elevated Restaurant Group, Sam’s leadership led the restaurant in Lakewood, California to become the busiest in the company. This success was further solidified with the opening of a second location in Anaheim, which quickly became one of the highest volume restaurants in Orange County.
Sam’s ability to drive success and establish thriving operations was evident in his role at Daves Hot Chicken. At Roll Em Up Taquitos, Sam’s role as COO and partner has been instrumental in the company’s exponential growth. The total restaurant count doubled, and the addition of food truck catering services further expanded the business’s reach. With Sam’s leadership, sales also doubled compared to the previous year, highlighting his ability to drive financial success. The addition of seven experienced franchisees in the last 10 months further contributed to the company’s expansion.
Sam’s passion for the industry, combined with his proven track record of success, make him an asset in any organization he joins. His unwavering dedication and expertise continue to propel him towards new achievements and growth opportunities. His leadership also resulted in the development of over 100 internal managers, highlighting his talent for nurturing and developing talent within his teams.
Ivan Temelkov
Ivan Temelkov
Ivan Temelkov is the CEO of Razor Sharp Digital. The #1 human marketing agency in the world. He is an Entrepreneur, Vlogger, Podcaster, Father, & Husband. In 2015 he helped his family’s flooring business go from $250,000 to over $500,000 in YOY revenue. Ivan has been featured in Inc. Magazine, Social Media Examiner, The Rise To The Top, and has worked with globally recognized brands. Some of those include Amazon, Audible, AT&T, Charter/Spectrum, and Marketo to name a few. A systematic, analytical, diligent and goal-oriented digital marketing professional using industry-leading approach and etiquette with direct focus on bottom line results.
In April 2016 Ivan Temelkov focused his time and energy towards the launch and development of his H2H focused digital marketing agency Razor Sharp Digital. A company that focuses on humanizing business while helping brands define their full digital governance in today’s fast-paced and competitive business marketplace.
In 2013 Ivan became one of the first board members of UMSL Digital Media Marketing Program. A continued education program that took formation at University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). From 2013-2016 he forged and evolved a curriculum for the Search Engine Marketing course. A one of a kind course in the entire Midwest that focuses on providing education around Search Marketing & Advertising practices.
Since an early age Ivan has displayed true signs of business curiosity, innovation, forward thinking, and technical agility. He has worked with many small to medium size companies and boutique agencies in leading the development of digital media marketing service offerings.
The "proof in the pudding" you're looking for...
Is GorillaBrave the end-all/be-all? No, it is not! The problem with most people is that they spend piles of cash on program after program in pursuit of “the secret formula”. Overnight riches and success are non-existent. Any successful and wealthy person will tell you that. If you’re looking for overnight success, GorillaBrave isn’t for you.
However, if you are willing to make a valiant commitment, time investment, embrace a community-based approach in all active sessions, a desire to learn, and application of all methodologies acquired…then we will certainly give you that “proof in the pudding” you were in pursuit of. You will be able to take your life and business to a whole new level you probably only previously dreamed of.
A glimpse at what you can expect from GorillaBrave
- 3 Live Training Sessions per month with Food and Beverage Industry Experts.
- 1 Live Review Call per Month with Group Leaders to revisit key takeaways from 3 Training Sessions.
- Specific Training in accounting, customer retention & growth, legal, marketing, real-estate, advertising, procurement, scaling, franchising, consumer packaged goods, menu development, financing, investor management, business development, big box relationships, food trucks, loyalty programs etc related to the Food and Beverage Industry.
- 24/7 Access to Previous Sessions and Calls.
- 24/7 Access to the GorillaBrave Troop International Private Networking Group and All of its Members.
- Exclusive Access to Training Session Notes and Educational Materials.
- Premium Access to GorillaBrave Networking Events and Leadership Training Events in Cities around the World.
- The Ability to Participate in Food and Beverage MasterMind Troops specific to one’s Entrepreneurial Food and Beverage Endeavors..
- Recommended Reading Lists and Access to GorillaBrave Book Club.
- Exclusive Member only Apparel.
Are you courageous enough to be GorillaBrave?