Todd DeMann
Founder and CEO
As one of the leading managers and entrepreneurs in Southern California’s competitive hospitality and lifestyle sectors, Todd DeMann’s passion for innovation and excellence has been the guiding spirit behind both Fresh Dining and his several prior successful endeavors.
His more than twenty years of experience in finance, hospitality and real estate serve as a poignant counterpoint to the youthful energy and enthusiasm that Newsweek magazine saw in 1986, spotlighting him among its “New Crop of Young Entrepreneurs,” and which continues to animate every aspect of his work.
Todd DeMann founded Fresh Dining in 2005, based on the firm conviction that healthy nutrition and top-level cuisine were not mutually exclusive, but in fact were natural partners. Recognizing the rapid growth of the organic food movement over the last several years and combining that inspiration with the management and client service skills honed over years of entrepreneurial experience, DeMann quickly built Fresh Dining into the premier food delivery service in Southern California. As the organization’s CEO, Todd oversees all aspects of the company’s work, from menu creation, to staffing, to forging innovative partnerships with sister companies to expand the scope and quality of Fresh Dining’s offerings.
For DeMann, the path to Fresh Dining runs through his two prior companies, DeMann Development & Design and Oldershaw & DeMann Associates. In serving both companies as President, Todd established himself as one of the top managers in his field, combining creative vision and leadership with rigorous organizational skills to create a potent force in the high-stakes world of urban real estate development and global hospitality. As he does with Fresh Dining, DeMann managed a diverse team, balancing a multitude of skills to allow for maximum flexibility in meeting the creative and logistical needs of a wide range of clients. With Oldershaw & DeMann, his work not only was directly responsible for the rapid expansion of the firm—averaging 30% annual growth in revenue—but granted him a unique understanding of the demands of the global marketplace, as his duties saw him meet organizational and management challenges in such varied locales as Korea, Bahrain, Singapore and the Bahamas, in addition to his numerous stateside projects.
Prior to embarking on his entrepreneurial journey, DeMann served as Executive Vice President of Industrial Consultants Group, Inc., a strategic consulting firm operating out of New York. In developing creative strategies to meet the needs of major corporate clients—taking into account such departments as sales & marketing, billing and customer service—DeMann had the opportunity to collaborate with and advise some of the most storied organizations and executives within the American business landscape, such as Lee Iacocca of Chrysler, Gary Wilson of Northwest Airlines and Linda Wachner of the Warnaco Group.
Todd DeMann received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Boston University in 1986, following the submission of his thesis on “Quality Control within the Restaurant Business.” In the more than twenty years since—culminating in his co-founding of Fresh Dining and his continuing service as its CEO—DeMann’s dedication to and passion for both quality and creative problem-solving has never flagged.
FRESHFACT: Lobster is very high in protein.
The Freshology Team
- Todd DeMann, Founder and CEO
- As one of the leading managers and entrepreneurs in Southern California’s competitive hospitality and lifestyle sectors, Todd DeMann’s passion for innovation and excellence has been the guiding spirit behind both Fresh Dining and his several prior successful endeavors.
read more > - Bruce Knight, COO
- With over twenty years of experience in the food and beverage industry, Bruce Knight knows precisely what it takes to operate a top-notch food service organization. read more >
- Rana Mansour, VP of Operations
- Bringing a unique blend of health care expertise, operations experience and communications skills to every project she oversees, Rana Mansour stands as an exemplar of the contemporary management professional, demonstrating a range of talents and perspectives as accomplished as it is diverse. read more >
- Michael Weldon, Culinary Director, Gourmet Programs
- With a background that includes hotels, restaurants, corporations, food service management, and experience gained from working alongside some of the most renowned names in the culinary world, Michael Weldon is uniquely positioned to meet the challenges provided by a groundbreaking organization like Fresh Dining. read more >
- Raffi J. Asadourian, Culinary Director, National Programs
- As one of the most highly-regarded chefs to emerge from the Los Angeles culinary scene over the last decade, Raffi Asadourian brings a combination of rigorous training, farsighted leadership and an impeccable palate to the position of Chef de Cuisine at Fresh Dining. read more >
- Rito Vital, Culinary Director, Special Programs
- From his roots in the rich culinary traditions of his native Mexico to his experience at the upper reaches of the Los Angeles restaurant and catering industry, Rito Vital's extraordinary range of influences shapes his unique contributions as Culinary Director of Specials at Freshology. read more >
Advisory Board
- David Kramer
- David Kramer has consistently been a top producing agent representing Buyers and Sellers of major estates and unique properties throughout the Westside for 20 years. His expertise and talent have made him a recognized leader in the real estate industry. read more >
- Karl Hingel
- freshdining™ has retained the advisory services of Karl Hingel for the purpose of assembling, examining, evaluating and documenting the fresh business processes and procedures. read more >
- John P. Roberts, Senior Vice President, Interactive & Digital Media, GSN
- The visionary behind the launch of GSN’s groundbreaking interactive television services, John P. Roberts, GSN’s Senior Vice President, Interactive and Digital Media is recognized throughout the industry as an iTV pioneer. read more >
Fresh Experts
- Nicholas J. Yphantides MD, MPH
- Noted author (My Big Fat Greek Diet), consultant, speaker, healthcare executive and family practice physician and and community advocate. read more >
- Dr. Farid Zarif, Director, Nutrition/Dietetics
- Dr. Farid Zarif, MPH, ND, PhD, resident Nutritionist and Director, Nutrition and Dietetics at Fresh Dining™, Burbank, California, is the founder The Zarifian Method©. read more >
- Edward Jackowski, Ph.D.
- Fitness innovator, author and motivational speaker, Edward Jackowski, Ph.D. holds his B.B.A. from Baruch Business College and his Masters and Doctorate in Behavioral Management from International University for Graduate Studies. read more >
- Dr. Kelly E. Williams, MD
- Dr. Kelly E. Williams earned her medical degree from University of California and completed her residency at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Dr. Kelly E. Williams is currently practicing in Laguna Hills. read more >
- Dr. Charles L. Blum, DC
- Dr. Blum is a chiropractor practicing in Santa Monica, California since 1981 treating women during their pregnancy as well as children. read more >
- Dr. Walker Ozar, DC
- Dr. Ozar started his practice at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Two years later, he founded Beverly Hills Posture and Rehabilitation Institute. read more >
- Dr. Nicole Williams-Alexander, MD
- Dr. Nicole Williams-Alexander earned her medical degree from Howard College of Medicine and completed her residency at UCLA in Family Medicine. read more >