Executive Bios

Founder:  Paul Ballard
Since July, 1995 Paul Ballard has been the owner and manager of Rainbrew, L.L.C. in the New Orleans area.  Since June 1999, Mr. Ballard has also owned and managed City Blend, L.L.C. in the New Orleans area.   From December 2001 to present, Mr. Ballard owned, managed and served as President of Wingery, L.L.C. in the New Orleans area.  From August 2003 until May 2005, Mr. Ballard served as Founder/Chief Executive Officer of WOW Cafe & Wingery.  
 
Principal:  Scott Ballard
From August 1997 to May 2002, Scott Ballard served as the President and CEO of Ballard Blend L.L.C. and Royal Blend L.L.C. in the New Orleans area and in North Carolina.  From April 2002 until August 2003, Mr. Ballard was the Executive Vice President of Business Development and Finance of Wingery, L.L.C.  In August 2003 until May 2005, Mr. Ballard was the Executive Vice President of Business Development and Finance of WOW Cafe & Wingery. 
 
Principal:  Steven Ballard
From December 1997 to May 2002, Steven Ballard served as the Vice President of Ballard Blend L.L.C. and Royal Blend L.L.C. in the New Orleans area and in North Carolina.  From May 2002 until August 2003, Mr. Ballard was the Chief Operations Officer for Wingery, L.L.C.  From August 2003 until May 2005, Mr. Ballard was the Chief Operating Officer for WOW Cafe & Wingery.   
 
Director of Distribution / COO:  Corrado Giacona III
From 1991 until February 2007, Corrado Giacona III was the Vice-President of Operations for Giacona Container Company, Inc. in Jefferson, Louisiana. From June 2007 until currently he is the Director of Purchasing and Distribution at Wow Café and Wingery’s Corporate Office in Covington, Louisiana.
 
Chief Development Officer: Peter Boylan III
Peter J. Boylan III, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer for Ballard Hospitality Group, owner and franchisor of the 80 unit WOW Café American Grill and Wingery and 55 unit PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans.  Peter joined the Ballard Hospitality Group in a full-time role after serving on their Board of Directors for the past year.  Boylan adds his own extensive hospitality industry contacts and over 18 years of professional and executive leadership experience to the Ballard Hospitality Group, including a strong strategic focus and a track record of leading successful teams and outperforming financial targets.  Prior to joining the Ballard Hospitality Group, Boylan held senior executive positions in both publicly held and private companies in the restaurant industry to include NTN, Inc., Enterprise Media Networks and increasingly responsible executive positions within the Coca-Cola Company.  Prior to his career in hospitality, Boylan served as a paratrooper in the famed 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and is a decorated veteran.  Peter earned an MBA from Wake Forest University’s Babcock Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

 
Director of Marketing: Reid Nolte
From September 2005 until December 2005, Mr. Nolte served as a Marketing Manager  for the National Buffalo Wing Festival Williamsville, NY.  Since January 2007, Mr. Nolte has served as WOW Cafe’s Marketing Assistant. Reid currently serves as the Director of Marketing of WOW Café & Wingery, a position he has held since 2008.
 

Chief Financial Officer:  Jeffery Giavotella
From February 2000 until September 2004, Jeffery Giavotella was the Vice-President for Lifeguard International in New Orleans, LA.  From September 2004 until January 2007, Mr. Giavotella was the President of Critical Thinking, LLC in Baton Rouge, LA.  Mr. Giavotella currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for WOW Cafe.
 
Vice President of Operations: Patrick Shaheen
From July 2002 to April 2004, Mr. Shaheen served as Regional Director of Operations for Raving Brands under the Planet Smoothie Brand. From April 2004 through January 2006, Mr. Shaheen served as Business Development Manager for Reily Foods under the national Evamor Water Brand. Since January 2006, Mr. Shaheen has served as the Director of Operations for WOW Café and Wingery Franchises, in Covington, Louisiana.
 
Franchise Development Director: Ryan Stansbury
Upon Ryan Stansbury receiving his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of New Orleans, he began working for Planet Beach Franchising Corporation; a New Orleans based international Spa Franchise.  Ryan served in numerous capacities for Planet Beach over a nine year span aiding the company’s growth from 55 units to nearly 400 units in 42 US states and eight different countries.   Ryan currently serves as the Franchise Development Director for WOW Café and PJ’s Coffee.   Ryan is also part of a select group of individuals to have received his Certified Franchise Executive “CFE” designation from the International Franchise Association.