Meet the Team

DAVID MITROFF, PH.D. Founder / Chief Consultant

David Mitroff, Ph.D. is the Founder and Chief Consultant at Piedmont Avenue Consulting. David questions assumptions, offers creative ideas and encourages new initiatives from strategy through implementation. David’s wealth of knowledge is transferred to clients leading to heightened sales, increased customer experiences, and enhanced relationship building techniques. David has an extensive educational background, in addition to professional sales training, which includes a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with coursework in Business Administration, Legal Studies, and Marketing providing a foundation for excellent critical and analytical thinking, business strategy, relationship building, and networking.

MOREA POLLET Consultant

Moréa Pollet is a Consultant with Piedmont Avenue Consulting. She is interested in developing creative systems and marketing strategies and seeing them become implemented and generating results. Moréa received a B.S. in International Business from both San Francisco State University and SKEMA Business School (France)studied. She believes in always learning and studied Product Management and Product Marketing at UC Berkeley Extension and more. Through her personal and professional experiences abroad, Moréa gained insights which allow her to be a more well-rounded business and marketing professional.

GABRIELE GRANDE-EDRALIN Marketing & Events Coordinator

Gabriele Grande-Edralin is a Marketing and Event Coordinator with Piedmont Avenue Consulting, Inc. She is a recent business graduate who concentrated in marketing and minored in statistics at the University of the Pacific. Gabriele is interested in developing creative and inventive strategies to help clients make smarter business decisions. Additionally, she is passionate about building relationships with businesses and individuals from different backgrounds to gain a better insight and understanding of those she works with. Gabriele is always seeking new opportunities that help her grow on a professional and personal level.

ANNE MCDONNELL Communications Designer

Anne is a designer and illustrator with a passion for creating experiences. Working as a freelance artist for over ten years, some of her clients include General Motors Shanghai, San Francisco SPCA, and Panda Global Gaming. She is often volunteering as an artist for various wildlife community projects throughout the United States. When she is not experimenting with design, she is performing as a player for a San Francisco Dungeons and Dragons group weekly on Twitch.

JACKEE LEE Marketing and Events Coordinator

Jackee Lee is a recent graduate from UC Berkeley and now working as a Marketing and Event Coordinator with Piedmont Avenue Consulting, Inc. With an expertise in international relations, Jackee helps to connect businesses and individuals across multiple countries. In addition to marketing and event coordinating, she is interested in seeking innovative ways to help clients achieve their business goals. Jackee is continuously learning, as she believes that it will help her gain a stronger and well-rounded insight in growing as a business professional.

BRUCE JOBSON Human Resources Consultant

Bruce Jobson, MBA, SPHR is a versatile executive with extensive experience covering all aspects of human resources. He is a pragmatic leader with a proven ability to tackle challenges head-on and execute sound business decisions. Bruce’s passion is supporting small to mid-sized business to help them maximize their organizational and financial results through alignment of HR strategy, leadership, talent and processes. Bruce has led human resources functions with operations throughout the United States, Asia and Europe. During his career, he has worked with organizations such as The Coca-Cola Company, the world’s largest beverage company and VWR International, LLC, a global laboratory supplier to the world’s top pharmaceutical and biotech firms. He earned his BS in Sociology from Western Michigan University and his MBA from the University of Phoenix School of Business. In addition, Bruce holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation through the HR Certification Institute.

GREG APPELHOF Product and Retail Go To Market Consultant

Entrepreneurial, Senior Executive with over 20 years of experience leading emerging consumer technology companies on brand and sales strategies including capital raise, organizational development, and growth plans as CEO, President or SVP Sales and Marketing.

Consistent track record of discovering, developing and driving new business opportunities for manufacturers and retailers in consumer product goods industry. Executed strategies across multiple product categories including consumer products, computing, console and PC gaming, display technologies, smartphone accessories, health and fitness wearables, 3D printing and app based hardware.

ANAND PATEL Hospitality Consultant, Hotelier

Anand Patel is a Hospitality Consultant with Piedmont Avenue Consulting, Inc., as well as a Hotelier in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has also served on the advisory board of several hotel organizations and owned and managed properties in other markets including Orlando, Florida. Anand is familiar with the trends regarding expansion & growth for hotel businesses as well as issues related to the hospitality industry.

DREW AVERSA Consultant

Drew Aversa was a paramedic/firefighter who found success in business – entrepreneur, SBE & FORTUNE 500 management, and transformational leader, Drew is dedicated to seeing others grow and taught college for ten years. Drew adds value to organizations by providing strategic counsel to C-level executives, program development, and organizational systems for leadership, sales, and team planning. In addition, Drew’s passion for health & wellness led him to be a registered yoga teacher & mindfulness practitioner

ERIK REESE Director of Sales and Operational Development

Erik has years of background experience in restaurants and hospitality management. Over the years, he has built relationships with top Bay Area Hospitality companies such as Restaurant Design Concepts and MCG Inc. Erik has a partnership with restauranteurs, consultants, and contractors as he is passionate about creating and helping start restaurants in the Bay Area. He excels in finding great restaurant sites as well as knowing all the requirements needed to make a great restaurant.

MICHELE DURYE Restaurant Consultant

Michele is a Restaurant Consultant with Piedmont Avenue Consulting, Inc. as well as a Chef and Restaurateur in the Bay Area. She has a background in owning and managing a restaurant, from the kitchen to the front of the house. In 2009 she founded Eleve Restaurant and Bar, a Vietnamese fusion restaurant in downtown Walnut Creek. In 2015, she rebranded the business into Library on Main, while keeping the popular handcrafted cocktail program. Michele is familiar with the restaurant business operations as well as other areas of interests related to the food and beverage industry.

DYLAN DENICKE Consultant

Dylan Denicke is a 15 year veteran of the Restaurant Industry. In 2009 he founded Beast and the Hare, a full service California Meat-Forward restaurant in the Mission District of San Francisco with his business partner Ian Marks. For four years they roasted whole animals, cured meats, and played host to neighborhood folks looking for a good night out. The restaurant was sold in 2015, and Dylan started soon after working for David Mitroff at Piedmont Avenue Consulting as a restaurant consultant. In his spare time he works in his wood and metal shop often doing projects for other friends in the creative and entrepreneurial fields.

CUONG DU Restaurant & Bar Consultant

Cuong is a Restaurant & Bar Consultant with Piedmont Avenue Consulting, Inc. He has a background in owning and managing restaurants and bars where he created bar programs, established restaurant and bar operations, and oversaw the front of the house. Cuong has also worked at numerous restaurants and bars throughout the San Francisco Bay Area such as Bar Agricole, Eleve, Pho 84, Library on Main, and Bourbon Highway. His work includes consulting with clients and hosting educational cocktail and wine tasting events. He enjoys training and teaching clients or the general public on a wide variety of culinary arts related topics.

GERA RIVKIN Consultant

Gera comes from a CPG background, Gera is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the consumer goods industry. Skilled in Marketing Management, Analytical Skills, Sales, Retail, and Pricing Strategy. Prior to founding and being the Chief Executive Officer of 6 Pack Fitness, innovative, patented, meal management travel gear and accessories for athletes and fitness enthusiasts: Gera held positions as a Director of Brand Marketing for Zoom Eyeworks and Brand Manager at Lowepro.

ANTOINE CASANAVA Luxury Distribution Consultant

Antoine Casanave is a Luxury Goods and Distributor Consultant. Antoine has years of experience building brands and relationships in the wine, spirits and luxury goods industries. Antoine leverages his extensive network of contacts and experiences to build brand’s strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and event portfolio to grow market awareness. Antoine promotes products at some of the most prestigious events and award shows in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco. He excels at business development through partnering clients with the industry leaders they are looking to reach.

BABA AFOLABI Consultant

Baba is a passionate, experienced business advisor with extensive experience in multiple industries with an MBA in Business Administration. As a business development strategist who has directed and led small businesses, he is highly motivated to help people grow their businesses by using creative and competitive strategies to achieve sustainability and economic growth. His background includes starting and running a clothing company for over 5, starting and developing Kickstarter campaigns and social media strategies, and owning food tech company that delivers African food.