Michael S. Kaufman

Michael S. Kaufman, chairman of the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors, is co-president of Enovo Restaurant Ventures LLC. Enovo owns, operates and licenses the contemporary American restaurant brand Harry’s Tap Room, which has four locations in the Washington DC metropolitan area.

A proven company and industry leader, with a track record of building sales and profits in multi-unit restaurant operations, Kaufman had previously established Pond Hill Ventures LLC in 2003 to evaluate and advise and/or invest in ventures in the hospitality segment.

Until September 2003, Kaufman served as president of the then $1.3 billion (system sales) Dallas-based Metromedia Restaurant Group. MRG comprised the well-known brands of Bennigan’s, Steak and Ale, Bonanza and Ponderosa, serving the casual and family restaurant segments.

While at MRG, Mr. Kaufman led a large number of key changes in the strategy and operations of the company. These included the acceleration of company growth of Bennigan’s and the implementation of Bennigan’s franchising and international development, the creation of an award-winning and highly successful restaging of Ponderosa and Bonanza steakhouses, the unification of the Ponderosa and Bonanza franchise communities, the return to the classic Steak and Ale and the adoption of a strong performance and values-based culture.

Prior to joining MRG, Mr. Kaufman served as a managing director of Kluge & Company, the acquisition and investment banking arm of Metromedia Company. He was part of the strategic and acquisition team that purchased and oversaw a number of Metromedia’s businesses, including its restaurant operations.

Kaufman is a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Board of Trustees of the Culinary Institute of America and the Board of Trustees of the Chappaqua School Foundation. His awards include the Nation's Restaurant News 2001 Golden Chain Award and Ambassador to the Culinary Institute of America. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School.