Great restaurant groups are built behind the scenes long before guests take their seats. RA Ventures is one of those groups. It has grown to 55 locations across multiple concepts by investing in the invisible work that makes restaurants run: training, administration, and real leadership development. The group elevates the operators who build culture every day, not just the ones in the spotlight.
At the center of that effort are Renie Faddoul (Training and Administration Manager, 110 Grill,), Stephanie Sundberg (Director of Administration, Evviva Trattoria), and Brianna Jordan (Director of Training and Development, RA Ventures). Their roles sit where people and process meet, designing systems that save time, reduce chaos, and make hospitality feel natural again.
Kickfin: The small change that changed everything
one of the biggest bottlenecks was the nightly scramble to manage cash tips. It was a small part of the job that created a very big drag.
That philosophy came to life with the rollout of Kickfin. Before adopting the digital tipping platform, managers were counting cash nightly, district leaders were driving thousands of dollars between locations, and corporate offices were cutting checks just to keep restaurants funded for tip-outs. The process was slow, risky, and burned hours every week.
Kickfin replaced all of that. Team members now see tips by shift, deposits hit their debit cards within minutes, and managers simply upload a spreadsheet at the end of the night. “It’s the easiest, most streamlined process I’ve ever dealt with,” says Stephanie. The rollout started with 110 Grill, then spread quickly to Evviva Trattoria and Oar & Iron.
Adoption numbers tell the story. At Evviva, 98 percent of team members chose daily tip-outs. Those who didn’t were usually part-time or preferred the paycheck option. The benefits extend beyond payroll. Safety improved when staff stopped carrying cash. Transparency increased when servers could see every dollar. Recruiting became easier when daily pay entered the conversation. And managers got hours back that could be spent training teams or connecting with guests.
Start with the pain, not the pitch
That success reflects a larger philosophy. “It starts with a pain point for our operators,” the team says. From there, they vet different companies and pick the one that truly fits the group. Open communication and quick support matter more than flashy features.
When a partner like Kickfin helps solve a real problem, it makes the next rollout smoother. That’s the standard for every piece of technology they bring in.
For all the operational sophistication, the group’s heartbeat is human. These leaders grew up in restaurants, opened stores together, and became close friends. That bond shapes how they hire and coach. Their advice to newcomers: be ready to work hard, care about people, and find joy in service.
Hospitality, they remind us, is about more than transactions. It’s about teamwork, empathy, and giving guests a moment of kindness they might not get anywhere else.
What growth really requires
RA Ventures has added brands and markets, but the foundation remains the same. Start with operator reality. Pick partners who answer the phone. Pilot smart. Roll out cleanly. Measure what matters to both finance and frontline teams. Then do it again.
Technology alone doesn’t drive success. People do. But when the right systems back the right culture, growth feels natural. That’s the RA Ventures model and a reminder that the best hospitality is built on clarity, connection, and care.
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