The Team
The Mason Jar Group is a collection of the city’s most authentic and unique hospitality experiences. No one is alike in our family, and we celebrate the differences we have. We encouraged our team to be themselves as they provide the best customer experience in all our venues. Just as our team is unique, so are the establishments they work in. Our culinary team believes in the freshest local and highest quality products available. They believe each and every plate served needs to be perfection.
OUR TEAM
Anthony Kearey
Anthony Kearey is operating partner for Mason Jar Group. As the personality of the group, the first thing people notice and remember is his boisterous laugh. Kearey and his team created the organization in 2007 with the opening of Tilt on Trade. Tilt’s longevity has made it Uptown Charlotte’s second longest open bar which celebrated 10 years in 2017. He identified a gap in the market for casual fine dining in Uptown and conceptualized 204 North Kitchen and Cocktails. A farm to table style twist on modern American cuisine with a rustic feel in the heart of the Queen City. 204 North’s booming beginning stand as a testament to Kearey’s passion and vision for the Queen City. In 2016, 204 North officially opened its doors as the first three-story restaurant in Uptown. Within its first year 204 garnered such positive media attention and patron support that it was named Charlotte Magazine’s 2017 ’Best New Restaurant’. An accolade given to an elite few. With two successes, Kearey felt it was time to add to the group and diversify out out Uptown. Historic South End is Charlotte’s quickest growing vibrant neighborhood where in 2018, he opened The Union. After a fantastic inaugural year, Kearey and MJG continued their vision and in 2019 Kearey opened two new concepts, an Irish pub in the quaint city of Matthews just outside of Uptown called Grace O’Malleys and a party bar in Charlotte’s Art District, NoDa named Bargarita.
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Kearey attributes Mason Jar Group’s growing success with the team of individuals behind the brand, powering it forward to new heights. With over 150 employees in the MJG network, he finds it crucial to focus on giving each customer the best experience possible through service.
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Kearey oversees day-to-day and fiscal planning, organizational goal setting and overall operations of the five properties. Additionally, he manages the initial construction and development phases of new contracts through his family-owned company, Kearey Builders, which specializes in the development of commercial properties. He also focuses on city permitting and planning while assisting in concept development.
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A native of South Africa, when he’s not spending his time conceptualizing new projects, Kearey enjoys spending time on the water, most specifically Lake Norman.
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Kearey currently lives in Uptown Charlotte, N.C.
Brendan Flory
Brendan is Director of Operations for the Mason Jar Group. Both his personal and profession background made it clear to Anthony and Rachel that he was the only person for the job, especially to help as they get their newest projects located at Congdon Yards in High Point, NC up and running.
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Growing up in hospitality, Brendan’s family was always working catering jobs on weekends and summers. He started working quickly throughout a catering business on Hilton Head Island, SC. That led to him working in various positions in many restaurants in Hilton Head until he moved to Charlotte, NC in 2010. He began working at the Omni Charlotte and quickly moved up into leadership becoming the Outlet Manager for the hotel. During this time, he would often pop into the famous Tilt on Trade, where he, Rachel and Anthony met. He and Anthnoy became good friends and some will say great drinking buddies.
Brendan continued to grow with the Omni brand moving to Asheville, NC to oversee the Sunset Terrace Restaurant and their bar operations. After two years, he moved to Dallas, and then Houston working in resorts and continuing his development. Three years later, in 2019 after working at the Westin Galleria, as General Manager over Restaurants and Director of Outlets for The Woodlands Resort, Brendan moved back closer to home to Asheville, NC where he was the Director of Food and Beverage for The Omni Grove Park Inn. Brendan has great knowledge of operations while running multiple outlets, group and leisure banquets and catering events. He has a strong passion for developing people into their new roles and continued evolution of this exciting industry.
Matthew LaRose
Matthew LaRose is the Executive Chef for Mason Jar. With his vast experience and passion for the industry, Matt made it clear to the team that he was the man for the job.
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Growing up in Hudson Valley, NY, Matt first got his love for the kitchen from his large Italian family. Woking for his family’s food truck and catering business as a kid, Matt went on to become the Executive Chef of the Four Diamond Omni Bretton Arms Inn at the age of 24. In 2014, Matt moved to the Omni Charlotte, where he worked alongside Brendan. In 2019, he moved back home, overseeing two Hilton hotels just north of Boston. When the opportunity arose to join Brendan in a new endeavor, Matt jumped at the chance to share his passion with the High Point and Charlotte communities.
When he’s not in the kitchen, you can find Matt spending time with his two Pit Bulls Tito & Beam.
Rachel Lindsay
Rachel Lindsay is managing partner for Mason Jar Group. She brings a lifetime of experience to the table having her start in her family’s restaurant in Pittsburgh. She has a laser focus on the ins and outs of hospitality. She joined the organization in August 2007 and wears many hats beginning with previously held titles of director of operations and bar manager. In her ever growing role, Lindsay oversees the overall operations and employee relations divisions, as well as back of house inventory control and crisis management. Additionally, she is responsible for human resources, payroll and accounting while also serving as lead creative design and build out manger for all of the MJG properties. Rachel’s calm and commanding presence allows those around her to flourish. With her steady hand she has overseen the growth of the organization, moving from 15 employees in 2007 to nearly 200 by early 2023 across seven properties.
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Lindsay has managed and aided in projects related to the Democratic National Convention, the CIAA Basketball Tournament, NBA All-Star Weekend, Coca-Cola,Yelp, and, NASCAR while managing a diverse portfolio of clients. She was also the operations and creative design lead for the opening of 204 North Kitchen and Cocktails, Charlotte Magazine’s ‘Best New Restaurant of 2017’ and Elevate Lifestyle ‘Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant’ of 2017. As of 2023, Lindsay has conceptualized and designed seven of MJG’s properties. Her attention to detail and a natural eye for interior design allows her to create unique dining and social settings where guests become immersed in the experience.
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Prior to joining MJG, Lindsay spent multiple years at Bar Management Group, working in the organization’s Charlotte office. While at BMG, Lindsay was a bartender and was promoted to the role of marketing and events manager in which she planned and executed large-scale projects, lead promotional efforts and developed partner relationships.
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Lindsay currently lives in Oak Ridge, NC with her husband and sons.
Chris Cooper
Chris “Coop” Cooper is Regional Manager for the Charlotte area of Mason Jar Group. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry, Coop brings a balanced approach to refining the day to day operations of Mason Jar Group, while maintaining focus on developing and teaching the employees that support the business growth.
In previous roles, Coop was a licensed stockbroker (Series 4, 7, 65) and has managed teams of over 50 people and led manager training programs that have successfully promoted 25 individuals to management positions.
The team motto is “Keep Coop in the Loop”. His priority with the management team is to encourage over communication and give the guest the best experience each and every time. He firmly believes that if you support people, and create the structure needed to thrive, the business will be successful. His passion is giving employees the foundation they need to get there.
Coop grew up in Gastonia, NC and graduated from UNC Charlotte, is a self-professed “momma’s boy”, huge baseball fan, and balances hectic hours by starting each day in the gym.
Adam Penn
Adam Penn is the Director of Bar Operations for Mason Jar Group. Adam is responsible for keeping the fun times rolling, while ensuring the standards for service are met.
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Born and raised in Canyon, Texas, Adam moved to Charlotte in 2012 to be close to family after he finished his time in the Army. As a sergeant in Afghanistan from 2006-2012, Adam is no stranger to leading a team. Starting as a bouncer at Tilt, Adam worked his way up to become General Manager. He even worked at 204 North, and opened Bargarita.
When he’s not hard at work, you can find Adam working on projects around his house or spending time with his two dogs, Maya and Jackson.
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Michaela Sampson
Michaela Sampson is the Director of Marketing for Mason Jar Group. Starting out as a bartender throughout the company, Michaela is now responsible for the social media and marketing for all of our concepts.
Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Michaela started working in the food service industry at 15. From fast food to fine dining, and everything in between, Michaela has done it all.
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Studying Marketing at The University of Alabama, Michaela grew a passion for bringing what she learned to the hospitality industry that she fell in love with.
When she’s not running around snapping pictures, you can find Michaela spending time with her dog Charlotte.
