Johnny's Italian Steakhouse Des Moines - Heart Of America Group
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Des Moines

Christopher Steele

Christopher Steele

Chief Operating Executive
Start Date: 5/10/2008
Personal Highlights

I have a 9-year-old son whom is extremely active and keeps me active as well. I enjoy spending time outdoors and I am an avid sports fan. I will watch just about any competitive sport live or on TV. I also enjoy cooking, disc golf, and traveling when the opportunity arises.

Gracie Smidt

Gracie Smidt

Assistant Chief Operating Executive
Start Date: 8/1/2023
Personal Highlights

I recently graduated from Indiana University in May of 2023. After graduating, I moved back home to Iowa with my boyfriend where my family lives. In my free time, I enjoy playing pickleball and reading in addition to traveling and listening to live music.

Tyler Beard

Tyler Beard

Sales Executive
Start Date: 7/30/2018
Personal Highlights

When I am not at work I am a sports fanatic! My teams are the Denver Nuggets, Kansas City Chiefs, Mizzou Tigers, and Kansas City Royals. My wife and I also love to travel, and since getting married in 2015, we have been to St. Martin, Anguilla, Puerto Rico, Cancun, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Greece, and are headed to the Cayman Islands in October!

Tyler Saxton

Managing Director
Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse
Start Date: 8/10/2016
Personal Highlights

When I was 18 I joined the restaurant and hospitality field as an inside employee of a local franchise Domino’s Pizza. I spent the next seven years working my way to General Manager. I then joined Kevin Berger’s team at Famous Dave’s and spent seven years working my way to Assistant Manager under him. Kevin has left a great impression on me. 

Steve Graham

Culinary Maestro
Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse
Start Date: 6/8/2011
Personal Highlights

When I am not working I enjoy going backpacking, fishing and being outdoors.

Nichole Rench

Nicole Rench

Assistant Director
Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse
Start Date: 9/26/2023
Personal Highlights

When I am not at work I am spending time with my kiddos. We like exploring parks, nature trails, anything outdoors is where we like to be!

Joseph Leach

Joseph Leach

Back-Of-House Executive
Culinary Conductor
Start Date: 10/10/2022
Personal Highlights

I love finding new projects around our house to work on with my amazing girlfriend and teaching our dogs to “talk” with sound buttons. You can frequently find me tinkering with the latest tech, reading international literature, or weight lifting. If I had to pick my favorite place to be (besides Johnny’s kitchen), it would be on a long road trip with my girl and the pups exploring unknown places!

Yuliana Briceno

Yuliana Briceno

Executive Housekeeper
Start Date: 7/16/2020
Personal Highlights

When I am not working, I love spending time with my husband and our 5 beautiful children. I love to cook and help people who might not be as fortunate.

Kerry Graham

Kerry Graham

Maintenance Executive
Start Date: 7/12/2022h5>

Personal Highlights

I have two grown sons that live In Des Moines. In my free time I enjoy shooting pool and I’m a big fan of football “go Steelers”, I also love being outdoors when the weather is good. I look forward to being with HOA for a while and hope to meet most of you and feel free to reach out to me if there’s something you think I might be able to help with, I don’t know everything but I might be able to help

About Heart Of America

Starting with one, 100-seat restaurant in 1978, Heart of America Group has grown to include a portfolio of award-winning owned and operated restaurants, hotels and commercial developments. Noteworthy brands developed and operated by Heart of America Group include the Machine Shed Restaurant, Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, The Republic on Grand, Hotel Renovo, Wildwood Lodge, Thunder Bay Grille, and The J Bar. We pride ourselves in building long-lasting properties that bring value to the consumer and to the communities in which we build.

Locations

Operations Support Center - Moline
1501 River Drive
Moline, Illinois 61265
P: 309.797.9300
F: 309.797.8700

Operations Support Center - Des Moines
515 E Locust Street, Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50309