About this Nominee
In September 2012, Kalamazoo, Michigan, began allowing food trucks to operate in the city. My brother asked me if I’d like to drive and manage a coffee truck called Coffee Rescue, created from a converted ambulance. I thought he was crazy. But when he explained the premise was to help a family member in need, I immediately joined on, and in two years, Coffee Rescue had sustained/assisted the family as we had set out to do.
I bought the business in 2014, changed the business plan to focus on events, catering, and business deliveries. Two years later, I expanded the fleet, operating two trucks with two teams, traveling to events at Notre Dame, Selfridge Air Force Base, Chicagoland Speedway, Tiger Stadium, and more.
2018 introduced me to the Hero Roundtable conference, and I decided that it was time to put the “rescue” in Coffee Rescue. I had the idea to develop a coffee that donates to charity. That same weekend I met Joe Gatto and his adorable dog Spumoni.
Fast forward to 2021. I was sponsoring a comedy event/breakfast in New York City, headlined by none other than Joe Gatto. Queue the elevator pitch. Seven months later (March 2022), “Gatto Pups Rescue Roast” was born. To date, we’ve raised nearly $1,000 for charity, and we’re just getting started!