Waverly Team

Susan is a Charlotte native. She has been part of the evolving restaurant industry in the city and brings 20 years of experience to Foxcroft Wine Co. Working in the hospitality industry is a family business for Susan, whose mother also worked in restaurants. Susan started her culinary career as a hostess at 15, then continued to work throughout school until she became a server. She quickly realized that it was more than an after-school job. With a passion for nurturing people through food, the restaurant industry was a natural fit. Susan takes pride in caring for people both at work and home. She enjoys hosting family dinners and entertaining friends, a love that has transposed into the restaurant world seamlessly. Susan lives in Charlotte with her husband, Anthony, and their dogs, Fred & Ralph. 

Gary, a Charlotte native, developed a passion for fine food and wine early on. After five years as a manager/beverage director of an independent gastropub he spent the next ten years as manager/beverage director of Dean & Deluca's Wine Room specializing in boutique California producers. From there, he moved on to working with a family-owned distributors which is where he developed a love for and knowledge of the finest international producers. Gary joined the Foxcroft Wine Co management team as of March 2019.

James is a bread-baking enthusiast with a passion for hospitality, food and of course wine. He is constantly trying new things in search of his new favorite wine or dish. James has worked in the hospitality industry his whole adult life. He has a diverse background working with coffee, soda, kombucha, beer, cider, mead, you name it! A fun fact about James is that he purchased his very first bottle of wine at Foxcroft SouthPark on the day he turned 21. James is now the Assistant General Manager at Foxcroft Wine Co. Waverly and can be found hanging out by the Italian red section. 

After growing up in the mountains of Western Pennsylvania, Justin Solomon spent his formative years in the kitchens of the Pacific Northwest and the Low Country of South Carolina, under the tutelage of James Beard award-winning chefs. Justin’s philosophy is to leave every diner feeling as though they are fed in manner that conjures excitement, passion or a memory…connecting them with their meal. Because, as it’s been said “one cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”

Will spent his childhood cooking in the family kitchen with his mom and cooking and baking with his grandmothers. His culinary journey was always centered on cooking meals for friends, family, and loved ones and how his food brings people together. Will followed his passion for cooking to Johnson and Whales University where he earned both AS and BS degrees in Culinary Science graduating in 2017. Will's mission at Foxcroft Wine Co. Waverly was to simply cook and create exceptional dining experiences for guests. He appreciated their trust and confidence in the Foxcroft Culinary brand and worked diligently to uphold the high standards set by all Foxcroft locations. 

Mary-Kate (MK) has a background as the one-woman marketing department for diverse industries from textiles to pet care but has found a home in hospitality with Foxcroft Wine Co & Dot Dot Dot Cocktail Lounge. She works diligently behind the scenes for all locations and is quick to brag about her talented, knowledgeable, and friendly co-workers. Since 2019, she has played a central role in developing the Foxcroft brand and digital presence. MK enjoys all her fun and diverse marketing projects including all things creative, social media, graphic design, event marketing, community outreach and more - all while learning about the world of wine, cocktails, and top notch cuisine. She’s grateful for a career that feels more like a hobby and co-workers that feel more like friends. During her free time, MK can be found kayaking on Lake Norman, creating abstract gold leaf paintings, sipping wine on her front porch, and hanging out with Walter, her golden retriever and personality doppelgänger.

Amanda got her start in the restaurant industry as a pastry chef. After graduating from Johnson and Wales University and working in a kitchen she quickly learned that that was not the place for her. She spent the next 10 years managing restaurants and retail shops. Here she found her passion for wine and enjoys teaching others about the world of wine. On her off time she enjoys photography and going to hockey and football games. 

Shawn Paul is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and holds certification in Advanced Blind Tasting from the American Sommelier Society. A native of central Maine, Shawn studied Classics, Philosophy and French at Clark University in Worcester, MA and spent an academic year in Dijon, France. Shawn has more than 15 years of experience in Food & Beverage management, with nearly 10 as a professional sommelier and beverage director in New York City at Michelin starred restaurants. Prior to leaving New York for North Carolina, Shawn worked as an Associate Specialist in the wine department of the international auction house Christie's.

In North Carolina Shawn has worked as the Wine Buyer and Wine Room Manager for Dean & Deluca and later General Manager and Beverage Director at Corkbuzz by Master Sommelier Laura Maniec. With Foxcroft Wine Co. Shawn works as Wine Operations Director where he oversees purchasing, education and professional development. Shawn lives in Matthews, NC with his wife Heather and sons Oliver and Emmett.

An 8th generation Charlotte native, Conrad Hunter spent the better part of the 80s and 90s as a professional touring musician and recording studio owner. His serious love of wine began inn 1988 as a byproduct when helping a friend open Charlotte’s first open kitchen brasserie, The Artist’s Cafe. Growing disillusioned with the collapse of the music industry in the late 90s Hunter sold his studio and launched a new career in the wine business. His first Foxcroft Wine Co. opened in 2004 in the heart of Charlotte’s Foxcroft neighborhood. After 15 years, he’s still at it, leading the expansion of Foxcroft Wine Co. into multiple locations as well as it's sister business, the award-winning Dot Dot Dot, Charlotte’s classic cocktail lounge.