Management Team / Advisory Board Bios
Steven Smith
CEO, President, and Director
Steven Smith launched Vegan Fine Brands in December 2016 and opened the first store in March 2018. Steven has engineering and management experience at Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo. He has also worked with many startups in food & beverage, tech, and entertainment. Holds an MBA and Ph.D. from Rutgers University.
Steven is also a professor at Florida Atlantic University. His primary job is working for Vegan Fine Brands, Inc., where he works 50 hours per week.
Rainford Knight
Head of Finance
Dr. Knight is Head of Finance at Vegan FIne Brands. He has extensive experience in corporate finance, risk management and due diligence for hedge funds, commercial banks and private banks. He holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Florida Atlantic University.
Sara Sherbondy
Head of Operations
Sara has extensive experience in supply chain management, operations, and logistics, She has worked for and advised many large corporations in the US and abroad, She also has experience in quick service restaurants, working with one of the world’s largest franchise chains as a franchise owner. Sara has an MBA from Florida Atlantic University.
Nihat Strider
Head of Marketing
Head of Marketing, Nihat Strider has an extensive marketing background in industries. He is the founder of Florida Marketing Group, a company specializing in creating tailored marketing solutions, marketing strategies and conducting market research. Nihat’s expertise includes digital marketing and e-commerce. He holds an MBA in Marketing from Florida International University.
Cynthia Mullins
Head of Human Resources
Head of Human Resources, Cynthia Mullins has held senior positions prior to joining Vegan Fine Brands. She serves as president of Baldwin Rise Advisory Services and as international legal counsel for JMW Consultants, Inc. Cynthia holds a juris doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law and degrees in business ethics and compliance.