Team Principals

Chief Executive Officer & President
nmichaelsen@tripletapventures.com

Neil brings over 20 years of corporate finance and management experience covering a wide range of industries including real estate. Neil currently serves as the CEO and President of Triple Tap Ventures LLC, which is the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema franchisee for a number of territories in Texas. Under Neil’s leadership the Company has grown the Alamo brand with locations in Lubbock and El Paso and will be adding two additional locations in Houston. Prior to Triple Tap Ventures, Neil’s experience includes investment banking and corporate finance positions. Neil was a partner at the New York based investment banking firm TM Capital Corp. He also served  as the head of investment banking for an institutional-focused financial services firm, APS Financial Services.  In addition, he served as the managing director of a real estate development firm, IDM Properties, where he directed raising capital and deal structuring for its projects. 

Chairman
nabdallah@tripletapventures.com

Norman has over 30 years of restaurant, franchise and concept development experience with several concepts. Normancurrently is CEO & President of Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (a collection of 52 restaurants across 24 states and Washington, D.C., including Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House, Sullivan's Steakhouse, and Del Frisco's Grille based out of Southlake, Texas). Previously he served as the an Operating Partner for the private equity firm CIC Partners under which he was the CEO of Taco Mac Restaurants (a 30 unit sports bar based out of Atlanta) and the Chairman of Willie’s Grill & Icehouse LLC (a 17 unit fast casual icehouse based in Houston, Texas).  Norman has also served as CEO of Dinosaur BBQ and Counter Concepts, portfolio companies of a large global investment fund, where he managed portfolio acquisitions; and CEO and President of Romano’s Macaroni Grill and the CEO of Restaurants Unlimited. In addition, he was CEO and co-founder of Fired Up, Inc., the parent company of Carino’s Italian. Earlier, Norman held various positions at Brinker International, where he was responsible for the worldwide franchise programs of Chili’s, Macaroni Grill and On The Border. Norman also serves on the board of directors of Del Frisco's Restaurant Group Inc. (NASDAQ:DFRG).

llavine@tripletapventures.com

Larry Lavine is a serially successful restaurant entrepreneur and executive, starting in 1975 when he founded Chili’s Inc.  During his tenure as CEO of Chili’s through 1985, Larry managed the concept’s growth and development through its successful IPO in 1983. Larry was responsible for development of all aspects of Chili’s concept including menu, service system, décor, building design and all operations.  In addition, Larry managed site and market selection, market planning and joint venture/franchising deals. Subsequent to Chili’s Larry created the casual dining seafood concept Charley’s Seafood Grill, which was sold to S&A restaurants and renamed Baystreet Seafood Restaurants. Larry acquired Tia’s Tex-Mex, which he grew to 12 locations and sold to Morrison Restaurants, Inc. (Ruby Tuesday). Larry has also led and been involved in numerous other restaurant consulting assignments and collaborations. Larry also served as the president of the North Texas Food Bank. Most recently Larry developed the Ten 50 BBQ restaurant in Richardson, Texas.