Meet The America’s Best Restaurants Team

Matt Plapp

Matt Plapp is the CEO of America’s Best Restaurants. He started his digital marketing journey back in 2008 helping restaurant owners increase their profits by attracting the attention of their customers every week.

Matt has a passion for helping people build successful businesses that bring smiles to the community. One of Matt’s favorite foods is Buffalo Wings, and he also loves CrossFit!

Foodies On The Hunt For Amazing Operators & Grub Across America

Kylie Thorn

Sales Admin

Kylie joined America’s Best Restaurants in 2022! Kylie is from Richmond, KY and now lives in Florence, KY. If she was an animal she would be a starfish because she is easygoing and goes with the flow! Spaghetti is Kylie’s favorite food.

Becky Schlotter

Success Coach

Becky joined America's Best Restaurants in 2022!  Becky once lived in Perth, Western Australia for a year after graduating from high school. She enjoys exploring in the kitchen making new recipes, photography, pickleball, and has a love for travel. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and children!

Dawn Davis

Success Coach

Dawn Davis joined America’s Best Restaurants in 2022. She grew up in Cincinnati and now lives in Falmouth, KY. A lifelong Bengals fan, she has been married 17 years and has eight grandchildren! A fun fact about Dawn is that she has bungee jumped, so it’s no surprise if she could have a superpower, she’d choose flying!


Suzanne Hale

Communications Specialist

Suzanne grew up in Muncie, IN and now lives in Walton, KY. She spent years in the foodservice industry doing everything from pastry making to third-party food safety audits. She loves to write about great restaurants so people will learn about them and will go eat there! Her favorite dessert is fudgy chocolate brownies, but she's a dietitian too, so everything in moderation, right?

Luis Rivera

Show Host & Sales

Luis Rivera is a friendly face at America’s Best Restaurants. Hailing from Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, he now lives in Crestview Hills, KY. Luis has been a HUGE superhero and comic book fan since he was young. Luis LOVES to travel. When he’s not on the road, you can find him enjoying some Japanese food!

Duane Plapp

Relationship Expert

Duane Plapp is the Michael Jordan of Sales. He’s got a heart of gold and a personality that makes everyone in the room laugh. When he’s not coaching the America’s Best Restaurants sales team, you can find Duane in the studio with Matt streaming 'Fire with Dad'. Cha Ching Baby!


Logan Eickhoff

Producer

Logan Eickhoff is originally from Florence Kentucky. He joined America's Best Restaurants in 2022. Logan loves working at ABR because they have a very fun work environment and everyone is super friendly. In his spare time, Logan enjoys spending time with his family and friends, playing golf, and watching football.

Staci Leiker

Executive Producer

Staci, a Miami native, grew up with a passion for roller skating and an insatiable love for pizza. As a true Floridian, she embraces the sunshine and can often be found whizzing through the streets on her skates. If you're ever in need of a fun and energetic skating buddy, Staci is your go-to girl!

Trevor Jones

Executive Producer

Trevor is a dedicated Producer with a unique background in college football, where he played passionately for six years. A self-proclaimed cheesecake connoisseur, Trevor's love for this decadent dessert is only rivaled by his enthusiasm for staying fit and active. In his free time, you can find Trevor hitting the gym!


Randy Moore

Producer

Randy Moore is a Producer for America’s Best Restaurants. He has been working in the restaurant marketing industry since 2022, and he now lives in Florence, KY. Randy loves seeing the excitement on clients’ faces when setting up their visit to America’s Best Restaurants! His favorite food is pizza. (Duh!)

Katie Taylor

Producer

Katie has a deep love for spending time at the lake and creating unforgettable memories with her friends. As a seafood aficionado, she's always on the lookout for the next delectable dish to delight her taste buds. Her most cherished vacation memory is witnessing the breathtaking sunset in Santorini, Greece!

David Phillips

Producer

David, a dynamic team member at ABR, has an eclectic background as both a professional mascot and a dedicated educator. This unique blend of experience has equipped him with the skills to bring enthusiasm, creativity, and a genuine love for learning to the ABR family. When he's not relishing in his favorite chicken dishes, David can be found hiking!


Dan Link

Producer

Originally from West Chester, Ohio, Dan now lives in Fort Wright, Kentucky. His favorite food is pizza and he loves photography and  traveling! He even got to see the Pope (not once, but twice!) on a trip to Florence and Rome. He also loves concerts and live music, and has met Trent Reznor and Dave Matthews!

Austin Turner

Videographer

Austin Turner is originally from Norton, VA but now lives in Erlanger, KY. Austin enjoys working out and believes that the gym can teach you a lot about life. In his spare time, he loves spending time with his family and friends. His favorite memory is the 2021 America’s Best Restaurants Christmas party.

Jacalyn Mains

Host

Jacalyn, a charismatic host of America's Best Restaurants, brings her passion for good food and lively conversation to every episode. A lover of live music and captivating vocals, she enjoys singing her heart out and savoring a fine glass of wine. Her all-time favorite dish is her Grandpa Fonte's delectable spaghetti and meatballs, a cherished family recipe that warms both her palate and her heart.


Theo Williams

Host

Theo, a proud Jersey boy and host of America's Best Restaurants, showcases his love for food while celebrating the nation's culinary gems. With a passion for Jet Skiing and water activities, he's always ready to dive into exhilarating experiences on the waves. Adding to his impressive repertoire, Theo has also graced the screen in the iconic TV series, The Sopranos, further demonstrating his diverse talents.

Jaffar Haider

Video Editor

Jaffar Haider joined ABR as a video producer. He loves his job because he’s a big foodie and gets to make creative videos about food. If Jaffar had one super power, it would be flying so he wouldn’t have to worry about traffic jams. In his free time, he loves playing video games with his friends.

MD Maruful Islam

Video Editor

MD Maruful Islam joined the Americas Best Restaurants team in 2021. He was born and raised in Rangpur, Bangladesh, where he discovered his love & passion for food. If he had one super power, it would be the ability to fly so he could travel anywhere in the world and eat his favorite food – burgers!