Strong, focused leadership.

Robert Arnold, president and chief executive officer
With over 20 years of experience in hospitality sales management and consulting, Robert has worked with some of the most recognized brands in the business, including Wyndham, Omni, Hershey Hotels and Resorts, Travelodge, and Homestead Village. Most recently, Robert served as director of national sales for TravelClick Inc., the leading business process management solutions company in the hospitality industry.

As founding partner of Guardian Food Concepts, Robert now focuses his considerable sales management skills and technology knowledge on building great retail brands along with the rest of the GFC team.

David Lanterman, chief operating officer
David understands that what is measured is what counts, so you have to count what matters. A graduate of industry-renowned Johnson & Wales University, David has over 10 years of experience in food service and hospitality operations management. David has managed hotels for industry leaders like Marriott, Holiday Inn, and Embassy Suites. Prior to becoming a founding partner in Guardian, David worked for Winegardner & Hammons, one of the most successful managers and developers of full-service hotels in the nation.

At Guardian, David applies his operational skills and food service knowledge to providing exceptional service and quality, recruiting and maintaining a team of talented associates, and maximizing profitability.

Larry Fairman, chief marketing officer
As a nationally respected business, marketing and communications consultant with more than 18 years of experience, Larry has helped hundreds of organizations and businesses develop powerful strategic plans, brand identities, positioning strategies, marketing plans, websites and creative outreach programs. In addition to serving as CMO for Guardian, he operates a national strategic marketing firm-Fairman Consulting-in Atlantic Beach, Florida.

To Guardian, Larry brings expertise in management consulting, marketing strategy, brand programming, market research, positioning, website usability and development, advertising, public relations and online marketing. He has helped grow national, regional and local organizations like Clean Shower, AccuStaff Incorporated (now MPS Group), NELnet, Homestead Village, Regency Centers, USG, and Florida Prepaid College Board, among many others.

John Kerr, senior vice president, branding
John is an award-winning communicator, with over ten years experience in branding, marketing, advertising, design and web development. He has provided high-concept, market-oriented solutions to national clients such as WorkSource, FloridaWorks, USG, ALLTEL, Chase Home Mortgage, Zassi Medical Evolutions and WellCheck. In addition to his role as senior vice president for branding with Guardian, he owns Ellis One Marketing, a brand consultancy in Jacksonville, Florida.

Prior to joining Guardian, John was with The Boardwalk Group in Jacksonville Beach for almost ten years, serving as vice president of creative and technology services. Working closely with Larry Fairman, he provides Guardian with the strategic and creative firepower needed to build and maintain strong brands.