A Taste Of AMSO

Founder and Managing Partner of American Social Bar & Kitchen, Rick Mijares, knows how to have a good time—it’s what he does for a living. The poster child for ‘the host with the most,’ he's made it his life's work to keep the party going, and he's damn good at it. Through unwavering dedication, relentless drive, and passion for hospitality, Rick has elevated American Social, or AmSo, from a local South Florida hot spot with a handful of team members to an ultra-successful multi-unit restaurant brand, with a devoted following known as the ‘FAMSO’. And while many laud his achievements, for Rick, the party’s just getting started. His sights are set on their further expansion and even greater growth for the brand and there’s no doubt he’ll make it happen.

Rick gained valuable lessons from his family’s successful Real Estate Development and Construction businesses, which he seamlessly leveraged to lead the design and construction of every AmSo location. But it's his talent for building relationships that truly sets him apart. A natural born leader with a desire to inspire, Rick steps in and steps up in all aspects of the business —be that smoothing out challenges, uniting and motivating his team members, sourcing, and onboarding vendors or courting investors. Rick is committed to making personal connections that become meaningful, lifelong relationships.

As much as Rick loves working to make AmSo the best it can be, he’s an even more devoted family man. Coaching his son’s sports teams, cheering on his daughters’ dance and “acro” teams or grilling up a mean steak for the fam - he loves being a dad and husband. Rick is an accomplished golfer with a few tournament wins and a memorable hole-in-one he sank while playing with his now father-in-law just after proposing to his daughter.

What's Rick's secret to continued success? Always being loyal, kind, and generous, and never giving up on his relentless pursuit of improvement. He lives by his personal motto: “Success is never guaranteed, but honesty, humility, and hard work are always within reach. By staying true to these values, we can rise to any challenge and achieve our goals.” With Rick at the helm, AmSo's future is looking brighter than ever. And from the looks of things now and where they’re heading in Rick’s future, that’s some pretty sound advice.

Tony and Laurie are founding members of American Social Hospitality Group along with their partner and son, Rick Mijares. With over 45 years of experience in many phases of the business industry, Tony is directly responsible for the growth of the American Social brand which includes new business development, business and legal affairs of the companies and overseeing finance and construction of each new operation.

Laurie and Rick are primarily responsible for all interior and exterior design, décor and furnishings for each new operation and as well as ongoing upgrades to existing locations as the brand continues to evolve.

Mike Herchuck is the Executive Vice President leading the Support team and all aspects of the Operations. In his role he oversees planning and execution of Food & Beverage, Operations, Finance, and Marketing initiatives including menu & people development, systems, and budgets.

Growing up in Massachusetts Mike was surround by the bar business; his family has owned a bar for 40 years where he learned and worked early on. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Chemistry degree before getting back into hospitality.

Prior to joining AmSo Mike worked for Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill for 17 years most recently as the Senior Director of Operations Support overseeing the Regional Directors, Training, Cost, and F&B while setting sales and profitability records and new unit growth.

Mike joined AmSo in 2018 to grow with an exciting, fun, and influential brand where his impact would be immediate. Over the last 6 years Mike implemented systems to improve execution setting sales and profitability record, and set the company up for rapid growth.

Outside of AmSo Mike’s passion for the bar business continues where he reads up on its history and cocktails, traveling to visit unique bars & restaurants around the world. At home his other passions are Boston sports and his two Australian Shepards he shares with his fiancé Alex.

As Senior Brand Manager at American Social Bar & Kitchen, Kathryn brings a dynamic blend of creativity and strategic vision to the team. With a strong focus on brand standards, digital and social media, menu concepting, and creative initiatives, Kathryn ensures the American Social experience resonates with guests both in-person and online.

Having lived across the East Coast and internationally, Kathryn now calls South Florida home and is learning to love the vibrant culture after a year in the region. Outside of work, you can find Kathryn exploring new destinations, savoring the joy of new dining experiences, or enjoying downtime in nature with her beloved “SuperDog” Zeke.

Passionate about food, beverage, and hospitality, Kathryn is committed to fostering a brand that reflects inclusivity, authenticity, and good vibes—core values that drive the success of American Social Bar & Kitchen.

Adam Perhosky is the Director of Sales and Events and has been with the American Social team for more than a decade. The primary point of contact for guests and businesses looking to plan private functions of any size, Adam leads a talented team of event coordinators responsible for creating unforgettable experiences. He also manages the development and execution of exciting, brand relevant events that help drive guest loyalty and brand awareness. Adam has worked with top tier clients such as ESPN, the Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL,NFL, Adidas and Nike to name a few.He received his Bachelors in Hospitality Management from the Dedman School of Hospitality at Florida State University.

Adam is passionate about ensuring that AmSo delivers fun, trendy events that bring people together to enjoy great food, drinks and entertainment, after all, that’s what AmSo was created for.

He is philanthropic and has been dedicated to fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association for more than ten years. Adam currently resides in Tampa, but he is constantly making the rounds between all ofAmerican Social’s locations. He is a proud father to two young sons, Adrian and Sebastian.When not at work you can find Adam on the golf course, skiing in the Rockies, or watching sports with the boys.

Morgan Ricci is the Director of Training & Operational Support for American Social, and has been with the AmSo Team since 2013. Having worked in various positions over those years she brings experience and insight from all levels that help shape the training programs. Nicknamed “the Morganizer”, she is incredibly organized and helps institute many new structures within the company, allowing the team to work more efficiently and provide the best service possible.

She is most passionate about hospitality and finds the service industry so exciting because you are able to interact with and make connections with a variety of different people and personalities every day. Morgan takes her passion into the restaurants and it is contagious to all those she interacts with.

Morgan graduated from the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale and currently lives in the area. When she is not at AmSo she’s spending quality time with her chihuahua, Diego.

Jason Thompson- our Director of Operations helps to lead 5 locations in developing leaders, planning, executing, and ensuring cost-effectiveness along with great profitability. Trust me, it's been one heck of a journey!

Born and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia, I grew up with lofty ambitions of being a navy seal or a preacher. However, fate had its plans when I started working as a dishwasher at Ruby Tuesday and adopted the hospitality business as my own. It's been a good 28 years in this industry now.

My journey didn't end there. Prior to joining American Social in 2019, I worked at different locations including brands like Marlin & Rays Seafood, BJ Brewhouse, Smokey Bones, and Bar Louie. It was during these years I realized my true passion in life, which is motivating and developing others.

With American Social, I had the chance to help build Culture and Sales in Tampa. Together, we could implement systems that got adopted across all 5 locations and transformed a 12 million dollar restaurant into a blooming 20 million dollar business. What a rush that was! To top it off, Tampa was named in the Restaurant Business Top 100 Independents list in sales at #39.

Apart from being engulfed in my career, I find solace in my family. Blessed to be a family man with 4 kids and 3 grandkids, they are the center of my universe. It's a life of balance, leadership, and love.

Remember, it's not about where you start, but where you finish that matters. Grind hard and make your dreams a reality!"

Sylvie is a passionate and dedicated Marketing and Operations Support Manager currently navigating the dynamic world of American Social. Since joining the team in June 2023, I’ve been leveraging my skills in organization, creativity, and communication to help drive success behind the scenes and across various social media platforms.

A proud Florida State University alum, I’ve always had a deep love for learning and personal growth. Raised in the community of Boca Raton, FL, I’ve had the privilege of blending my coastal upbringing with a strong foundation in education. Before transitioning into the world of marketing and operations, I spent several years as a public school teacher—an experience that shaped my ability to connect with people, manage complex tasks, and stay adaptable in fast-paced environments.

I’m constantly inspired by the opportunity to learn new things and am always looking for creative ways to solve problems. Whether it’s streamlining processes or crafting engaging marketing strategies, I bring a blend of analytical thinking and creative flair to everything I do.

When I’m not working, you can usually find me trying every restaurant in Tampa with friends or at the gym- always seeking to bring a little more creativity and positivity into the world.

Let’s connect!

Ryan Leonard has been the executive chef for American Social, leading culinary ideation and menu development, since 2017. An American chef, Ryan grew up in the diverse South. Originally from Tucker Georgia, outside of Atlanta, Ryan’s family relocated to South Florida when he was very young. Here his love for food started to develop before he could see over the counter and he quickly started joining in cooking family meals which evolved into firing up the grill late at night with friends, trying his best to not wake mom. In the summers Ryan joined his father working in a bakery with family friends and fell in love with the pressures and triumphs of kitchen life.

Ryan began his career as a line cook with local institutions and progressed steadily. He attended the University of Central Florida for anthropology and cooked his way through college. Growing up in the melting pot of South Florida, he draws inspiration from native and regional cultures, histories, art forms and environments.

Ryan specializes in melding different cuisines together through culture and context. He has been recognized for numerous culinary awards in the region, including Best Burger at 2021 SOBEWFF Burger Bash and most recently 2022 Sandwich Hunt for his Waygu Steak Melt. He also had recipes published in local and national publications.

Lilly Perez is the Corporate Controller for American Social Hospitality where she oversees all financial aspects for the Management and Hospitality Companies, as well as supports leadership and management teams in HR, payroll, insurance, and legal. She also works directly with CPA and Auditors on all financial matters.

Lilly migrated to the U.S. with her parents from Cuba in 1979 and has lived in Florida since. In 1987, while pursuing her Business Administration & Accounting career Lilly was hired as the Assistant to the CFO and in charge of bookkeeping for United Homes International, a development company owned by Tony Mijares. Within less than two years she was promoted to Executive Assistant to the CEO and CFO and continued in various capacities for over 23 years.

When Tony transitioned into the hospitality industry in 2011 he asked Lilly to join him in this new venture where she was responsible for the support needed for the startup of the company. Utilizing her existing experience, as well as learning the new business, she led the construction bookkeeping, office administration, HR, payroll and various financials for the first location in Las Olas. During the last 8 years Lilly has played an integral role in AmSo’s success and growth through her work ethic and positive can do attitude.

John Mijares is a Florida state Certified General Contractor with an extensive background in construction and development. John started in the construction industry in 1994 working with his father and constructing numerous communities for United Homes. He has constructed over 1,000 single and multi-family homes as well as numerous mixed-use and commercial developments. In 2008, John formed United General Contracting Inc. and continued to build custom homes, oversee and manage full home and condo renovations, as well as office, retail and restaurant build-outs, most notably, all the American Social locations.

In 2017, John joined AmSo as their exclusive in-house General Contractor. He works very closely with Rick Mijares, providing insight and oversight from the design phase through completion of each AmSo, as well as all new construction. In addition, John oversees all renovations, major repairs and ongoing maintenance of all existing locations.

John specializes in project management, budgeting and scheduling, ensuring that all AmSo projects come in on time and at (or under) budget.