Who We Are
DMB is the culmination of 40 years experience building welcoming environments that create lasting impressions. Working with Giorgio Armani and as VP of Design and Development for Gerber Group, Mark LaValle spent 30+ years realizing concepts for countless iconic brands across the globe. In 2019, Mark brought on restaurant management and operations expert Jason Berkowitz to help create a holistic, multi-faceted hospitality consultation service that creates authentic, engaging experiences for businesses and brands.
Mark Lavalle
Driven by his unique blend of passion, personality and precision, Mark Lavalle embodies everything that a well-executed restaurant should be. His charismatic journey to hospitality virtuoso weaves through some of the most transformative moments in brand development and management over the last 30 years. From his meteoric rise to Director of Operations for Giorgio Armani, to his tenure as Vice President of Design & Development for world-renowned nightlife impresario Rande Gerber’s The Gerber Group, Mark has realized concepts into vivid, multi-sensory experiences for countless iconic brands across the globe. Having overseen the opening of over 80 high-profile brick and mortar operations that run the conceptual gamut—from the creation of Massimo Boturra’s Gucci Osteria in Beverly Hills, to his reimagining of the cannabis retail experience for Southern California’s leading dispensary chain, Sweet Flower—Mark imbues establishments with a magnetic warmth and gripping culture that turns heads and converts customers into company.
Jay Coldren
Jay Coldren brings more than 30 years of hospitality development, design, and operations experience to his work with the DMB Group.
Recently, Mr. Coldren served as the CEO - Development for Time Out Market food halls where he led the global expansion of the iconic food hall brand. He also recently served as the Global Hospitality Lead for Streetsense, a creative design and consulting agency in Washington, DC, and as the Managing Director of North American Markets for the iconic gourmet retailer Dean & Deluca.
As a part of a ten-year engagement with Marriott International, Mr. Coldren helped launch the company’s Insight Strategy and Innovation discipline, served as the Vice President of Lifestyle Brands, and was the Global Brand Leader for EDITION hotels, overseeing the development and expansion of this boutique hotel brand with hotel impresario Ian Schrager.
His background includes leadership roles at extraordinary properties such as the Claremont Resort & Spa, the Inn of the Anasazi, The Inn at Loretto, and the Michelin Three-Star Inn at Little Washington.
Jason Berkowitz
Jason Berkowitz is a hospitality veteran developing modern online training to help organizations build safer and stronger teams. His career spans over 40 restaurant openings, from fast-food to fine-dining. He served as VP of Operations for Umami Burger, COO for The Madera Group, and is the founder and CEO of ARROW UP Training. Through progressive ideas and a forward-thinking approach, their training programs have become standard practice for independent restaurants, top companies and large-scale corporations like GUCCI Osteria, 800 Degrees, Sweet Lady Jane, Tosca Cafe, Umami Burger, Toca Madera, and Tocaya Organica.