Chad Hornik

OWNER | chad@doverhall.com

​

Chad launched his restaurant career cooking in a small Italian restaurant in Miami at age 12 and quickly graduated to a bus boy and then waiting tables at La Paloma, a five-star restaurant in North Miami Beach. In 1995, Chad graduated from Florida International University with a Degree in Public Administration and then began his long and fruitful career with The Melting Pot. After completing the management-training program in Boca Raton, Chad relocated to Richmond, Virginia to open his first Melting Pot restaurant.. Over the next three decades, he grew his portfolio to eleven locations in five different states. Additionally, Chad owns another restaurant concept in Norfolk, Virginia called The Ghent.

In 2004, Chad launched Leading Edge Management & Consulting, offering hospitality consulting services and products to brands like Marriott Hotels, Sheraton Hotel along with several National and Regional restaurant concepts.

In 2017, Chad and Jeff Ottaviano became business partners and they started Dover Hall Experiences, which is now considered one of the fastest-growing companies in Virginia. Dover Hall was also just recognized by Condé Nast Johansens as the Best Event Venue in North America for Weddings, Parties, and Celebrations in 2025.

Through his various business ventures, Chad has been quite the community philanthropist by donating over $850,000 to different charities over the last 30 years.

Outside of work, Chad served our country in the US Army during Desert Storm, was captain of the track and field team in college, served Pi Kappa Alpha President and as an International Officer, and was a high school varsity football coach for 20 years in the Richmond area. He is married to Kathleen Kelleher Hornik and is the proud father of three amazing daughters.
 

​