A Georgia native, Sarah-Ann Kelly grew up in small-town Waynesboro where traditional Southern hospitality and values were instilled in her. After studying consumer foods at the University of Georgia, followed by baking and pastry arts at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, Sarah-Ann returned to her hometown and opened a startup restaurant, Burke Perk, that would eventually grow to become a cornerstone in the community. After 10 years of business she sold her restaurant and branched into food sales with Sysco Columbia for a brief time before returning to hospitality. She moved to Atlanta in 2021 and worked as a manager for Davio’s, where she honed in on her organizational and management skills, diving deeper into elevated service. Sarah-Ann believes that no detail is too small to impact a guest’s experience.

Family is a major priority for Sarah-Ann, as her family have been her biggest supporters and greatest influences, and she believes any success she has is owed to the values of hard work and dedication she saw exemplified in her parents. She grew up surrounded by amazing Southern cooks, learning to make biscuits before she could read, so her love for food and family were naturally intertwined. When she isn’t working, she loves to watch football, especially her beloved Georgia Bulldogs. She also enjoys golf, painting, and still bakes occasionally. She is admittedly a big nerd who has always loved math and science and gets excited to learn about history and visit historical places.