Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Mayford Locals and Cocktail Bar, Afuah, knows how to have a good time—it’s what she does for a living. She's made it her life's work to keep the bar going, and she's damn good at it. Through unwavering dedication, relentless drive, and passion for hospitality, Afuah has elevated Mayford Locals and Cocktail Bar, from a local hot spot with a handful of team members to an ultra-successful multi-unit restaurant brand, with a devoted following. And while many laud her achievements, for Afuah, the party’s just getting started. Her sights are set on their further expansion and even greater growth for the brand and there’s no doubt she’ll make it happen.

At the heart of Mayford Locals & Cocktail Bar is Chef Desmond, our talented and passionate Lead Male Chef. With years of culinary expertise and a deep love for Ghanaian cuisine, Chef Desmond brings a unique touch to every dish he creates. His mastery of flavors and commitment to using fresh, high-quality ingredients ensures that every meal is a delightful experience for our guests.

Chef Desmond is not just a chef but an artist in the kitchen. His innovative approach combines traditional Ghanaian recipes with modern techniques, creating dishes that are as visually stunning as they are delicious. Whether crafting hearty breakfast options, sumptuous lunches, or indulgent dinners, his dedication to excellence is evident in every bite.

Chef Beatrice is the culinary mastermind behind the exquisite dishes at Mayford Locals & Cocktail Bar. As our Lead Female Chef, she brings a wealth of experience, passion, and creativity to the kitchen. With a deep love for Ghanaian cuisine and an eye for innovative twists on classic dishes, Chef Beatrice ensures every meal is crafted with care, precision, and a touch of artistry.

Her journey in the culinary world began with a dedication to mastering the flavors and techniques of local Ghanaian cooking, but her ambition pushed her to explore global cuisines as well. Chef Beatrice is known for her attention to detail and her ability to create unforgettable dining experiences, whether preparing traditional meals or experimenting with modern flavors. Under her leadership, the kitchen at Mayford Locals thrives with fresh ingredients, bold spices, and a dedication to quality that sets the restaurant apart.

Chef Beatrice’s passion extends beyond the kitchen, as she believes in the power of food to bring people together. Her culinary creations reflect this belief, turning every meal into a celebration of flavor, culture, and shared memories. At Mayford Locals, she’s not just cooking – she’s creating experiences, and every dish tells a story of her love for food and her commitment to excellence.

Morgan Ricci is the Director of Training & Operational Support for Mayford Locals and Cocktail Bar, 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.

Adam Perhosky is the Director of Sales and Events and has been with the Mayford Locals and Cocktail Bar 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 ofMayford Locals and Cocktail Bar’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.

Jason Thompson is the Senior General Manager of Mayford Locals and Cocktail Bar where is serves as a mentor to his fellow operators, focusing on ongoing education and building strong cultures in the brands different restaurants.

Born and raised in Fredericksburg, VA, Jason achieved success in the restaurant early on, becoming the youngest GM for Ruby Tuesday at 21 years. He went on to spend 16 years with the brand before moving toTampa, FL where he became the GM of Smokey Bones. During his three years there his restaurant produced the highest late night sales and he won General Manager of the Year.

While at Smoke Bones, Jason met Mike Herchuck who was the Director of Operations Support. Mike later joined AmSo as the Director of Operations and reached out to Jason to join the AmSo team.

Jason’s commitment to building strong teams paid off in 2022 when his restaurant broke AmSo’s all-time sales record. In addition to running the AmSo Tampa restaurant, Jason manages the organization’s certifications and responsible for implementing operational systems to improve safety, efficiency and quality. He is passionate about helping others grow both professionally and personally and regularly visits each AmSo restaurant to provide the highest level of support.

His recently celebrated 10 years of marriage to his wife Michelle. He enjoys spending time with his family and has four wonderful children, two beautiful grandchildren and one spoiled French bulldog named Piper.

Ryan Leonard has been the executive chef for Mayford Locals and Cocktail Bar, 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 Mayford Locals and Cocktail Bar 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 Mayford Locals and Cocktail Bar 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.