Meet Our Team
Our Executive Team Prides Itself On Continuous Learning And Innovation.
Miguel Pires
Founder & CEO
Raised in a ‘real estate family’ in Northern Virginia, Miguel Pires earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology from James Madison University.
As a passionate entrepreneur and smart business consultant at heart, Miguel launched his career in commercial real estate working for Weber Rector Commercial Real Estate Services. He epitomizes integrity, hard work, professionalism, and creative service in every detail of a real estate transaction. Miguel represents each client with a personal one on one relationship where he communicates openly to ensure that his clients become more successful in each of their investment and business dealings.
With this experience at hand and as a foodie himself, Miguel has opened multiple Zandra’s Taqueria’s in Old Town Manassas, Haymarket, and Fairfax, where you can find him when he is not completing a commercial real estate transaction. In recent years, he has served his community as the co-chair on the Manassas Business Council and City of Manassas EDA previously participated as a board member for Historic Manassas Incorporated along with a graduate of the Leadership Prince William program.
Education:
James Madison University, BA - Business Management
Jen Loeffler
Director of Human Resources, Communications & Catering
Jen Loeffler is the Director of Human Resources, Communications and Catering at GEH with over twenty years of experience in hospitality & people management for numerous corporate, government and non-profit organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and English from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. At an early age, Jen enjoyed cooking and reading recipes, and upon graduation, hoped that she would work for the newly created Food Network. When moving to NYC was the only way this could physically happen, Jen decided to move to Baltimore, Maryland to become a corporate party planner at a newly opened Women-owned business. With Jen’s love of the hospitality industry and experience in management of people and operations, she is thrilled to be working with Miguel Pires and the Great Eats Hospitality team. When not working, Jen enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters and three dogs. She loves making homemade pasta and hopes to one day visit Greece with her family.
Kevin Decker
Director of Culinary
Kevin Decker serves as the Director of Culinary for Great Eats Hospitality, where he leads the culinary vision behind Zandra's Taqueria. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, Kevin earned his Culinary Degree Summa Cum Laude with a perfect 4.0 GPA, reflecting his dedication to both the craft and the science of cooking.
Kevin's passion for food began at home. Growing up, he was inspired by his mother and grandmother, who prepared dinner from scratch every night, creating a lifelong appreciation for home-cooked meals and the traditions that bring people together around the table. What started as a desire to learn the fundamentals of cooking quickly became a lifelong career.
Throughout his culinary journey, Kevin has lived and worked across the United States, gaining firsthand experience with regional American cuisines and the rich cultural histories that have shaped them. Born in Florida, he has called California, Iceland, Maine, Colorado, Nevada, and now Northern Virginia home, while traveling to 46 states along the way. This broad perspective has given him a deep appreciation for the diverse flavors, techniques, and culinary traditions that inspire his cooking.
Before joining Zandra's, Kevin built an impressive and diverse career that included fine dining restaurants, casino kitchens, restaurant consulting, teaching Culinary Arts, operating independent "mom-and-pop" restaurants, and even operating a successful food truck. Each experience has helped shape his creative approach to menu development and leadership.
Kevin joined Zandra's as an Assistant to the Head Chef and, through years of dedication, creativity, and leadership, worked his way up to become the Director of Culinary. Today, he enjoys the opportunity to continually innovate, crediting owner Miguel Pires for encouraging creativity and giving him the freedom to develop exciting new flavors and seasonal specials.
When asked about his favorite menu item, Kevin admits it's difficult to choose—but you'll often find him enjoying Zandra's famous Nachos alongside whichever seasonal special he's recently created.
Outside the kitchen, Kevin is an avid baseball fan who has visited 18 of Major League Baseball's 30 stadiums, with a goal of seeing them all. He enjoys spending time with his two daughters and his dog, Jake, loves vacationing in the Outer Banks, and considers himself an adventurous eater who will try just about anything at least once. His favorite food, however, is surprisingly simple: peanut butter.
Looking toward the future, Kevin hopes to help Great Eats Hospitality continue its growth while fulfilling a personal dream of opening a specialty gourmet hamburger restaurant.