Constantine Katsifis
Owner and Chief Executive Officer
Constantine Katsifis was raised in East Brunswick, he attended East Brunswick High School, ran track and worked at the Colonial Diner as a busboy. After graduation he attended Rutgers University, double majoring in English and Engineering. During this time period, he engaged in the family business by working at the Americana Diner.
Since his first day operating the Americana Diner in 1990, Constantine Katsifis has embraced and focused on guest satisfaction and improvement. He has transformed Americana Hospitality Group (AHG) from a “one store owner and operator” to include multiple locations that serve over 25,000 guests each week. AHG now consists of Americana Diner in East Windsor, Skylark Fine Diner and Lounge in Edison and the legendary banquet hall Pines Manor in Edison with a total of over 350 employees. By offering careers in hospitality and not “just jobs” AHG is poised to continue exponential growth with significant increases in profitability.
During the last two decades, he has redefined the diner category in New Jersey by continually improving food quality, service and ambiance. This vision earned Skylark Diner and Lounge their highest rating of “Don’t Miss” from the New York Times, the first ever for a diner. Mr. Katsifis believes you place your management and employees above all and they in turn create a much better experience for the guests. This belief has produced off-the-charts retention rates for management and staff. The combination has produced double-digit, year-over-year growth.
The management team working with Mr. Katsifis upholds the Company’s primary operating philosophy that guests are earned one at a time through personal interaction and delivering on his simple yet powerful message: “Our Effort is Our Distinction.” He believes that dedicated efforts in a focused direction over time pays the greatest dividend and continues to lead by example.
Constantine continues to set this example by staying active in charitable and civic organizations. His most notable charity includes the Embrace Kids Foundation where he is on the Board of Directors. AHG continues to support this charity by donating food for the yearly walk-a-thon at Johnson Park, Dance Marathon at Rutgers University and Annual Dinner. Additionally, he works with East Windsor’s Community Action Service Center and has been a recipient of the Civic Activist Award. By partnering with them for more than 10 years, AHG has provided thousands of families with a Thanksgiving dinner.
Wayde Buonadonna
General Manager - Skylark Fine Diner & Lounge
Wayde started his career at a Hotel atop The Bellevue in Philadelphia, Pa from 1994 to 2000. The property became The Park Hyatt Philadelphia in 1995. Catering to the most prestigious clientele in the city achieving a four-diamond rating in catering, restaurants and hospitality. This location became host to The Academy Ball among other great events and home of Founders Restaurant and now Nineteen. Wayde also managed at The Hyatt Regency Philadelphia soon after became the home to Keating's Restaurant on The Delaware River.
Wayde has over 25 years experience working with additional flags such as Hilton, Loews and Choice Hotels and other hotel management companies in the field as a regional Food and Beverage Director and Regional GM. Wayde is also known for being a regional event planner for Microsoft in seven of their seventeen districts in the USA. As president of T.K.H. Events he managed over 400 events and product launches from Office 2000 to Windows XP in over 25 cities nation wide from New York to California. Wayde is now proud to be The GM of The Skylark Fine Diner & Lounge in Edison, NJ where he takes great pleasure in a unique blend of four-diamond service, upscale food & beverage and a comfortable and professional atmosphere.