Chad Hornik

OWNER | chad@doverhall.com​

​​

Chad Hornik’s hospitality story began long before Dover Hall and 7 Lady Vineyards. Back in a small Italian restaurant in Miami, where a 12-year-old was learning that excellence starts with humility, repetition, and care. That early spark became a lifelong pursuit of creating experiences that connect people through food, wine, and service.

 

After earning his degree in Public Administration from Florida International University, Chad opened his first Melting Pot restaurant in Richmond, VA, an entrepreneurial leap that set the stage for a three-decade career defined by growth and innovation. Under his leadership, his portfolio expanded to eleven locations across five states, earning him Franchise of the Year five times and numerous Service Cup awards for operational excellence. Today, he still owns three locations while serving as Beverage Committee Chair, helping guide the national direction of the concept he helped elevate.

 

In 2004, Chad launched Leading Edge Management & Consulting, where his expertise in hospitality operations and guest experience made him a trusted advisor to major brands such as Marriott, Sheraton and other major restaurant concepts. His philosophy has always been simple but demanding: hospitality isn’t a job—it’s a craft.

 

That belief culminated in 2017 with the creation of Dover Hall Experiences, a partnership with Jeff Ottaviano that redefined luxury events in Virginia. In just a few years, Dover Hall rose to international acclaim, earning Condé Nast Johansens’ recognition as the Best Venue in North America for Weddings, Parties, and Celebrations in both 2025 and 2026.

 

Never content to rest, Chad extended his passion for hospitality into the vineyard. In 2018, he and Jeff launched 7 Lady Vineyards, blending his sommelier training, which he earned through the Court of Master Sommeliers, with an international network of winemakers and estates. That pursuit deepened further when Chad completed the Enology & Winemaker Program at the University of California, Davis (2022–2025). The result: a Virginia winery producing world-class wines with global craftsmanship, including their first estate Viognier now led by Chad himself.

 

Beyond his professional achievements, Chad’s commitment to community and service runs deep. A U.S. Army veteran who served during Desert Storm, he has donated more than $850,000 to charities over three decades and mentored countless young professionals and student athletes through his 20 years of coaching high school football in Richmond.

 

A proud husband and father of three daughters, Chad lives by the same principles he leads with discipline, generosity, and joy. His legacy continues to shape not just Virginia’s hospitality landscape, but the next generation of leaders who see service as both an art and a purpose.

 

• Joined the team: April 19, 2017

• Hometown: Miami, FL

• Favorite spot in Dover Hall: Wine Cellar.

• Favorite dish to cook: Skirt steak on the grill.

• A movie title for the story of your life: Top Gun