Managing Partner // Executive Chef & Partner of The Grey
John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey: Biography at a Glance
- John O. Morisano and Mashama Bailey are co-founders of The Grey restaurant in Historic Downtown Savannah.
- The restaurant was the focal point of their book, Black, White, and The Grey, which details how the two built the restaurant in the Deep South, working to bridge biases and get people talking about race, gender, class, and culture.
- As speakers, they examine their most painful and joyous times building the business, revealing how they came to understand their differences, recognize their biases, and continuously challenge themselves and each other to be better.
- Mashama Bailey, executive chef and partner at The Grey and The Grey Market, also chairs the board of the Edna Lewis Foundation. She has been the subject of stories in USA Today, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Condé Nast Traveler, Food & Wine, Ebony, Bon Appétit, Cherry Bombe, Garden & Gun, and Cosmopolitan; has starred in an episode of Chef's Table; and has won the James Beard Award for Best Chef (Southeast).
- John O was previously a media startup entrepreneur, is the founding partner at The Grey and The Grey Market. Morisano oversaw the painstaking restoration of the dilapidated Greyhound bus station that became the restaurant's home, and directs the business operations. He has helped reshape and expand the mission of the Edna Lewis Foundation and serves as a board member and the treasurer.
Biography
About John O. (Johno) Morisano
Johno Morisano is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Grey Spaces, a group of restaurants and lifestyle and product offerings, headquartered in Savannah, Georgia. Morisano transitioned into restaurants in 2014 after a career in business when he, along with Co-founder and business partner Mashama Bailey, opened The Grey restaurant and, later, The Grey Market. At Grey Spaces, Johno oversees guest experience, business growth and strategy while Mashama, the Executive Chef, oversees all culinary creation and operations. Grey Spaces is opening additional restaurant locations in Austin, TX in Fall 2021 and an expansion is planned throughout the South over the next several years.
After attending Pace University, Johno, a CPA, joined Price Waterhouse in its entertainment and media practice. After PW he then dove into the world of startups and turnarounds, spending the next twenty-five years working across the entertainment, media, technology and art landscapes in a variety of capacities—from operator to investor to business and creative advisor.
Beginning in 2012, with the purchase of an abandoned Greyhound Bus Terminal in Savannah, Georgia, Morisano embarked on an entirely new career path which would take him into the world of restaurants and the national food scene when the Greyhound station became The Grey in 2014. In just a few short years, Morisano and Bailey went from a duo never heard of in the food world, to being important voices in the creation of exceptional guest experiences, foodways, and community and bridge-building related to race, class, culture and inclusion.
Morisano has been actively engaged in philanthropy and not-for profit causes supporting a variety of organizations throughout much of his adult life. He has served as a governor and officer of the National Arts Club and United Nations Women. He currently sits on the boards of the Edna Lewis Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving its namesake’s legacy in southern and American foodways, and Grey Matters Project, a community-oriented nonprofit he started in memory of a past team member at The Grey.
Together with Mashama, he co-wrote Black, White and The Grey (Ten Speed Press/Penguin Random House), which explores the business partners’ challenges navigating race, class and culture while building businesses, relationships and community in the South.
In 2019, in conjunction with Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Meg Coker, Johno co-founded The Current (www.thecurrentga.org), a nonprofit, investigative new bureau, covering Savannah and coastal Georgia.
Johno is a sought-after guest at food conferences, universities and on podcasts speaking on the subjects of startups, entrepreneurship, community activation as a business strategy, race, class, culture, and foodways. When not at work, he is with his wife Carol, their dogs and likely eating food, drinking wine, and then exercising it off so he can start all over again.
About Mashama Bailey
Mashama Bailey is the award-winning Executive Chef and co-founder of Grey Spaces, a group of restaurants, lifestyle and product offerings, headquartered in Savannah, Georgia. Together with Co-Founder and business partner Johno Morisano, she opened the critically acclaimed restaurant, The Grey, for which she was awarded the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef Southeast award, followed by its all-day counterpart The Grey Market.
Born in the Bronx, raised in Queens, and with maternal roots from Waynesboro, GA, Mashama attended grammar school in Savannah and first learned to cook at the hands of the women in her family - with grandmothers, aunts, and her mother. Her formal education includes the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in New York City and LaVarenne in Burgundy, France.
Prior to The Grey, Mashama’s career includes a dozen years cooking throughout New York City, the last four of which were at Prune on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, under the tutelage of Gabrielle Hamilton. In 2019 and with the premier of Netflix’s Chef’s Table Season 6, Mashama became the first African American chef to star on that show.
Together with Johno, she co-wrote Black, White and The Grey (Ten Speed Press/Penguin Random House), which explores the business partners’ challenges navigating race, class, and culture while building businesses, relationships, and community in the South.
Mashama is the Chairwoman of the Edna Lewis Foundation, whose mission is to honor and extend the legacy of Edna Lewis by creating opportunities for African Americans in the fields of cooking, agriculture, food studies, and storytelling. She is a sought-after guest at food conferences, universities and on podcasts speaking on the subjects of women in foodways, race, class, culture, and foodways history.
She and Morisano will debuted two restaurants in Austin, TX, the Diner Bar and The Grey Market Austin, both in the forthcoming Thompson Austin Hotel. Mashama was named 2022's James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Chef.
People also viewed these speakers.
FAQs
How do I book John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's speaking fee?
John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey speaking engagements.
Official contact for John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/john-o-morisano-mashama-bailey
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey.
Is John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey for?
Book John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey can customize their presentation for your specific event.
John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey booking information and availability
Check John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey for your preferred event date.
Book John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey keynote speaker through CAA
Book John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey for your next event.
Will John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey speak at private events?
Yes, John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey?
CAA Speakers responds to John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey?
Book John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey pricing information?
Get John O. Morisano & Mashama Bailey pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.