Rick Burkholder joins our Culinary Services Team with over 35 years of restaurant experience. His career has spanned across the East Coast, from his hometown in Pennsylvania, traveling to South Carolina and then settling down in Atlanta where he has spent his last 20 years. Rick has developed an unparalleled level of hospitality which is evident through his interactions with guests, and also observed through his training and development process with associates.
Rick’s first notable opportunity took him to the Kiawah Island Resort, where he worked at the Jasmine Porch for approximately 10 years. Rick was introduced to amazing guests and colleagues and formed lasting relationships he still cherishes today. After many years on Kiawah, and a turn of events, Rick’s personal life brought him to Atlanta where he reconnected with a former manager that offered him a position should his path ever lead him to this city. He began working under Atlanta restaurateur Steve Simon at South City Kitchen in Midtown. He spent time there, with continued education in his trade, and then transitioned to an opportunity at Mumbo Jumbo. The restaurant closed after 3 years, and his next venture brought him to Peachtree Hills, where he worked at Phillipe’s Bistro, and then as the restaurant changed hands, working at Paul’s, under Chef Paul Albrecht.
Rick continued his time at Paul’s for the next 10 years where he worked closely alongside our Culinary Services Director, Amanda Dumich. Rick considers Amanda and the community from Paul’s Restaurant as extended family. Rick has now come full circle back to the Peachtree Hills Place community, and he feels a true sense of returning home. He looks forward to this new path and developing meaning repours with his colleagues and our members.
Rick credits two very special people in his life for molding him as the individual he is today; his mother and grandmother, with whom he learned gratitude and patience. In Rick’s free time he enjoys cooking his grandmother’s recipes, going to theaters and movies and also dining out at the wonderful restaurants in Atlanta. He is quoted saying “life is like a great book- many paragraphs, chapters and most of all a strong hard cover”.
Welcome home Rick!