Why GriffMaier
GriffMaier LLC was formed to provide comprehensive food, and emergency supply needs to citizens and communities impacted by natural and/or other disasters. As a subcontractor, following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Harvey and Michael, the members of GriffMaier LLC successfully produced 3.3 million non-perishable meals in 21 days for the citizens of Puerto Rico and supplied over 250 truckloads of canned foods, savory items and grain snacks to the Houston Food Bank through FEMA contracts. GriffMaier has also sourced healthcare items, PPE, drug testing and assisted in the sourcing of trailers and clean-up efforts. Leveraging this experience as well as the collective business experience of its partners, GriffMaier is positioned to provide turn-key food and emergency supply services to state and federal agencies.
Gary Solomon
Gary Solomon, Sr., leads an active career in business, civic and non-profit ventures alike. He started in his father’s footsteps, leading the family’s business, Gulf States Theaters, a successful chain of movie theaters in the southern United States. Under Gary’s leadership, the Solomons sold the business in 1986 and returned to the movie exhibition industry with The Palace Theaters a decade later. Gary and his wife, Martha, manage a venture capital group with more than 25 years of diverse entrepreneurial endeavors, including New Orleans Original Daiquiris, Semolina Restaurants, franchise locations of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Movietime Video, PHL Leasing Systems, Unishippers, and numerous real estate developments. The primary business operated by the Solomons today is Crescent Bank and Trust, which has six hundred employees in eighteen states and passed one billion in assets in 2013. Solomon’s civic activities post-Katrina include serving on the Bring New Orleans Back Commission, the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, and the New Orleans Business Council. Gary also serves on the boards of the American Red Cross, St. Michael’s Special School, the Bayou District Foundation, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, Harry Thompson Homecoming Center, St. Paul’s Episcopal School, and the University of Louisiana System Board.
Lt. General Russel L. Honoré (Ret.)
Our Team
Ben Kazenmaier
After graduating from Tulane University Freeman School of Business, Kazenmaier started both City Greens restaurant group and City Greens Farm, an 80,000 square-foot hydroponic farm. Following his entrepreneurial spirit, Kazenmaier focused on perfecting the vertical integration of produce between commercial food production, retail outlets, and the streamlining of distribution channels throughout the Gulf South. In response to Hurricane Maria, Kazenmaier led a team to produce hundreds of thousands of grocery boxes and millions of meals in Louisiana and ship them to Puerto Rico for distribution to hurricane victims.
Kevin Griffon
Kevin Griffon is the Co-Owner and operator of GriffMaier LLC. He formerly owned and operated KEG Medical, LLC. Griffon’s activities through KEG have enabled him to build a strong base of domestic customers of medical supplies. Kevin has been in the medical space for 8+ years. He has worked hand in hand directly with Orthopedic surgeons, Neurosurgeons, and Hospital Procurement teams to meet their medical supply needs. Through Kevin's relationships, he has helped form a top-rated medical supply company. He and his team have successfully merged software, sales, and shipping into an easy-to-use platform. Kevin has been able to use his international & domestic connections to deliver top needed PPE Products to Government Entities as well as local counties and healthcare facilities throughout the United States during Covid 19 Pandemic.
Andy Fink
Andy Fink is a managing partner of GriffMaier, LLC. A seasoned professional, specializing in business development and helping grow ideas that help make businesses better by fueling growth and innovation while leveraging strategic solutions.
His background in a family manufacturing business and in sales has allowed him to develop a keen understanding of all aspects regarding customer needs. This understanding begins with identifying the corporate customers needs and extends to the client. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Andy has been able to successfully deliver frontline safety equipment and testing supplies to several states, DLA, healthcare facilities, counties, and private businesses.
In his younger years he founded a promotional products company, driving sales to the top 1% of his peers and successfully exiting 10 years later. He then immersed himself into the family business to help foster and grow the intimate apparel business successfully, increasing sales by nearly 100% in less than 10 years.
Passion, loyalty and integrity are the fundamental values driving Andy. He is dedicated to fostering trust and long-term partnerships. Always curious and learning, self-driven and motivated with entrepreneurial DNA. Andy is continuously seeking new opportunities, anticipating market trends and crafting strategies that help keep his customers ahead of the curve.
Commander of Joint Task Force Katrina; Leadership Expert; Safety & Global Preparedness Authority; Leader of U.S. Capitol Complex Security Review
Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré helps organizations develop a culture of preparedness and initiates a mindset of problem-solving using strategies that create take-charge leaders.
As the commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, LTG Honoré became known as “The Category 5 Gen.” for his striking leadership style in coordinating military relief efforts in post-hurricane New Orleans. He is a decorated 37-year army veteran and global authority on leadership. When Hurricanes such as Harvey, Irma, and Ida approach—or when supply chain issues impact the economy—retired Lt. General Russel Honoré is who news networks like CNN, Fox, MSNBC, and CBS call on as their go-to expert on emergency and disaster preparedness. In 2021, Honoré was tapped by Congress to lead the U.S. Capitol Complex Security Review following the January 6th storming of the Capitol.
Gen. Honoré developed his crisis-management expertise over an extensive military career. He planned and supported the United States military response to the devastating flooding which swept Venezuela 1999 and Mozambique in 2000. As Commander of SJFHQ-HLS under NORTHCOM direction, he planned and oversaw the military response to the Space Shuttle Columbia Tragedy and the DC Sniper Shootings.
Prior to commanding Joint Task Force-Katrina in which he led the Department of Defense response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, he served in a variety of command and staff positions. These roles focused on Defense Support to Civil Authorities and Homeland Defense. Lt. Gen. Honoré also participated in three Top Officials (TOPOFF) exercises, as well as the United Endeavor series of Homeland Defense exercises.
In 2004. LTG Honoré was appointed Commander of the oldest and longest established U.S. field army: the 500,000 troop First Army. The First Army World War pedigree includes distinguished names like John “Black Jack” Pershing and Omar Bradley. It serves today as a mobilization, readiness and training command. After 37 years of active service, Lt. Gen. Honoré retired from the U.S. Army on February 29, 2008.
Gen. Honoré uses his experience managing natural and man-made conflict to help companies and organizations build a culture of preparedness. On stage, his disciplined leadership shines. In our country’s new normal, change and unpredictability are constants, which mean resilience is mandatory. LTG Honoré offers his business audiences these impactful takeaways plus an instructive message: Don't Get Stuck on Stupid!, the title of his third book.
His uplifting dose of candor with real-world leadership lessons is designed to equip audiences with a preparedness mindset. He shares his no-nonsense approach to getting the job done and instills confidence in tomorrow’s leaders.
