About Us
We’d like you to meet the family.
People play the central role in Ports of Call Bistro. This of course includes our Staff, but our “Team” has grown to include many members of the community who have formed strong bonds with us as we share in the celebration of global food and culture.
Robert Hart
Executive Chef
Olivia Furnier
Front of House Service Manager
Scott Lindsey
Bar Manager and Mixologist
Robert "Tyler" Furnier
Sous Chef
Lori Leary
Hostess
Brittany Steinway
Assistant Manager / Training Manager
Stephanie Broome
Service Staff
Mercedes Harmon
Service Staff / Assistant FOH Manager
Aaliayah Howery
Prep / Line Cook
Brandon Carnine
Media and Public Relations Consultant
Makayla Chavez
Hostess trainee (with FOH Service Manager, Olivia Furnier)
Christopher Rodier
Dishwasher
Line Staff
R to L: James Wester, Prep/Line Cook; Tyler Furnier, Sr. Sous Chef; and Paul Snyder, Line Cook
Felix Furnier
Busser / Food Runner
Get to know us better with staff video interviews and photos from our Ports of Call scrapbook.
Meet the Founders
Jake & Ray
Jake Pfohl
Jake’s Story
Jake grew up in and around Buffalo, New York, and later attended New York University in New York City.
After University, Jake was drawn to join World Education, a global non-profit, based in New York City. Jake’s mentor was an accomplished Educator who hailed from India. Jake continued in his international career in, largely in non-profit community development and public health, for the next 35 years.
Jake worked extensively in countries of South Asia, especially Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Sri-Lanka, but also worked in other parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America, touching at least 56 countries and their Ports of Call.
Jake met fellow Americans along the way when abroad, some of whom hailed from the South, and noted their warmth and hospitality.
While keeping a base in New York City, Jake also absorbed the city’s ethnic restaurants and bistros, and worked as a VP in an organization that focused on bringing healthier foods to low-income communities in New York’s City’s five boroughs. One of Jake’s college friends invited him to visit Southport in 2005, and that gave birth to the idea of moving to Southport after feeling drawn to the community.
Ray’s Story
After high school, Ray moved initially from the Philippines to live with his grandfather in Hampton, Virginia, who was working as the City Physician of Newport News. Ray began community college there and later joined the rest of his family in New York City, where he earned his degree in Economics at Hunter College.
Ray worked at a variety of financial institutions as an accountant, including the Federal Home Loan Bank in New York.
Ray’s amazing family includes six energetic sisters who we call the “Six Marias,” as his Mom and aunts all share that name. Ray’s Filipino family often met as a large group, and always had a table full of foods with the exciting flavors of Filipino food.
Ray Ayacan