Michael A. Salit

Founder & CVO

Career Highlights 

 Michael Salit chose his path early; Everyone must eat to survive. Michael was very visual. “Everything fits together to create a beautiful picture like pieces to a puzzle, ingredients to a recipe, Recipes to a Menu”. In 1966, at age 13, Michael got his first job as a cook.

At age 17, Michael met legendary Chef Ludwig Kugelmeier. He was trained by him for seven years in Hawaii. As a team, they successfully opened, and ran over 11 premiere restaurants. This led to a myriad of “Executive and Private Chef” positions with some of the world’s foremost musicians and celebrities as well as many catering opportunities around the globe. Michael developed multiple restaurant concepts for private foodservice companies and co-created the Food Service Consulting Firm within the IBM Corporation. 

In 1984, Michael’s foodservice experience and entrepreneurial spirit came together when Michael co-founded Eatec Corporation. This became the go-to software solution in the food service and catering industries. Eatec sold to Agilisys and became one of the most widely used foodservice software companies in the industry. Michael developed a standard in the industry still used around the world today. 

From 1990 to 2000, Michael formed MASC, a full-service hospitality and systems consulting company. Michael developed the first e-script debit card platform solution, replacing paper gift certificates for non-profit organizations to raise money. 

Michael started Mill Valley Candleworks in 2001. His vision was to create unique “Chef Created” scents for premium artisan candles that would help bring light, raise awareness, and money for charities. The “Can Do Program” and “The Light a Heart Foundation” were then formed to teach and support autistic children and young adults.

Through candle sales at charity events Michael raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for those in need. In Africa, Michael’s efforts and candles both saved and changed the lives of over 800 women and children by simply providing “A Light in The Darkness.” Michael built and operated a full production studio and five retail stores in northern California and New York City. In 2014, Michael sold Mill Valley Candleworks and moved to Cobb Mountain in Northern CA with the intent to retire. It didn’t take long for him to start a new venture.