Our Story

My name is Adam, I’m a 21 year retired disabled Navy Veteran with a passion for food. 

When I retired from the military in 2021-I did what everyone said I was supposed to do: I got a high paying job in corporate America utilizing my military skills. The American dream right? Well, I hated it. I left that job and went to work for a non-profit company in Richmond, that specializes in training people with disabilities to enter and thrive in the workforce. I found that I loved the work, the people and the mission. But, the American dream strikes again-my department, not being profitable enough for the people in charge, was closed down. About 30 people lost their jobs and went back out to various group homes and services. 

I was crushed, not for myself but for the opportunities taken away from those brilliant people. 

After feeling angry for a bit, I realized that if you want to get something done, the best way is to do it yourself. 

I started a company called Exceptional Eats. We would do the work my old company did: train and hire people with disabilities, without the corporate greed attached. I did it, and it was good! That mission that started with Exceptional Eats, continues at Napoli. 

My passion for food came from learning and creating dishes for my fellow service members to provide that little bit of home. I had a friend from Louisiana who would love a good gumbo. I had a friend from the Pacific Northwest who loved fish chowder. I knew people from the South who loved BBQ. Making these dishes and seeing people enjoy something they missed since leaving home made me indescribably happy. I learned the power of food for making people feel good.