Michael Nowacki
Michael, a born and bred Toronto native, is the founder of TO’s Finest - a platform he launched in 2012 to share and discover the best restaurants in Toronto. What began as a simple idea has grown into one of Canada’s most recognizable and influential media brands, reaching hundreds of thousands of people and shaping how a new generation discovers and shares what’s worth experiencing in the city. Over the years, Michael has worked with hundreds of small businesses and leading brands, while creating the widely popular Best of Toronto series. Through this format, he has interviewed over 200 chefs, restaurateurs, industry insiders and notable personalities, helping spotlight the people and places behind the city’s culture. A true connector of people, today his focus is on telling deeper stories and expanding the platform nationally, with an emphasis on the personalities behind the places you trust and love.
Francesco Giorgio
Francesco is an award-winning multidisciplinary designer and marketing leader focused on putting brands on the right path. As the former Director of Marketing at Gruppo Terroni, he led brand, digital and communications strategy across a portfolio of restaurants, cafés, retail and e-commerce, helping drive measurable growth while strengthening one of Canada’s most recognized hospitality groups. Today, he is a partner at Finest Friends, where he helps drive the company’s growth and scale its creative agency, Studio Finest, through strategy, branding and content-driven work. On a personal note, Francesco was born in Basilicata, Italy and learned English in Ireland, where he lived for nine years. He finished middle school in Canada and high school in Germany before returning to Canada to complete his Bachelor’s in Media, Information and Technoculture at Western University. He is passionate about food, travel, design, sport, staying active and above all appreciating the little things in life.