Meet the Bite the Fruit Team
Russwin Francisco
President
An educator for more than 20 years, Francisco speaks and blogs about sexual wellness.
He was a college lecturer in business and information systems for 15 years and a university administrator for a decade. He served as chairman of the Registrars' Committee of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area where he developed and coordinated collaborative projects among 12 colleges and universities.
He possesses a Ph.D. in Epistemological Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley. His thesis explored the intersectionality of psychology and spirituality. He received a Master of Science in Information Systems from Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from The George Washington University, Washington, DC.
Leaving academia to pursue public policy and legal research, Francisco co-founded a consultancy that provided intelligence for litigation in the public interest for all manner of consumer products. His research and analyses have been cited in Congressional hearings and transportation safety legislation.
Francisco is a professional actor, singer and producer. He was an accredited investor in the Broadway musical Here Lies Love. He produced and appeared as Manny in the award-winning musical film The Girl Who Left Home.
James A. McGlade
Chief Executive Officer
Relocating to Washington DC in 1990, McGlade is an entrepreneur who quickly established himself as a savvy businessman and benefactor of the city. He established Black Fox Lounge, a live jazz venue in Dupont Circle, which received excellent industry reviews during its five-year run.
Fondly regarded as "Big Jim" by close friends, he began his career in hospitality more than 40 years ago as a restauranteur in his home town, Cape May, New Jersey. He owned and operated three restaurants by the time he completed the executive chef program at the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York.
In Atlantic City, New Jersey, he worked at the Claridge Hotel as its assistant executive chef and food and beverage manager. Then for several seasons, he was the general manager of the Mississippi Queen, a 422-passenger paddle wheel driven river steamboat that cruised the Mississippi river in New Orleans, Louisiana.
By turns, he established three Don Shula Steak House restaurants and consulted for a Florida-based full-service staffing and systems syndicate with major hotel clients as the Sheraton, Hilton and Marriott.
(from left) Canales with Coco, Talavera and Luzardo
Roberto C. Canales
Vice President of Operations
Canales has managed day-to-day operations for Bite the Fruit since opening in 2012. Previously, he supervised production for the store’s progenitor, the Leather Rack. For nearly 15 years, he worked as a server, bartender, bar manager, and banquet captain for some of the more celebrated restaurants and bars in the Washington DC area. He worked in various capacities for caterers favored by high-profile events and galas.
Christian Talavera
Senior Sales Associate
Talavera is an analytical and research chemist from California. He possesses a BS from Brown University, and an MS from the University of Notre Dame.
Flavio Luzardo
Senior Sales Associate
A native of Brazil, Luzardo studied public relations and marketing prior to making Washington DC his home. He has been a real estate agent for more than 20 years. He is a top producer for Coldwell Banker Realty, and teaches realtor courses.
Abigail
Day Security
Sissy
Night Security