Originally from New Mexico, Emily brings a deeply personal and wide-ranging culinary perspective shaped by both her Mexican roots and years spent in Chihuahua. Her very first kitchen job as a fresh teenager was at a small Tennessee restaurant called Captain Ernie’s, where a mentor first taught her the art of dessert. By the end of two summers, Emily had already earned a spot on the menu with her own creations.
Emily moved to Charlotte in 2005 and later formalized her training at Johnson & Wales University, graduating in 2016 with degrees in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management. She joined Peppervine in March 2023 as part of the pastry team, quickly establishing herself as a vital force in the kitchen. In 2025, she was promoted to Co-Sous Chef.
Today, Emily serves as the steward of Peppervine’s morning crew, leading the essential prep work that sets the tone for each evening’s service. She is especially passionate about bread-crafting all of the restaurant’s premium offerings—as well as recipe development, Japanese cuisine, and the flavors of her heritage.
Outside the kitchen, Emily enjoys hiking, music, gaming, and time with her family-her new husband Josh and daughter Nirvana. A lifelong dream of hers? To go tornado chasing.
Born and raised in Charlotte, Chef Matt brings a deep appreciation for hard work, creativity, and craftsmanship to the kitchen – values shaped early on by a family of builders and doers. He built his culinary voice from the ground up, driven by curiosity and a passion to recreate unforgettable dishes.
From his start as a busboy in Huntersville to honing his skills in Boone with a focus on local and seasonal ingredients, Matt’s journey has been rooted in growth and intention. He later returned to Charlotte to refine his craft at Peppervine, working alongside some of North Carolina’s most talented chefs, and now returns to continue expanding his perspective while pushing our menu into an exciting new era of creativity.
Chef Matt’s approach is thoughtful, ever-evolving, and inspired by a wide range of cuisines and cultures. We are incredibly excited for what’s ahead and can’t wait for you to experience the dishes he’ll be bringing to the table.
As both General Manager and Wine Director of Peppervine, Tommy focuses on providing elevated hospitality through the use of extensive staff training on all things food and wine, through careful hiring, and by promoting a positive, happy work environment. In his role of Wine Director, his goal is to make the entire world’s premium and super-premium wines more accessible and affordable, through a careful and ever-expanding curation of the world’s most food-friendly wines.
Originally from Maryland, Tommy has been in and around the industry since the early 1990s. Additionally, he spent fifteen years as an award-winning playwright and college professor, with productions all around the country. In the mid-2010s, he developed an intense passion for wine and cheese, and embarked on an intensive study period. He is a certified French Wine Scholar, Spanish Wine Scholar, and holds advanced certification through the Wine Spirits Education Trust. Always an educator at heart, he also runs the YouTube channel Pocket Wine School. He joined Peppervine as wine director and manager in mid-2022.
Tommy lives in Charlotte with his wife Mara, and spends the majority of his downtime writing, making music, and eating his way through the Queen City.
Robert W. Lackey, Sr., Current CEO of Imagine One Companies brings over 40 years of experience to Peppervine as a business proprietor of numerous companies. His resume also includes engineer and inventor titles, with over 200 products developed and/or patented. As a Peppervine owner and board member, Robert Sr., is heading up facility selection and design as well as brand strategies, new acquisitions, corporate directives, finance, key decisions and partner relations. He has a Bachelor’s degree in accounting with substantial experience in product development and M&A activities in over 75 company startups, mergers and acquisitions over his career.
Robert W. Lackey, Jr., is equipped with 27 years of experience as a business owner of over 15 companies. He’s also been involved in the air and water filtration industry for 15 years. He is an active Board Member, and shareholder of Protect Plus and Protect Plus Air Holdings. Robert Jr.’s responsibilities at Peppervine include strategic corporate direction, outside partnering, management initiatives, liaison between Board Members and key management/employees, key decisions in brand relationships, finance, and partner relations. He has a Bachelor’s degree from Elon University in business, with an emphasis in marketing and a minor in accounting.