Decatur's The White Bull Names New General Manager

DECATUR, GA -- Sean Palani has been named The White Bull's new general manager. Palani has brings more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant world. Starting as a bus boy at the age of 15, he eventually worked his way through both back- and front-of-house roles at restaurants across the country. He graduated from culinary school in 1999, earning degrees in Culinary Management and Culinary Arts, and from there, his natural knack for hospitality propelled his success in the restaurant industry.

In 2009, Palani joined Barteca Restaurant Group – the team behind Barcelona Wine Bar and Bar Taco – where he was originally an opening manager and then director of hospitality responsible for ongoing staff training and helping open locations in Atlanta and Washington, DC. He was promoted to a regional sales manager position before joining a Florida-based restaurant group as their catering sales and community alignment manager in 2017 to help them to get established in the Atlanta market.

Palani was also being tapped by local and out-of-state entrepreneurs to provide hospitality consulting services, and in 2016, he opened his own consultancy, The Pineapple Project. He's also guest lectured at Kennesaw State University's and Georgia State University's hospitality programs and is the founder of The Atlanta Guy's Dinner Group. The gathering group meets monthly at local restaurants to break bread, socialize and give back to local charities and non-profits.

Also new to the team is Sous Chef John Hanna. Serving alongside Sous Chef Pat Siciliano, Hanna leads the restaurant's daytime preparations. Prior, he worked his way through the ranks at Ford Fry's St. Cecilia, no. 246 and BeetleCat. Starting as a line cook and prep manager, he was eventually promoted to a Sous Chef position and was responsible for food ordering, managing meal periods and tracking productivity of the restaurant.

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Image The White Bull