VPH is a collaboration by hospitality veterans Devin Schuck and Raffaello Van Couten. With a combined 40 years in the industry the two long time co-workers, friends and residents of Brooklyn came together to create a concept that embodies their love for delicious food, cocktails and nightlife.
Meet the Team
Raffaello Van Couten
Chief Executive Officer
Co-Founder
Van Couten grew up watching, learning and eating in his grandmother’s catering kitchen in Trinidad. After moving to upstate New York he participated in a culinary exchange program with his high school at Hyde Park’s Culinary Institute of America. Van Couten went on to university and then law school, but upon graduation quickly made his way back into Hospitality and moved to NYC. Working in all aspects and positions, from the kitchen to the bar to top management, Van Counten quickly honed his craft. After a few short years he was managing bars and restaurants such as Blue Water Grill, Blue Fin, Atlantic Grill, 1920 Bunker Club, 675 Bar and Dos Caminos. Following 8 years of success that led him to be named corporate beverage director of BR Guest., he moved to Maysville as Assistant General Manager & Beverage Director, helping them to a two star review in the New York Times. He then took over as the General Manager, Service and Beverage director of Butter before opening Midnights with Schuck. Van Couten also serves as a guest instructor for beverage and food at the Institute of Culinary Education, I.C.E.
Devin Schuck
Chief Operations Officer
Co-Founder
Schuck started his career in hospitality to help pay his way through Business school. Upon graduation he kept developing his skills and knowledge of the industry while working at the world-renowned Steamworks Brewery Co. in Durango, Colorado. Wanting a new challenge, Schuck set his sights on New York City. He quickly learned the ropes while managing and working with the city’s best hospitality groups, restaurants and nightlife venues. He’s worked with chefs April Bloomfield, Alexandra Guarnaschelli and at the likes of Maysville, Butter, Grand Banks, Pod 39 rooftop, 1-Oak and Up & Down.
Riley Bright
Chief Marketing Officer
Riley Bright grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona and after graduating from Arizona State’s W.P. Carey Business program with a degree in Marketing and minor focus in hospitality & international business, she came to New York looking for something new and exciting. Starting out in the fashion industry, Riley quickly worked her way up as a top preforming sales executive for Christian Louboutin & L’AGENCE. She then pivoted into a Marketing and E-commerce Director role with Morgan Lane; managing a small team and creating new channels, partnerships, and proven initiatives for the brand. Riley was able to combine practical experience and her education to sharpen her marketing skills and take on new independent brands to create programs and content for. Joining VPH in 2022 as the Chief Marketing Officer, she brings another level of growth, partnerships & brand awareness to the company.
Caitie Hites
Director of Events
After graduating with a degree in Creative Writing at the University of Idaho, Caitie moved to the East Coast to immerse herself in New York City's hospitality culture. She quickly found a home at Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group where she polished her service and bartending skills.
Post-Covid, Caitie worked with Afficionado Coffee Roasters, constructing retail operations and opening their flagship cafe, all while heading the New York sales market and working with clients like Major Food Group, Catch Hospitality Group, Gerber Group, and the Williamsburg Hotel.
While Caitie feels like her heart has always been in New York, her 25 years living amongst the brilliance of the Pacific Northwest influences everything she does. When she's not in the hospitality space, she is spending time with her partner and their dog, Peach.
Andrés Santillana
Director of Operations
Andres Santillana has over fifteen years of experience in the hospitality industry, with the majority of that career spent in New York City’s nightlife scene.
In 2007, he joined the Gerber group and collaborated with Scott Gerber on numerous restaurant and nightlife projects. After managing the Central Park location of Whiskey Blue, Santillana was asked to become the company’s resident mixologist. Following, he personally opened three Gerber Group venues in New York City, including Lilium at the W New York Union Square, The LCL: Bar & Kitchen at The Westin New York Grand Central, and Kingside at Viceroy New York. It is at Kingside where Santillana’s prowess behind the bar has been paired with famed chef Mark Murphy’s expertise in the kitchen. In addition to his endeavors with the Gerber Group, Andres has been involved with New York nightlife mavens the Butter Group. Their offerings of 1Oak and The Darby have been at the forefront of New York’s nightlife scene, and Santillana’s cocktails will be featured in their newest endeavor, Up & Down.
His focus on the delicate balance between a guest’s expectations and his unrelenting desire for unusual yet approachable pairings have pushed his cocktails to the head of New York’s cocktail scene. Beyond his extensive liquor and bar knowledge Santillana has joined the VPH group bringing both shared love and experience from past collaborations into the future development of the VPH family.