We had the good fortune of connecting with Sean Palani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sean, how does your business help the community or world?
We are a a very diverse group of guys who get together once a month to break bread, socialize and give back. Just like we support a different restaurant each month to dine at, we also select a local non-profit/charity to support, as well. To date, we have supported more than thirty-four local organizations. We put a big emphasis on women and children, the displaced and hungry; basically anyone needing our assistance. On top of our group support, we all post to our social media channels as well to bring more attention to the needs and services of the charities/organizations we are supporting during any given month.

We’d love to hear about a book that’s had an impact on you.
I have read several books over the years that have really “stuck”, but a book I read back in the early part of the year, a book that encourages intent, that highlights the value of forging genuine relationships and being true to those that you serve, really stood out and was read a second time was, “Preeminence” by Glen Jackson, co-founder of Jackson Spalding, an award-winning marketing and communications agency, here in Atlanta. It was a read that had a profound effect on me, both professionally and personally. Its impact was so strong, that I have introduced it my newly-formed company book club and it will be our first featured book.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am employed as a Restaurant Operations Consultant for a large food distributor, as well as for myself. The restaurant industry raised me. My passion for serving others, my genuine desire to build relationships and being a true believer in “bringing everyone to the table”,  has afforded me many wonderful opportunities. It was very easy, mostly due to the fact that I love people, I love food and the two go hand-in-hand. Right now, more that any, restaurants need our help and I am proud to work for a company that pulls out all the stops to help those that need us most.

I am also the founder of The Atlanta Guys Dinner Group, a diverse group of guys who get together once a month to break bread, socialize and give back. Just like we dine at and support different restaurants each month, we also select different local charity/non-profit to support, as well. What sets us apart, and we say this humbly, is that we do not say no to anyone in need. Any group that needs us, shares our values and supports those in need, we are there for them. To date we have supported thirty-four different organizations. I would love the world to know that giving back is so easy, no matter how you do it, or how you decide to give. There are always others that can use your assistance. I would love to see others across the states, across the globe start a dinner club with the same intent as well; to help us start a network of give back initiatives all while breaking bread together.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Without hesitation, we would venture over to Buford Highway, also known as BuHi which is miles of amazing ethnic restaurants that will have you (and do have me) wanting to come back from more. Vietnamese for pho, Chinese for dim sum, Szechuan, and bbq duck, Malaysian street food, sushi, Dominican , Uruguayan meats, Mexican ceviches tacos and margaritas, Columbian, Guatemalan, Bengali, African, Indonesian, Halal, Korean BBQ. It will take a week, three meals a day, with snacks in between to get through it. So good. I am on Bufi at least two to three days a week.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give a shout out to all of the wonderful people that we work with and partner up with, the restaurants that host us, the guys in the group who show up monthly not only with empty stomachs, but with open and generous hearts, as well. I’d also like to also thank Valerie Failla and Garrett Haieberlin from ViaFailla PR for helping to promote us and supporting us to help get our mission out there.

Instagram: seanpalani and agdgsean_palani
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sean-palani-607b325
Facebook: Sean Palani AND Atlanta Guys Dinner Group

Image Credits
Valerie Failla

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlana is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.