ADRIAN TONON

Night Time Economy Ambassador, City of Detroit

A dynamic entrepreneur and humanitarian, with exceptional skills in the key areas of leadership, management, organization, finance, public policy, social impact and detailed customer service.

Adrian Tonon has trained and mentored numerous individuals and corporations in the art of building a customer satisfaction culture and attaining company and/or personal goals.

Born in Michigan, Tonon grew up in the restaurant business starting with his family’s original restaurant, Rina’s of Detroit, located for decades on Detroit’s west side.

In 1995 Adrian joined his mother at their family-owned Cafe Cortina. Its nearly four decade long history, Cafe Cortina started out as a best kept secret restaurant that turned into a globally acclaimed culinary destination.

Tonon attended Detroit Country Day School and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hospitality Business at Michigan State University. In addition to his entrepreneurial responsibilities, in 2007 Tonon established the Adrian Tonon Project (ATP) a non profit 501 C-3 to promote his grass roots message that everyone has something to offer to make this world a better place. ATP follows the philosophy that anyone can be a philanthropist, despite social or economic status.

Adrian’s relentless pursuit to bring people together and provide a helping hand to those around him inspiring and contagious. Through the years, he has often been seen gathering community-minded people together while discussing solutions to area issues, resulting in action plans and cooperative bonds for the common purpose of doing good work.

After serving on the then Detroit Mayoral Candidate Michael E. Duggan’s Executive Campaign Team to help promote world-class customer service in the public sector and raise awareness of Mike’s ability to lead the City,
Adrian is now the founding Director of Customer Service for the City of Detroit.

As co founder of the Detroit Music Foundation, Sick Em Records and member of Detroit’s creative community Mayor Duggan appointed Adrian to lead the City of Detroit’s Film, Music and Night Time Economy initiatives. Adrian has bridged government and the arts in an effort to advocate for a thriving and sustainable creative culture.