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This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward. Episode 329 with John and Kendall Antonelli.
John Antonelli is Founder and CEO of acclaimed Austin business Antonelli’s Cheese Shop, which he founded in 2010 with his wife Kendall after a honeymoon decision to quit his job in search of a passion with purpose. Through their award-winning retail shop, e-commerce sales, wholesale distribution across Texas, and 400+ yearly events, the Antonelli’s Cheese team daily lives its mission: Do Good. Eat Good. For that, they’ve been honored with a Generous Business Award, Family Business Award, and Local Hero Food Shop distinction. John is both a CPA and CCP (certified cheese professional), Past President of the American Cheese Society, President of Austin Children Museum the Thinkery, and on the advisory board of non-profit accelerator Philanthropitch. John has been recognized as "one of the top ten individuals impacting his industry" by Deli Business Weekly, and he is a member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. John was awarded Best Small Business CEO by the Austin Business Journal in 2018 and an Austin Under 40 distinction for Hospitality in 2020. John most enjoys a shared cheese and charcuterie board while traveling with his two kids Everett and Elia. John is also known for saying “awesome” a lot.

Kendall Antonelli owns and operates Antonelli's Cheese Shop, alongside her husband John and awesome team. A previous AustinUnder40 Awardee and Austin Business Journal Profile in Power, Kendall is also a Certified Cheese Professional, which comes in handy when trying to impress the palates of her two kiddos Everett and Elia and find the perfect cheese that makes them do a happy dance. As an entrepreneur and a depression survivor now on a personal mission to spread joy, Kendall often speaks about work/life balance and finding passion with purpose. For that and her work on various boards, she has been named a NAMI Mental Health Community Champion and recognized with the McMahon Children’s Advocacy Award. Kendall is past president of Les Dames d’Escoffier Austin, a women’s group of industry professionals dedicated to philanthropy, currently serves on the national American Cheese Education Foundation, and an inducted member of the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. Antonelli's Cheese, named one of the best cheese shops in America by Travel + Leisure Magazine, includes a cut-to-order shop that also offers cheese trays, 400+ in person and virtual events and tastings per year, and a wholesale program distributing cheese throughout Texas. In 2020, Antonelli’s Cheese earned two distinctions for their early move to virtual tastings, bringing 15K+ folks together over a shared experience of cheese. They’ve also been honored with a Generous Business Award, Family Business Award, and Local Hero Food Shop distinction. Through life and business, the Antonelli family and team endeavor to live their mission: Do Good. Eat Good.