ABOUT US
Hello, we're the Burlis-Lawson Group, the Preferred Manufacturers' Representative to the Foodservice Industry. We provide our customers a higher standard of service, solutions and success. Our service is prompt and thorough and our brands provide the best solutions for your needs. Most importantly, your success is our goal.
Burlis-Lawson was founded by Barry Burlis and Jay Lawson in 1987. For nearly three decades, Burlis-Lawson has established a reputation as the preferred representative in the MAFSI Region 16. This includes Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and Southern Illinois.
Our expertise can be found in every corner of the kitchen. Whether you are upgrading a single piece of equipment or outfitting an entire floor plan, we serve as your single point of contact for the entire purchase process, from analysis and specs to training and service contracts.
Jay Lawson, CFSP
General Partner
Todd Burlis, CFSP
General Partner
Email: jay@blgkitchens.com
Jay Lawson cofounded The Burlis-Lawson Group Jan 1, 1987 along with Barry Burlis. He graduated from Missouri Southern State College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He was a Territory Manager for Hobart Corporation for nine years prior to forming BLG. Jay has a CFSP Level 1 designation and is a MAFSI member. Jay enjoys boating, golf, cardio workouts and college football.
Debbie Lawson
Operations Manager
Email: debbie@blgkitchens.com
Debbie works as general operations manager at Burlis Lawson Group. She is responsible for I360 and Salesforce data as well as quoting, customer service and office management. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, knitting, advocating for children and families at the state and national level legislatures and spending time with family.
Email: todd@blgkitchens.com
Todd Burlis joined Burlis Lawson in 1990. He moved to Des Moines Iowa in 1998 to cover the northern part of the BLG territory. In 2002 he moved back home to St. Louis and became a partner with BLG in 2019. He’s a Blues and Cardinals fan and enjoys travel and woodworking in his free time.
Tim Miller, CFSP
Territory Manager
Email: tim@blgkitchens.com
Tim Miller is a territory sales rep for eastern Missouri and southern Illinois for Burlis Lawson since 1988. He has been working as a Mfg. rep since 1980. He graduated from Forest Park Community College with a degree in Hospitality Management in 1977 and then went on to work at the St Louis airport for Host International running the coffee shop and fine dining rooms. After that he managed a Mr Steak before becoming a Mfg rep.
Emilie Coburn
Inside Sales
Email: emilie@blgkitchens.com
Emilie Coburn started with Burlis Lawson in January 2017 as inside and contract sales. She works with dealers, consultants and architects on designing jobs and making recommendations for equipment needs. Emilie has been in the industry in various capacities for 29 years.
Bryan Lawson, CFSP
Territory Manager
Email: bryan@blgkitchens.com
Bryan Lawson joined BLG in 2009 after graduating from the University of Kansas with a degree in Economics. He lives in the Kansas City area with his wife Heidi and two kids Emma and Will. He is an avid KU basketball and Kansas City Chiefs fan. In his free time he enjoys working out, traveling, and spending time with his kids.
Bob Lagemann
Territory Manager
Email: bob@blgkitchens.com
Bob Lagemann has worked in and around the Foodservice industry most of his life, launching his career as a drive-in car hop at age 13, and eventually settling into territory sales. Bob has managed territories as a coffee rep, a food commodities rep, and now as an equipment manufacturers’ rep. He’s worked with a wide range of operators over the years, from casinos to schools, restaurants to long term care facilities, consulting on complex remodeling projects. His more than 50 years of industry experience have presented many challenges, but Bob embraces every opportunity to grow and continue learning. He enjoys being part of a supportive team at Burlis Lawson, and takes pride in the great manufacturers he represents.
Jeff McCaffrey, CFSP
Territory Manager
Email: jeff@blgkitchens.com
Jeff McCaffrey graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, NE, and began a long career in the foodservice industry. He worked as a Territory Sales Manager for Hobart Corp for 30 years before joining the Burlis Lawson team in 2012. In his free time, Jeff enjoys attending sports events and concerts, and visiting his kids and grandkids whenever he can.
Tanya Sieber
k-12 Segment Manager
Email: tanya@blgkitchens.com
Tanya Sieber is the K-12 Market Manager for Burlis Lawson Group, and has worked in and around the food service industry since 1996. A graduate of Texas Culinary Academy, she began her career in fine dining restaurants and hotel kitchens. Eventually she landed in the world of college and K-12 dining, and feeding the future became her focus and passion. Having served the industry as an operator, a food rep, and now an equipment rep, she enjoys helping end users develop more efficiency and functionality in their kitchen operations. Tanya is active in her industry’s professional organizations - local, state, and national – currently serving on the leadership team for the Kansas City area network of school nutrition professionals (Heart of America.) In her free time, she enjoys making music of all kinds – with her church choir, with her rock & roll band, and in her solo recording adventures.
Richard Panson
Executive Chef/Outside Sales
Email: richard@blgkitchens.com
Richard Panson is the executive chef for Burlis-Lawson Group. With a sales and business development role there is a large focus on helping end users achieve goals and bring ideas to life. Richard has a unique background across many avenues of foodservice including Michelin rated dining, food manufacturing, cooking, and various types of kitchen management. Combined with a military background, high level of creativity, and grand diploma in culinary arts from the International Culinary Center in NYC, these leadership assets can help when evaluating the best kitchen solutions to proactively stay ahead of an always evolving industry. His personal interests include adventure, arts, and people.
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