John Parrino is an executive producer, marketer and financier whose career bridges culture, creativity, and commerce. Known for his instinct in connecting artistic vision with business strategy, Parrino has built a reputation for elevating brands through integrated marketing, experiential storytelling, and strategic partnerships that create both cultural relevance and commercial impact.
Parrino’s entrepreneurial journey began at 16, when he convinced the owner of his local ice-skating rink to allow him produce all-ages alternative music shows. He soon began producing and booking live performances across town, managing sound and production for acts including Chicago blues harp legend and Grammy Award winning recording artist—Charlie Musselwhite and Austin drummer Doyle Bramhall, the renowned collaborator and songwriting partner of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Though eventually fired by the venue owner for being under 21, the experience became Parrino’s first foray into the music and entertainment business, sparking a lifelong passion for the business of creativity.
Parrino spent nearly two decades in hospitality across some of the most celebrated and acclaimed establishments in North America and the Caribbean. His leadership journey includes working with Chef Augusto Schreiner in San Juan, Puerto Rico; The Oakroom at The Seelbach Hilton in Louisville, a AAA Five-Diamond restaurant; The Maisonette in Cincinnati, a Forbes Five-Star institution for an unprecedented 44 consecutive years; Ian Schrager’s iconic Delano Hotel in Miami Beach; and The Purple Pig in Chicago, recognized by Bon Appétit magazine as one of the “10 Best New Restaurants in America.”
In 2011, Parrino co-founded Isabelli Partners, a Chicago-based firm that became one of North America’s pre-eminent fully integrated hospitality and lifestyle marketing agencies. By his departure in 2024, the firm had consulted and advised more than 300 clients nationwide, produced over 10,000 hours of content, supported more than 100 grand openings, and worked extensively with Michelin-starred and James Beard Award–winning chefs, as well as hotels, wine and spirit brands, food festivals, and cultural institutions. Collaborations included Chef José Andrés—the world’s most celebrated humanitarian chef, founder of World Central Kitchen, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee—alongside SOHO House, Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago®, Chicago Gourmet Festival, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Tourism Bureau, and the James Beard Foundation, widely regarded as “the Oscars of the food world.”
Parrino also served as the Co-Executive Producer on behalf of the James Beard Foundation for its Taste America: Chicago Gala and ancillary events from 2014 to 2021, raising substantial funds for the Foundation’s educational programs and scholarships. He was instrumental in moving the James Beard Awards annual ceremony from New York to Chicago.
Parrino’s transition into entertainment began in 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic, when he was approached to participate in financing Academy Award winning actor—Dev Patel’s directorial debut Monkey Man (2024)—a project he ultimately passed on. That introduction to the independent film world set the foundation for his entertainment journey and ultimately led to the creation of Alcamo Entertainment.
In 2025, John made his Executive Producer debut in independent feature films, marking a natural expansion of a distinguished hospitality career that has encompassed hundreds of marketing campaigns, experiential events, and strategic partnerships. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for uniting creativity and commerce—crafting experiences that merge storytelling, brand strategy, and cultural relevance. His transition into entertainment reflects the same strengths that have defined his professional journey: strategic vision, creative deal-making, and an instinct for compelling narratives that resonate with audiences and investors alike.
