Meet Our Team

Dan FOrberg

Owner + Founder

I am committed to maintaining the vision of Actual Food Nashville, being a catering company that is focused on quality over quantity; we value strong management and high touch hospitality. 

As the founder of Actual Food Nashville, I am involved in every aspect of the business to this day.  With experience in all roles in the business, I have a knack for overall perfection. 

I am an empresario at heart. I started a DJ business when I was 12, I hosted parties and loved entertaining, I became a personal chef for high profile clients in my early 20s, and launched a full scale catering company from there. 

Actual Food Nashville has seen strong and steady growth and with that, we provide our clients impeccable hospitality. 

GrayDon Atchley

Executive Chef

Graydon is the head chef at Actual Food Nashville. He has a broad culinary vision from a varied and international career that he has brought back to his native Nashville. There is no cuisine that he doesn’t approach with expertise and a drive to dive in to uncover deep and truly authentic flavors. His passion for local and high quality ingredients permeates through everything he prepares. He is a specialist at taking out clients food dreams, and translating those into creative, cohesive and delicious menus for their events. Graydon takes a personal stake in every event we do, putting his touch on everything that comes out of our kitchen from high end, large scale plated meals, to the imaginative bar bites at the Inglewood Lounge

Outside of the kitchen, Graydon has a passion for the outdoors, and is an avid fisherman.

Luke Zimmerman

Sales Director

Luke brings a decade of experience in upscale hospitality to putting together events tailored to our clients’ exact expectation.  With a passion for creating lasting relationships, Luke goes above and beyond to get to know our clients, in order to give them a truly personal experience as he stays connected every step of the way, from first proposal to final execution.  His expertise in all things food, beverage, and service make him the perfect resource to translate a vision into an exceptional and functional event.  Not only does he intentionally craft the details of catering, but he consults in every aspect of each event to ensure our seamless integration.  Luke is a complete partner, who takes incredible pride in being an integral part in your most important celebrations and gatherings.

Autumn Zimmerman

Catering Event Coordinator

Autumn is a highly experienced in creating unforgettable events. She has over 12 years of experience in the fine dining industry, and she has worked on a variety of events, from small intimate gatherings to large corporate functions. As a native of Nashville, TN, she is passionate about creating events that reflect the city's unique culture. With her excellent communication skills and attention to detail,  she is able to work closely with clients and planners to ensure that their event meets their specific needs. She is always up-to-date on the latest trends in catering and event planning, and she is committed to providing her clients with the best possible service. Her passion for bringing people together over delicious food and exceptional service is evident in her work, and she is a great addition to any team!