Ron Ladner

Ron Ladner is an entrepreneur, storyteller, and the founder of Shaggy's, the iconic Gulf Coast restaurant chain beloved for its cheeseburgers and community spirit. A former software company owner who traded corporate life for coastal living in Pass Christian, Ron has spent decades giving back to those in need through financial gifts, people development, and opportunity creation. serving his community through business, mentorship, and civic involvement.

Ron’s only business partner, Rimmer Covington, Jr., now runs the day-to-day operations of the company that will serve over 1,000,000 this year, and runs it well. This gives Ron the time and freedom to go blue marlin fishing in the Caribbean once a month…but Rimmer gets an invite when the bite is hot.

Ron and Laura, after 31 years of marriage, now focus on doing their best to help others. They split time between downtown Pensacola, Buckhead, Atlanta, and the Caribbean, where they chase blue marlin on their sportfishing boat, the “Cheeseburger,” and their live-aboard, the “Karibu.”

Today, alongside business partner Rimmer Covington Jr., he operates restaurants that welcome visitors from around the world while maintaining their spiri t as neighborhood gathering places. Ron lives on the Gulf Coast with his wife Laura, where he continues to believe in the transformative power of bringing people together around good food and genuine hospitality.