At Empowered Hospitality, we help companies build healthy, inclusive, and positive cultures that celebrate what makes them unique. Our team of experts creates environments where people feel supported, valued, and empowered—because when your people thrive, your business thrives too. We partner with hundreds of forward-thinking businesses to build strong HR foundations, foster vibrant workplace cultures, and help teams unlock their full potential.
We also help clients build compliant HR practices that minimize the risk of lawsuits, fines, and other costly setbacks. By reducing legal exposure and streamlining operations, our clients are free to focus more on leading their teams and growing their businesses. Whether we’re navigating complex challenges or celebrating big wins, we bring warmth, expertise, and a true passion for hospitality to every conversation.
We’re proud to be consistently recognized as a Great Place to Work—and it shows in everything we do. We’ve built a team of talented, driven, and genuinely kind professionals who care deeply about making work better for everyone. With industry-leading benefits, continuous learning opportunities, and a culture that’s collaborative and fun, Empowered is a place where great people come to do their best work.
Service
Rise by lifting others
Integrity
Follow your true north
Adaptability
Embrace change
Courage
Be bold and brave
Core values
Our core values motivate everything we do. Whether we're onboarding new employees, updating documents, or planning a new opening, our team is excited to bring our energy and our ethos with us wherever we go.
Meet Our Team
Each member of our team brings a unique professional background and deep expertise to the table. Experienced, credentialed, and passionate, we help leaders build great workplaces—so their people can do what they do best.
Joe Rollin
Partner & Strategic Advisor
Jessica Carnam
Senior Client Services Director
Kaeleigh Chow
Senior HR Director
Laura Magali
Senior Client Services Director
HR Systems
We specialize in HR technologies such as ADP, Paycom, Paylocity, Toast, JustWorks, Harri, BambooHR, Wisetail, ApplicantStack & more!
Emily Helms
Senior HR Director
Melissa Kokai
HR Director
Kelly Gladstone Izumi
HR Director
Aurora Polanco
HR Director
Sameer Vashisht
Client Services Director
Kerry Garber
Client Services Director
Raven Ford
HR Director
Michelle Miller
Senior HR Consultant
Credentials
We have SHRM-CP, SCP, and PHR certifications, masters’ in HR and I/O psychology, and unsurpassed HR and hospitality experience.
Languages
We offer trainings and support in English, Spanish, French, and other languages, and often work with non-US based companies.
Keenan Cronyn
Senior HR Consultant
Michel Lukas
Senior HR Consultant
Heather Harbach
Senior Marketing Manager
Whitney Sanchez
HR Consultant
Joe Song
Talent Consultant
Surije Zaineh
HR Consultant
Amanda Davis
HR Consultant
Tim Wolcott
HR Operations Consultant
Locations
We are based in the NYC metro area and support clients in major markets across the U.S.
Hospitality Expertise
Our team's firsthand hospitality experience helps us understand our industry's unique operational, compliance, and people challenges.
Laura Marshall
HR Consultant
Hannah Khoury
HR Consultant
Kami Frota
Finance Manager
Ann Nguyen
Senior HR Associate
Kevin Conroy
Senior Talent Associate
Elizabeth Mosbaek
Senior HR Operations Associate
Billy Berces
HR Associate
Syrus Scott
HR Associate
One-Size-Fits-One
We build practical and efficient strategies tailored for each unique restaurant and hospitality team we partner with.
People-First Growth
We help hospitality businesses create strong people foundations that support sustainable growth, retention, and long-term success.
Amaar Clemente
HR Associate
Camille Pavelko
HR Associate
Angel Butron
Talent Associate
Devon Stein
HR Associate
Brandon McCollum
Talent Associate
Vianka Sanchez
HR Associate
Richard Gan
HR Associate
Work with us!
YOU thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced work environment, and love to learn. You're gritty, adaptable, and resourceful. A source of positive energy. An HR nerd (yep, we said it) who wants to work with great people in a place where the sky’s the limit.
WE empower our people to learn, grow and lead - to be creative, open-minded and inclusive. We offer unparalleled work flexibility, great benefits, a 401(k) + match, generous paid time off and company holidays, tons of team events — and that’s just the beginning!
Learn about E|H careers
