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
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!
Melissa Kokai
HR Director
Kelly Gladstone Izumi
HR Director
Emily Helms
HR Director
Kerry Garber
Client Services Director
Michelle Miller
Senior HR Consultant
Aurora Polanco
Senior HR Consultant
Raven Ford
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.
Michel Lukas
Senior HR Consultant
Keenan Cronyn
Senior HR Consultant
Chris Cooper
HR Consultant
Kami Frota
Finance Manager
Joe Song
Talent Consultant
Surije Zaineh
HR Consultant
Languages
We offer trainings and support in English, Spanish, French, and other languages, and often work with non-US based companies.
Amanda Davis
HR Consultant
Tim Wolcott
HR Operations Consultant
Gabriel Suarez
Senior HR Associate
Laura Marshall
Senior HR Associate
Kevin Conroy
Senior Talent Associate
Syrus Scott
HR Associate
Ann Nguyen
HR Associate
Camille Pavelko
HR Associate
Locations
While we're based in the NYC metro area, we support clients in major markets across the U.S., from coast to coast.
Billy Berces
HR Associate
Fun
Whether we’re cooking or trying new restaurants, walking our dogs or chasing our kids, hiking in the woods or exploring new cities, we bring energy and enthusiasm to everything we do.
Angel Butron
Talent 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
