Hawksmoor

Michel discovered his love for restaurants at a young age, holding various positions at local restaurants through high school and college. After earning a degree in organizational leadership, he set out to pursue a career in NYC hospitality. The next 10 years would include leadership roles as the general manager of BRGuest's flagship location in Rockefeller Center, and as an operations leader at Host Restaurant Group's iconic Bill's Townhouse in midtown. Although Michel never lost his passion for hospitality, he transitioned into HR consulting serving many industries, spending 3 years delivering strategic solutions to organizations both domestically and internationally. At Empowered, Michel's unique blend of experiences allows him not only to provide HR best practices and solutions to his hospitality clients, but also to help navigate their operational and people challenges. Michel is a SHRM Certified Professional and specializes in employee relationship management and leadership development.

What is your ideal restaurant experience?

My ideal restaurant experience starts at the very beginning of the journey. When entering a restaurant, I want the same feeling you get when a friend welcomes you into their home. When the experience starts out that way, I know it is going to be a great night! Although I very much love and appreciate a hand-crafted cocktail and an exceptional meal, what is most memorable is how a place made me feel.

What does "creating workplaces where people thrive" mean to you?

I believe in creating workplace environments where every individual has the desire to bring their best self to work each day. To do that, it is essential that everyone feels supported, trusted, and valued. Ensuring that organizations have the knowledge, tools, and resources to foster these environments is something I am very passionate about, as this allows individuals to thrive in their workplaces.

Growing up, Raven spent her summers and after-school hours working as a server in restaurants in her home state of Texas. After joining the BR Guest Hospitality team in New York, she went on to hold several leadership positions in operations, including General Manager of Ocean Grill on the Upper West Side. A natural leader with a passion for coaching and connecting with others, Raven transitioned to Human Resources in 2019 with Casa Nela, where she led the People & Culture functions, focusing on employee engagement and experience, leadership development, succession planning, and employer branding. Raven holds a bachelor’s degree in English with honors from Sam Houston State University and is a SHRM-Certified Professional.

What is your ideal restaurant experience?

More often than not, I will choose a seat at the bar over the dining room. There's always a conversation to be had or some behind the scenes action to observe—and I love to be in the middle of the action. While traveling, I've gotten the best local recommendations during a meal from bartenders or regulars for everything from a great breakfast to try or hidden gem spots.

What does "creating workplaces where people thrive" mean to you?

One of the things I most love about the hospitality industry is the diverse workforce and the way that people with so many different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds all come together. Creating a workplace where everyone can thrive means ensuring that there is an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and heard. I think this is achieved by prioritizing the importance of relationship and trust building, along with coaching and leadership development. When everyone on the team is focused on making the people around them better, there's a foundation for everyone to reach their full potential!