Knead

Emily has over 15 years of experience as a hospitality operations and HR leader. Her passion developed at a young age in her family’s restaurants, and, after an early career managing museums, she returned to her roots in hospitality and relocated to NYC. There, she joined the James Beard Award-winning restaurant group, Officina 1397 (Via Carota, Bar Pisellino & I Sodi). A student at heart, Emily now lives her passion as a human resources leader supporting those she knows best: restaurants and their people. Combining hands-on hospitality experience with leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills, Emily is a high-impact partner to her clients. Emily's bachelor's is in art history from the University of Minnesota. She is also a level 1 sommelier and a SHRM certified professional (SHRM-CP).

Ideal Restaurant Experience

My ideal restaurant experience is one where I learn something new. I am most impressed by those who are knowledgeable and excited about the food and beverage they are serving. We often choose restaurants based on the unique cultural offering they provide, one that is outside of what we may cook for ourselves at home. Coming away from a dining experience with a new perspective on seasonality, or a new understanding of history, is so special and part of what makes restaurant staff so important.

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

A workplace atmosphere that supports creativity, encourages growth, and challenges stereotypes is one where people thrive. I believe in developing workplaces that provide a supportive training and education program while still allowing employees to develop a sense of ownership over their products and presentation.

Kaelin has a strong connection to hospitality, having started her hospitality journey as a teenager and bartending alongside full-time HR positions ever since. Her diverse HR background spans several industries, including not-for-profits, law firms, and software start-ups, as well as hospitality. With over seven years of HR experience, Kaelin has excelled in managing the full employee lifecycle - from employee onboarding and orientation, employee relations, benefits administration, learning and development, offboarding, and many other areas - all while fostering a positive workplace environment. Her unique blend of HR and hospitality experience has prepared her to excel at Empowered, where she combines her passion for HR with her deep understanding of the hospitality sector, promising an exciting and positive experience for her clients and teams. When she’s not traveling to different corners of the country to visit friends and family, you can find Kaelin cheering passionately at college football games or attending other sporting events. Her love of different music genres often leads her to exciting concerts, and her taste buds are always on an adventure as she discovers new bars and restaurants. Kaelin graduated from the University of Alabama with a BA in Communication and Information Sciences, and has also earned her SHRM-CP.

Ideal Restaurant Experience

I love starting with a cocktail before transitioning to wine. I prefer appetizers to desserts. And I love to order multiple plates to share with friends, tapas style. I love all different types of food - my favorites being Mediterranean, Italian, and Southern - and I like to be in a cozy environment where I can enjoy the company of whoever I am with.

What does creating workplaces where people thrive mean to you?

To thrive means to be happy! A workplace where people thrive is where a person feels empowered to show up as their best self and do their best work.