rInnovations Team

Our Team

Thomas Hardes
Kitchen Organization and Operation Consultant

15 years all inclusive chef experience at
prestigious fine dining restaurants throughout
England, Germany, Greece, Thailand, Australia,
New Zealand and including a Michelin Star rated
restaurant in France
NVQ Level 3 in Food Preparation and Cooking
Advanced Food Hygiene Certificate
Duke of Edinburgh Award and Queen Scout
Award winner
Experience training entire kitchen, restaurant
and bar staff
Responsible for all menu planning, budgeting,
stock and costing
Specializing in kitchen trouble-shooting and
reorganization

Strand Hoagland
Project Management and Technology Change
Consultant

2 years experience in project management and
corporate banking in Arizona
Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with
a focus on Communications from Arizona State
University
Certified member of the Project Management
Institute
Responsible for managing and mitigating
fraud/risk exposure of over $1 million in finances
on a weekly basis
Currently works in portfolio and technology
change management for Bank of America
Ensures end-to-end accountability for the health
of all projects in-flight

Joshua Grossman
Business Strategy Consultant

10 years hospitality experience in Colorado,
Utah, California and London with a focus in fine
dining bar management
MBA from the University of Colorado at Denver
with an emphasis in Finance
Recently worked for Cadent Financial Services
Currently works at the Chicago Mercantile
Exchange
Specializing in strategic planning, financial
analysis, marketing, accounting and consumer
services

Ron Kruse
Marketing and Advertising Consultant

35 years of broadcast ownership and
management experience
15 years as CEO of national direct mail
marketing firm, with clients including fortune 500
companies
1994 National Association of Broadcasters
Marconi Award winner for best radio station in
America
Currently CEO of Image Sciences, an
advertising agency providing ongoing marketing
analysis and development to more than 175
retailers across America
Specializing in advertising and marketing with a
primary focus on targeted multi-media
campaigns

Adam Still
Front of House Operations Consultant

5 years fine dining/cocktail bar management
experience in Colorado, Arizona, Australia and
New Zealand
BS in Political Science with minor in Sociology
from University of Arizona
Trained and taught by the only living 6th
generation brewmaster in the US (Jim Koch)
Currently works as the VP of marketing & sales
for the fastest growing association of realtors in
the world
Specializing in online marketing and stealth/non-
branded advertising, account management, staff
training, front of house troubleshooting,
beverage, tableware, music and uniform
selection

Experience/Credentials

Ramy Abu-Yousef
CEO, General Counsel and Director

10 years business law and restaurant industry
experience in Los Angeles and New Zealand
Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan
Former manager and head chef at exclusive New
Zealand restaurant, The Bathhouse, until its sale
in October 2009.
Currently working for high end resort hotel in
Queenstown, New Zealand. www.therees.co.nz
Specializing in macro-analysis, diagnosis and
targeted solution management for restaurant
operations

Cynthia Friedemann
Creative Director and rReview Coordinator

5 years active sports bar, international fine
dining, and restaurant management experience
in Los Angeles and New Zealand
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a focus
on International Relations from the University of
Oregon
Former Creative Director and server at exclusive
New Zealand restaurant, The Bathhouse.
Currently owner of environmental t-shirt design
company Parker and Stella.

Specializing in web design and content, business
organization, merchandising and review criteria

Erin Landsberg
Sommelier, Food and Wine Consultant

3 years front and back of house corporate
restaurant industry experience in Los Angeles
Culinary Arts Degree from the Art Institute of LA
Certified WSET Sommelier
Currently works sales & consulting at The Wine
House in LA and writes restaurant reviews for
LA2DAY.com
Specializing in wine selection and purchasing as
well as food and wine pairing

Kimberly Blaine
Staffing, Beverage Selection and Floor Design
Consultant

15 years restaurant management experience in
Florida, Tennessee and California
Manages LA based restaurant chain that makes
over $50 million in revenue each year and has
expanded their franchise every year for the last
10 years
Advanced Certification from the American Feng
Shui Institute
Specializing in interview/hiring/training, temp
services, beverage selection and floor plan
optimization

Alyson Vidoli
Music Selection Consultant

10 years corporate bar services experience
Bachelors Degree from the University of
Massachusetts (Amherst)
Exhaustive knowledge of music in all genres
Currently working in the field of Music
Supervision for Go Music Services, responsible
for soundtrack selection for TV shows such as
Entourage, Weeds, House, Dexter and Cavemen
Specializing in music selection and playlist
coordination

Amir Zahra
Creative Solutions Director and Research
Consultant

5 years experience in research and analysis
programs in California, Boston and New York
Bachelor of Science from University of California
San Diego
Currently involved in advanced research
program at Columbia University
Specializing in focus groups, survey and
research, think tank coordination and unique
problem solving

Leo Silvestre
Floor operations, Team leadership and Management
Consultant

13 years management and general operations
experience in several establishments throughout
Boston and Los Angeles
Currently heads one of the most successful
restaurants in Manhattan Beach, CA
Specializing in floor troubleshooting and team
management