Bob Hartwig Email and Phone Number

I am an experienced business leader with a proven track record of identifying future opportunities in the work being done today. I bring a lot of value to your organization particularly in the areas of team development, goal-based business strategy and accomplishing goals through people. My professional journey began 25 years ago in the kitchens of some of Chicago's more sought out restaurants. It became obvious to me early on that my future was in my hands. There would be no reward simply for time served. If I was willing to exercise discipline, stay humble and work hard, the only limits to my achievements would be self imposed. So, I did just that and spent the next few years in upscale and fine dining restaurants before taking my first hotel appointment. Over the next six years I worked my way up through the Four Seasons and Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile kitchens. In addition to culinary experience, hotel work taught me the broad scope of hospitality management and the art of providing the best total customer experience. In both companies, I was exposed to trainings and work requirements beyond the culinary discipline. Enamored with hotel culture, I was ready to accept my next promotion taking me both out of the kitchen and out of Chicago when a once in a lifetime opportunity to teach at The French Pastry School was offered to me.Teaching at the most prestigious pastry school in North America presented new challenges and growth opportunities. My customers were now the next generation of culinary talent. I had the responsibility of teaching them the necessary methods and techniques to launch their careers and, perhaps more importantly, the core values necessary to thrive in their careers. It was during my time teaching that my wife and I opened our first cafe/events venue in 2007. After about a year, the divided focus between teaching and business ownership was becoming increasingly more challenging to manage and in late 2008 I left teaching to grow our company full-time.Over the next 14 years I spearheaded growth to three concepts with five revenue streams, whose collective offerings included cafe and high volume a la carte dine-in service, catering, special events/weddings, wholesale and co-packing. Business was great until...Covid.Restrictions in Chicago forced all business decisions from 3/2020 onward. Ultimately, the smartest decision was to sell our businesses. After 27 years in Chicago, it is time for a fresh start and the next great opportunity in Atlanta.