Gary Levy, CPA, serves as the firm’s Chief Strategy and Growth Officer. In his role, Gary is responsible for the strategic advancement of the firm’s industry practices — aligning industry, service lines, and geographic leadership to drive profitable growth. He also oversees the firm’s marketing and business development teams. Gary focuses on fostering a diverse, teaming culture and nurtures deep industry relationships that support best-in-class solutions for the firm’s clients. Prior to this role, Gary led CohnReznick’s Consumer, Hospitality, and Manufacturing Practice (CHAMP). Early in his career, Gary began advising leading restaurateurs and celebrity chefs. He quickly became a sought-after expert in the industry and was hired by a Fortune 500 financial advisory firm to teach the “Business of Restaurants” on a multicity tour. He became active in industry-related national charities and has presented at numerous conferences. He also has consulted on and contributed to pieces in WSJ, Forbes, The New York Times, Financial Times, and leading hospitality industry publications.Upon joining the firm more than 20 years ago, Gary was given the resources to expand the firm’s Hospitality Practice to a national level. He built a team and developed specialized services that focused on driving profitability and improving governance and transparency for leading operators throughout the nation.Gary’s innovative management guidance drew the attention of the capital markets arena. Private equity and investment banking firms consulted with Gary as they evaluated potential investments in the hospitality industry. Thus, Gary and his team have worked on several of the industry’s iconic transactions, advising management teams, investments bankers, private equity funds, and other related parties.