Meet the Team
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Founder + President
Edie Weintraub’s journey in hospitality is a masterclass in perseverance, passion, and purpose. As the founder of Women in Restaurants, a transformative community for women in hospitality and retail, Edie channels her deep industry expertise to empower others. With roots in Atlanta’s vibrant nightlife and hospitality scene, her early career gave her an insider’s understanding of what it takes to create thriving, people-centered businesses. Today, she uses that knowledge to mentor and uplift women across the country, equipping them with tools to scale their businesses, choose ideal locations, and build sustainable futures.
Women in Restaurants is more than a community—it’s a movement designed to spark growth, connection, and collaboration. With a mission rooted in Edie’s belief in the power of shared wisdom and collective action, the organization provides expert guidance on scaling strategies, access to exclusive resources, and uniquely curated in-person events. Whether it’s a chef opening her first brick-and-mortar restaurant or a retailer navigating expansion, Women in Restaurants offers solutions, mentorship, and inspiration.
Edie’s impact extends beyond business advice. She’s a storyteller, weaving narratives of resilience, creativity, and growth into every aspect of her work. Her authenticity and relentless drive inspire those around her to dream bigger and act boldly. In a world often defined by competition, Women in Restaurants stands out as a beacon of collaboration, empowerment, and community.
For women in hospitality who are ready to grow, connect, and lead, Women in Restaurants is here to support every step of the journey.
Are you ready to take the leap? Women in Restaurants is waiting to welcome you..
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Vice President
Laurel R. Elliott’s expertise spans foodservice, restaurant operations, full concept ideation, business strategy, training, and development. With hands-on experience in every segment of the culinary industry, Laurel’s dedication to service and passion for food shines through in her career choices.
Her background includes extensive work in fast-paced, customer-focused environments, menu R&D, staff training, HRM software, and building/managing foodservice operations databases.
Over her 11 years in consulting, alongside 6 years of system implementation leadership and 19 years of training experience, Laurel has developed a distinctive skill set encompassing project and vendor management, procurement, multi-country project execution, and supply chain oversight. She also prides herself on the quality of people in her industry circle.
Driven by a love for culinary exploration, she seeks to share her global food experiences, uncovering cross-cultural connections that highlight how the world is more intertwined through food than we often realize. Laurel is a proud native of Trinidad and Tobago.