Russ Benson

Nationally recognized hospitality executive and foodservice consultant Russ Benson is the founder & CEO of DayOne Hospitality Consulting, which provides a vast array of management advisory services to corporations, colleges/universities and healthcare institutions.

Russ’ career in the hospitality industry has been comprehensive and DayOne is a culmination of varied industry experiences (as a client/program manager, foodservice operator, chef, hotelier, restaurateur and consultant).

Russ holds a B.S. degree in culinary arts and food service management from Johnson & Wales University. With over 35 years in the hospitality industry, his experience consists of:

• A culinary background with experience as a chef managing kitchens in commercial restaurants
• Managing the 4-star restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
• Food program manager (client liaison) at MBNA America for 10 years overseeing a $35M program managing 75 locations (operated by Compass and Sodexo)
• Worked for various foodservice management companies for eight years overseeing operations and business development
• Industry leading consultant for eight years
• Interim food program manager and lead consultant at Amazon for four years in Seattle
• Actively engaged in industry associations like the NRA, FCSI, IFMA, NAFEM, MUFES and the Foodservice Design BootCamp. He is also past president of the Society for Hospitality & Foodservice Management (SHFM) where he has won several industry awards.