FOODSERVICE PIONEERING CONCEPT

Joe is the editorial director for Foodservice Equipment & Supplies and restaurant development + design magazines. Prior to becoming Editor in Chief for FE&S in 2004, Joe was a marketing manager for SmithBucklin Corp., where he spent six years working with NAFEM. A diehard Cubs fan, Joe is also a fan of the finer things in life such as an ice cold can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. You can follow Joe on Twitter @FES_Editor.

Jeanne is President and Co-Owner of Landmark Hospitality and along with her husband, Frank, own and operate distinctive, multi-faceted venues, many of which are historic and landmarked. These include The Liberty House Restaurant,  Stone House at Stirling Ridge, the Ryland Inn, Hotel Du Village, The Logan Inn, Felina, The Farmhouse, and our destination travel company, Landmark Destination Weddings, Furthermore, Jeanne and Frank own Crave Events Group, an off-premise catering division with on-site venues including The Boathouse at Mercer Lake and Celebrate at Neshanic Valley.

Plans for 2019 include the expansion of a hotel at the famed Ryland Inn; Hudson House, a full-service restaurant, rooftop bar and multiple event space; a hotel expansion of the Stone House at Stirling Ridge; the restoration of the historic South Orange Village Hall, a 33,000 sq. ft. expansion of the historic Logan Inn; and last but not least, the takeover of Elkins Estate, a 42 acre property in Montgomery County, PA.

Biran is the Vice Chairman of AAHOA, the voice of America’s hotel owners. He has been an active member of the association since 2001 and has served on AAHOA’s board of directors since 2014. A native of Birmingham, England, Biran is a second-generation hotelier who started learning the hospitality business as a teenager in the family owned hotel. He earned a B.S. degree in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Today, Biran owns and operates multiple branded and independent hotel properties and is also a partner in BHP Investment Company.   

Biran plays an active role in his community and has been involved with the Irving City Chamber of Commerce for the past 5 years. He is actively involved in the Leuva Patidar Samaj (LPS) local chapter, SLPS. Biran has also served on the board of directors of the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association since 2014.   Biran currently resides in Irving, Texas with his wife, Poonam, and their two children.

Neal Patel serves as the treasurer of AAHOA, the voice of America’s hotel owners. He became an AAHOA member in 2012 and soon volunteered as an ambassador. Neal joined AAHOA’s board of directors in 2016 after being elected as the Young Professional Director Western Division, a position he held for three years.

Patel is a second-generation hotelier who grew up in the industry wearing many hats as he helped his family run their first twenty-room independent property. He began his hospitality career in Texas and is the managing partner of Blue Chip Hotels, a company specializing in hotel management and consultation. Blue Chip Hotels has over 1,200 rooms in several states among both branded and independent properties. Neal is inspired to give back to the hospitality industry through service. He serves on the HITEC Advisory Council and promotes organ donor awareness through his volunteer work with Samaj Saves Lives.

Joe decided that after over 10 years in retail and sales, that it was time for a change in late 2003.  After graduating with honors from the California Culinary Academy, San Francisco in 2005 he started his career in foodservice taking an entry level position in catering at Restaurant O in Campbell, CA.  After less than two years, Joe and two colleagues founded Cosmopolitan Catering and in the nearly 10 years since, he has helped steer and grow Cosmo into the premier Catering and Cafeteria operator that it is today. Now armed with almost a decade of business, operations, design and project management experience he is poised at the helm of SCG FoodSpace with offices in San Jose and Idaho. Joe is an expert in foodservice management, food business growth and mentorship. Joe currently resides in Eagle, Idaho with his wife Brandi and two kids, Jacob and Zachary.  Joe enjoys spending time with his family, camping, BBQ’ing and playing poker.