Top restaurant Consultants

Our Team

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Marco Piazza

Growing up, my parents owned and operated a wine and cheese shop in Cincinnati, Ohio — the place where my love for the hospitality industry first began. The energy of the holiday season, the rush of customers, and the sense of community left a lasting impression on me. My own journey started at 15, washing dishes at a local pizza shop, and over the next 20 years, I worked nearly every position a restaurant has to offer — both front and back of house.

During that time, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from The Ohio State University and moved into leadership roles including General Manager, Food & Beverage Director, Vice President, and eventually, ownership. After two decades in the business, I realized my greatest passion lies in helping others within the industry succeed.

Best Hospitality Consultants
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Jeremy Nelson

Chef Jeremy has worked in various Michelin-starred restaurants in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and, most notably, at Charlie Trotter's. His modern approach to cooking combines his creative and artistic techniques developed over a 20-year culinary career. Chef Jeremy’s pedigree is among the best in the country making him a massive asset in any type of kitchen.

Restaurant Design
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Marlowe Mavian-Piazza

Marlowe is a big piece of the creative puzzle. A masters in Fine Arts from Academy of Art University in San Francisco has laid the groundwork for what has been an illustrious career in the arts. Proven artistic creativity and problem solving in tandem with job experience in trend forecasting and marketing give her a well tailored understanding of the importance of a cohesive brand experience making her a jack of all trades on our team.

  • "I’ve had the opportunity to work with Marco Piazza on a range of restaurant projects, and I believe his strengths as a consultant lie in his ability to understand today’s generational labor force and present clear, culture-forward strategies that resonate across all levels of a restaurant team. Marco is an excellent teacher of systems and routines, and he brings a practical approach to training both line-level associates and leadership teams. He fosters cohesion, accountability, and alignment toward operational goals. His grasp of profit and loss structure is solid, and he brings the full package needed to support restaurant operations, growth, and team development. Marco is a true professional, and our group looks forward to working with him on future projects."

    – Rich R   Owner

    SMG Management & Development