Ed Kamenitzer’s distinguished career in the hospitality industry is uniquely defined by the influential connections he has cultivated since his early days valet parking cars at Navesink Country Club on the New Jersey shore in the 1970s. A trailblazer from the outset, in high school Ed upstarted the valet business at the country club, sowing the seeds of entrepreneurship and a passion for hospitality. With the tips he made parking cars, he put himself through school at Trenton State College and later earned his MBA from Baruch College in Manhattan.

The ardent salesmanship Ed demonstrated during his valet days was merely the beginning. After business school, he was hired in sales at American Hospital Supply Company, and quickly garnered impressive results–and in his own words, he “kicked ass.”

Ed’s fervent desire to open a restaurant led him to secure impressive funding for an avant-garde, health-forward Manhattan café concept, The Great American Health Bar. Ed launched the first Great American Health Bar location on New York City’s Park Avenue in 1984, paving the way for four additional Health Bars and a string of other successful restaurant concepts.

Subsequently, the Kamenitzers divested their restaurants and acquired the Fern Hall Inn, Restaurant and Golf Course in Pennsylvania, while continuing to broker deals for hospitality clients, serving up culinary talent, leases and locations, service contracts, and more.

Ed established the present day version of KAM Hospitality in 2003. As CEO and founder of KAM, his decades of success have been rooted in cultivating relationships, forging connections, and genuinely caring for those alongside him. Today, KAM Hospitality proudly represents over 70 hotels, hospitals and hospitality organizations, serving as an essential partner delivering optimized solutions for parking, laundry, linens, staffing, fire and safety equipment, and more.

At home and at work, Ed is dedicated to working alongside his team. An avid sports fisherman, golfer, and snowboarder, Ed, along with Sam, actively supports various philanthropic organizations, serving as a Big Brother for inner-city kids through the Unlocking Futures organization. Ed’s commitment to giving back and guiding others with mentorship, support, and networking is integral to his personal and professional mission. In all areas of life, he leads by example through hard work and integrity, prioritizing the continued growth of his integral networks and relationships.

Steve embarked on a dynamic yet unconventional journey into hospitality leadership and financial strategy. After earning summa cum laude honors in Accountancy from George Washington University, he started his career at the prestigious Big 5 accounting firm, PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Demonstrating exceptional aptitude for corporate accounting, Steve swiftly ascended the ranks and eventually assumed the responsibility of managing mergers and acquisitions for the firm’s flagship New York office.

Despite his success in the accounting world, Steve was drawn towards a different passion: the culinary arts. Taking a bold step, he enrolled in The French Culinary Institute, earning a degree in culinary arts. Post-graduation, Steve entered the hospitality scene under the tutelage of renowned chef David Burke at ONE CPS in The Plaza Hotel. Starting at garde manger, he steadily progressed through various kitchen stations, eventually becoming purchaser and sous chef, overseeing a team of 25.

In 2003, when Chef Burke opened the critically acclaimed restaurant, David Burke & Donatella, he tapped Steve as sous-chef and food buyer. Eventually, Steve revealed his true financial colors to Burke, first being named controller and then Chief Financial Officer of Burke’s rapidly growing restaurant group, David Burke Group, a role he held for nearly ten years.

In 2012, Steve was recruited to serve as the Director of Finance for Patina Restaurant Group, one of the largest players in the national hospitality scene with partners such as Disney, MetLife, Macy’s, and Madison Square Garden. His contributions led to his promotion to Chief Financial Officer, where he played a pivotal role in navigating Patina’s majority acquisition by Delaware North.

From 2018 to 2021, Steve held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Apicii, orchestrating its significant expansion from a handful of restaurants to more than 40. Notably during his Apicii tenure, he developed and executed a proprietary, scalable operational toolbox applicable to any food service company.

In 2021, Steve founded SES Hospitality, advising global hospitality clients by developing and implementing optimized financial and operational strategies. His work enables teams to overhaul their systems by shifting them from a reactive approach to a strategic process: identifying, measuring and achieving operational goals. As KAM Hospitality’s fractional Chief Financial Officer, Steve has become an essential changemaker in their daily operations and financial management.

As Director of Client Services at KAM Hospitality, Emily Kamenitzer is a dedicated professional known for her exceptional ability to strengthen client relationships and drive new business opportunities. Her role involves overseeing the daily client services of this family-operated enterprise.

What sets Emily apart is her genuine passion for engaging with clients and her innate ability to connect with people. Her outgoing nature and exceptional networking skills draw a close parallel to her father’s entrepreneurial spirit, making her a natural fit for the business.

Under her leadership contributions, KAM Hospitality has expanded its services beyond its origins in parking, restaurants, and hotels to include outsourcing labor, laundry, linen, and fire and safety prevention, as well as planned expansion beyond New York City. Working closely with her family, including her father, mother, and near sister Emily Elliott, adds a unique level of intimacy to her professional journey.

Emily’s journey into the hospitality industry began with a degree in early childhood education at CU Boulder. However, her natural inclination to work with people led her to shift her focus to a role as a concierge at NYU Cancer Hospital. From there, she pursued a degree in hospitality management in Philadelphia and embarked on her career as an assistant front office manager at the Hyatt Centric Times Square in New York City.

Next, she played a vital role in opening the Arlo Soho, where she served as an assistant front office manager and head concierge, capitalizing on her extensive and native knowledge of Manhattan’s dining, nightlife, and art scenes.

Beyond her professional life, Emily is an avid music enthusiast, enjoying live jam band shows and dancing, while also nurturing her passion for the arts and photography as well as skiing and golf.

Emily Kamenitzer brings a unique blend of experience, passion, and dedication to her role, contributing significantly to KAM Hospitality’s success through her unwavering commitment to fostering both client relationships and business growth.