Jody Birnbaum

Jody Birnbaum, is the President of Caterconsult, Inc., a small business consultancy providing core strategies, methods, resources, training and support to entrepreneurs, with a focus on the hospitality industry. Jody is herself a survivor of twenty plus years in the catering business and was the founder and owner of Pear Tree Catering, Ltd.

As a fellow entrepreneur with a shared sense of risk and adventure, she knows how challenging it can be to keep a business strong and healthy for the long run. Caterconsult, Inc. helps business owners with strategic planning; email and print marketing; website development, search engine optimization; contact management; software integration; leadership, sales training; staff development, financial management and a host of additional services. Please visit www.caterconsulting.com for more information.

As an adjunct faculty member at the Culinary School of Kendall College, Jody teaches Introduction to Foodservice Business Planning. The course is designed to help students understand the basics of business issues that impact most new businesses including start up expenses, build outs, licensing, insurance, taxes, legalities, menu development, pricing, costing, inventory, human resources, financial management, sales and marketing.

Jody is also a longstanding member of and consultant with catersource, the country’s leading catering industry resource. Jody recently presented a seminar on email marketing with The Special Event at their 2008 Tradeshow & Conference in Atlanta. Jody is a member of the Leading Caterers of America, the ICA (International Catering Association), and one of the founding members of the Chicago Chapter of ISES, (International Special Events Society), in which she served on the executive board for eight years.

Jody has a passion for food & business, and in an ongoing effort to stay on top of the latest trends, she travels frequently, dines out often, and attends many industry-related food shows. Jody has been quoted in North Shore Magazine, The Chicago Sun Times, Catering Magazine, Chef Magazine, The Daily Herald and catersource Magazine. Jody has also written articles for various industry trade magazines and a local dining guide.