Elizabeth Blau's impressive foodservice career spans more than 23 years.  Blau is Founder and CEO of Blau & Associates, a successful restaurant consulting firm with a client list that includes top hospitality establishments across the globe. Founded in 2002, Blau & Associates is a strategic restaurant planning and development company that specializes in providing clients with the fresh, creative and sound business advice required to create exceptional food-and-beverage concepts.

Blau began her restaurant career in 1995 with Le Cirque's Sirio Maccioni and has gone on to hold positions including Senior Vice-President of Restaurant Development for MGM/Mirage, and Executive Vice President of Restaurant Development & Marketing for Wynn Las Vegas. 

In recent years, Blau has partnered with celebrity chef Kerry Simon in her own restaurant venture: Simon kitchen + bar in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and since opened numerous other restaurants across the nation. 

Blau is a member of numerous boards and foundations and has received honors and awards for her work in the hospitality and foodservice industries, from the prestigious Hospy Award from the Las Vegas chapter of the NEWH (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), to the Gold Plate Award from IFMA (International Food Service Manufacturers Award).  In addition, Blau serves on several boards, and advisory boards for organizations ranging from the President's Council of Cornell Women, and Southern Nevada Make a Wish Foundation to F&B Executive and Wynn Magazines.  Blau was invited to be the guest speaker at the Culinary Institute of America for their 2008 commencement ceremony, and has also been invited for speaking engagements by Cornell, and the University of California at Los Angeles.

Blau holds a Bachelor's Degree in Government and International Relations from Georgetown University and a Master's Degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.