Raised in New Orleans, I began my accidental career in hospitality at Hard Rock Cafe in the French Quarter when my my friends convinced me to leave my record store job to join them waiting tables. I moved into management quickly and relocated to Los Angeles - training and creating operational systems as the business grew.

I joined up with prolific restaurateur and hotel proprietor Sean MacPherson in 1998 as Vice President to Committed Inc. Los Angeles properties including Swingers, Good Luck Bar, Jones and El Carmen were a few of my responsibilities and we brought his influential hotel, restaurant and design aesthetic to New York City through the development of The Park Restaurant and The Maritime Hotel in Manhattan.

In 2006, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina I made a quick return to New Orleans to help restore the family business. At the same time I invested in the local music scene as associate producer of Project 30-90 and partnered with the Museum of the American Cocktail and Tales of the Cocktail for events. Missing F&B culture I returned to LA in 2011 with the Steady Course Group (Dominick’s, Little Dom’s, Tom Bergin’s, and 101 Coffee Shop).

In 2013 I recognized my heart was invested in team-building most of all and I connected with the inspiration I found in mentoring young leaders. My most rewarding projects up til then had been the dozen-plus new-venue openings I orchestrated. So I struck out on my own with Kat Witt Collaboration. Now I work with a roster of clients from hospitality, the arts and retail business. Being witness to the successes my clients create is the best work I could possibly imagine!

I split my time between Los Angeles and New Orleans, and travel to discover new cultures through their sounds and flavors. When not training for a triathlon I make time for live music, sailing and bringing friends together with dinner parties.

@theKatWitt