Managing Restaurants in the Time of Coronavirus

Christopher Gaulke is a lecturer in food and beverage management at the Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration. He teaches courses in restaurant management, purchasing and supply chain management, and new product development. Professor Gaulke realized his affinity for restaurants and foodservice at a young age and has since gained more than 20 years of practical experience working in a variety of different foodservice operations, including quick-service, casual, and upscale restaurants, as well as retail and institutional foodservice. In that time, he gained significant knowledge of both front- and back-of-house operations and held several top managerial positions, including general manager, executive chef, and foodservice manager.

While earning his MBA, Professor Gaulke realized his passion for teaching through instructing courses in food production, sanitation, beverage management, and global hospitality. Consequently, Professor Gaulke began his Ph.D. studies at Purdue University, where he focused his studies and research on foodservice operations, local food supply chains and regional food hubs, and food safety in farmers’ markets. During this time, he also taught courses in sanitation, quantity food production, and advanced restaurant management.

Professor Gaulke is a member of the National Restaurant Association, a Certified Chef de Cuisine, a Certified ServSafe Instructor, and a Registered ServSafe Examination Proctor for the National Restaurant Association.

Lindsey Brous Gitlin is the owner of Collegetown Bagels in Ithaca, New York, a local institution that has been owned by her family since 1981. She grew up in the family business, helping out at Collegetown Bagels from the age of eight. Lindsey attended Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, where she focused on food and beverage operations. Upon graduation, Lindsey worked for Avero, LLC, a restaurant analytics and software company in New York City, before moving on to join the Boston Consulting Group, where she worked in the retail and telecommunications practice areas. In July 2018, she assumed co-ownership of Collegetown Bagels, which, in addition to its Ithaca locations, also offers catering, wholesale, and retail options.

Michael Cortelletti is the owner of Food Democracy and a business angel who helps young entrepreneurs. Michael started as a dishwasher before discovering his passion for pizza. After his studies at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart and the Bocconi University in Milan, he went on to get his Master’s at Cornell University. He then worked for Nordee GmbH and Dunkin Brands, Inc., before returning to his roots in Italy. He is now at the helm of Food Democracy, which establishes and runs restaurants, and creates operating systems and solutions that have high potential for growth in the catering business, trade, and tourism.

Michelle Ho is the CEO for the Golden Burger Group in Macau and China. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Macau, Michelle graduated from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration in 2005. Michelle took the reins of the Golden Burger Group in March 2013, when its portfolio consisted of 39 restaurants in Macau and Zhuhai. Today, there are 95 restaurants in three cities, with over 4,500 employees. Michelle has been described by those close to her as the spiritual leader of Golden Burger Group. She also serves as the CEO and Developmental Licensee of McDonald’s in Macau and the cities of Zhuhai and Zhongshan in China’s Guangdong province.