Tom Costello has been giving seminars and keynotes for over 30 years. Having been in the hospitality industry for over 40 years, he has taken the “hands-on” approach towards building his career—from dishwasher to server to manager to area supervisor to teacher to consultant to owner. He’s worked at all levels and the experiences he brings to his seminars are the “nitty-gritty” situations, the mistakes, the successes, the “gut” decisions and the fun he has had working in restaurants.

Tom Costello is the past president of the prestigious Foodservice Consultants Society International, which establishes high standards of professional consultation. He was recently elected into the Council of Fellows in recognition of his meritorious service and leadership in the hospitality industry and has received the Antonin Carême award for contributions to culinary education. Since 1990, as director of the Hospitality Management Program at the University of San Francisco, he has received the St. Ignatius Faculty Service, Outstanding Teaching, and Cable Car awards. He has also received the Peter Goldman Award of Excellence from the Hotel Council of San Francisco.