William is the founder of W.H. Bender & Associates, a premier Restaurant and Foodservice consultancy that provides Management Advisory Services (MAS). He has provided restaurant operations best practices leadership while working and consulting in all foodservice industry segments. Additionally, Bill serves as a vice president of management to Ken Schwartz, FCSI, the CEO of SSA Foodservice Design + Consulting, Tampa, Florida. Bill joined Steak and Ale Restaurants and quickly worked through entry-level positions to become the Kitchen Manager of the 19th unit and East Coast training restaurant in Rockville, Maryland. This enabled him to work alongside many of today’s industry leaders as the Steak and Ale Casual Dining brand skyrocketed under the leadership of Norman Brinker and Vice President of Operations Carl Hays. He served on the new store opening team for the region before being transferred to the high-volume Gulf Freeway unit in Houston, Texas, where he served as Kitchen Manager and Bar Manager. He was then recruited to open T.D. Hays Steak House in San Diego. This team formed Oceans 8 Inc. and opened Steak, Seafood, and Entertainment concepts at four separate locations during the next twelve years. Bill was promoted to General Manager and then Director of Operations, responsible for multiple units. Bill returned to consulting with his own firm in 1996. His background in foodservice management provides a unique insight into running a profitable restaurant operation in today’s hyper-competitive marketplace. Using a tight focus on restaurant fundamentals, he obtains results for clients - high-volume independents, regional and national chains, and start-up concepts. He has written and produced proprietary training systems/processes - FutureView™ Strategic Planning, ServPoints Sequence of Service™ and ProActive Management™ for clients and has implemented these systems at the unit and company level. Bill’s creative force, communication style, and sense of humor provide lasting results when training and motivating teams. Client Upscale Food Outlets/Monterey Pasta Company recruited him in 1993 to become the Vice President of Operations for their fast-casual start-up concept. He was a member of CEO Lance Mortensen’s executive team that successfully completed the Initial Public Offering (PSTA), raising over twelve million dollars for the company. The company opened 42 restaurants in 24 months. Bill is a sought-after speaker and presenter of training sessions and strategic planning for organizations and company conferences. He was a speaker for the National Restaurant Association at its Chicago Show and the FCSI World Conference. He has presented training for the California Restaurant Foundation, the California Department of Education - Home Economics Careers and Technology Education Conference, the Professional Culinary Institute, Art Institute, Mission College Hospitality Management, and Howard Community College.

1. In recognition of continued commitment to the ideals of the Society
William Bender, FCSI
Professional Member
Is hereby acknowledged to be a member in good standing
Member ID 2024 Member Since
704712 2000
Eric Norman, FCSI Christine Guyott, FCSI RDN
FCSI Worldwide President FCSI The Americas Chair