Mark L. Katz
847- 543-1539
info@siteselectionmodeling.com


Mark Katz is an independent consultant specializing in the restaurant and retail industries.  During his 25-year career, Mark has worked in all types of restaurant and retail environments and has been involved in all aspects of marketing.  His particular areas of strength include site selection modeling and trading area analysis, market area development, strategic marketing planning, consumer research, customer relationship management, advertising and media planning.

Mr. Katz was the Director of Advertising and Consumer Research for Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants from 1995 through 2002.  During his tenure at Lettuce, Mark developed a unique Site Selection Modeling process that forms the nucleus of his consulting efforts today.  Mark was also the guiding force behind a multi-faceted marketing approach that leveraged the unique strength of the Lettuce brand name to the benefit of over 30 distinct restaurant concepts.

Since 2002, Mr. Katz has continued to provide site selection evaluations and other marketing services to various Lettuce Entertain You restaurant concepts, including Wildfire, Shaw’s Crab House, Mon Ami Gabi and Big Bowl Asian Kitchen.  Mark’s diverse restaurant client roster also includes Maggiano's Little Italy, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Mike Shannon's Steaks & Seafood, Arby's Restaurants, Krispy Kreme, Bojangles Chicken & Biscuits, Marsha Brown Restaurants, El Pato Mexican Restaurants, Grazies Italian Grill, Niche Restaurant, The Anvil Club, Hospitality Works International, Keefer’s Restaurant, Flat Top Grill, JumBurrito Mexican Restaurants, Entourage on American Lane, Philander's Restaurant, Rudy's Country Store and BBQ, NBC Tower, Mac's Dixie Roadhouse, El Papalote, Tomatillo's, Lucky's, Wise Guys of Chicago, Junction City Steakhouse, Cafe 24, Round-the-Clock Restaurants, Chain Associates, Hog Wild Pit BBQ, Maciano's Pizza & Pastaria, and Dodge Convenience Stores.

From a more retail perspective, Mr. Katz has consulting experience in the emerging niche foodservice market of easy-meal-prep assembly centers, convenience care clinics, the retail banking industry, new home construction, retail frame shops and upscale men’s clothing stores.

At this point in his career, Mark describes himself as a consumer behaviorist, analyzing the lifestyle aspects that drive customers to make the retail purchasing decisions that they do.  This lifestyle analysis is the cornerstone of the Site Selection Modeling process he has developed.

Mark has been recognized numerous times over the years for his various accomplishments by industry trade publications and related industry organizations, including a third-place Best Practices Award at the 2001 Precision Marketing Conference hosted by Claritas, Incorporated.  In November, 2003, Mark conducted a one-week “teaching module” as a guest lecturer at the prestigious Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne in Switzerland on the topic of "Database Marketing – Building Customer Loyalty".  And Mr. Katz previously taught a “Menus & Facilities” class at Kendall College in Chicago, an institution specializing in the hospitality industry and culinary arts.

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