Linda C. Johnson serves as SVP of Business Development & Industry Relations for The Elliot Leadership Institute, where she oversees sales and distribution of tools and solutions to industry client organizations.

Prior to joining the Institute, Ms. Johnson served as SVP of Industry Relations and Director of Client Services for Creative Consumer Concepts, a branding firm specializing in family and kids marketing within the restaurant industry. Previously she spent several years as President of Aspen Hill, where she managed sales, product development and client service.

Ms. Johnson, who has also held various training and business development posts in the banking industry, began her career in education after achieving a Masters degree in Behavioral Studies and eventually served as Director of a national educational program under the U.S. Department of Education.

An active member of the Women’s Foodservice Forum where she is Membership chair, Johnson has also served several community and civic groups including the Republican National Committee’s Women’s Advisory Board and St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School’s Board of Trustees. She is past co-chair of Missouri’s “W” Stands for Women campaign and president of the Greater Missouri Women’s Leadership Program class.

Rachel Bents serves as VP of Product Development & Training Solutions, where she is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the Institute’s various tools and solutions.

Prior to joining the Institute, Ms. Bents worked at American Eagle Outfitters as a District Manager, where she was responsible for training, recruitment, manager development, performance management, and financial results for 11 stores in four upper Midwest states. Prior to that, she served as an Organization Development Consultant for U.S. Bank in Minneapolis, where she designed succession management procedures, refined leadership competencies, and redesigned and implemented enhanced training programs.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Bents was Director of Training for the Chevys Fresh Mex® restaurant chain, where she led numerous training and development initiatives. Before joining Chevys, she served as Training & Development Manager for Gap Inc. in San Francisco. Ms. Bents began her career at the University of Minnesota as a Training Specialist, and later as an Admissions Counselor. She subsequently worked at UnitedHealth Group as a Learning and Development Manager.

Ms. Bents is a certified consultant of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Authority, Responsibility and Power (ARP), and is also a member of the American Association of Training and Development (AATD), Association of Psychological Type (APT), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and the Organization Development Network (ODN). She has co-authored two books, Authority, Responsibility & Power: A Transformational Journey, and Psychological Balance: Tensions (Stimulation or Stress).

Anna Hahnfeldt, Director of Client Services & Administration

Anna Hahnfeldt joined The Elliot Leadership Institute as Director of Client Services & Administration in late 2007. In this position she handles all client service activities for the Institute, and manages the Institute’s headquarters office in Minneapolis, MN.

Rick Van Warner, a 25-year restaurant industry veteran, has worked with The Elliot Leadership Institute since late 2004 as Chief Marketing & Communications Consultant. In this role he works closely with the Institute management team on long-range strategy and brand development, while overseeing various marketing and communications activities.

Mr. Van Warner is President of The Parquet Group, an Orlando-based consulting firm focused on strategic planning, corporate culture and communications. Working with senior executive and ownership teams, he has helped various restaurant organizations leverage effective planning, thinking and communications to enhance performance and reach the next stage of growth.

Before founding The Parquet Group, Mr. Van Warner served as a senior executive for Darden Restaurants Inc., the world’s largest casual dining company with more than 1,700 restaurants. Before joining Darden Mr. Van Warner was Editor-In-Chief and Associate Publisher of Nation's Restaurant News. During more than a decade with NRN, he was instrumental in its turnaround and growth to become the dominant market leader in the hospitality publishing business.

Mr. Van Warner began his career as a daily newspaper reporter, covering national and local politics among other subjects. He serves on the advisory board at the University of Delaware’s Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management School and is a past board member of several foodservice industry organizations.

Key Institute Resources:

The Institute also utilizes several other leading experts and firms, including:

Coaches Collaborative International, Leadership Coaching

Envisia Learning, Online Services & Technology