A Career Built at Scale
Twenty years of progressive operations leadership across airport concessions, hospitality technology, and multi-brand restaurant groups. Each role built on the last.
Montclair Hospitality Group
Vice President of Operations
Led operations for MHG's portfolio of restaurant brands across New Jersey and New York, including Ani Ramen and a partnership with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto.
Zing!
Head of Operations
Led operations for a multi-location retail food concept focused on consumer experience and operational efficiency.
CookUnity
Head of Operations
Led operational expansion of the chef-to-consumer meal platform into New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin markets.
REEF Technology
EVP of Operations
Oversaw 200+ locations across North America with 5 Regional VPs, a VP for Canada, and a VP of Operations Excellence as direct reports.
CLEAR
FastCompany Most InnovativeSVP of Operations
Led national operations across 27 airports and 9 stadiums with 6 Regional VP direct reports and approximately 850 hourly employees.
OTG Management
FastCompany Most InnovativeTerminal Director → Partner → Regional VP → VP of Convergence
Led airport concessions operations across 8 major U.S. airports, reporting directly to the CEO and overseeing $340M in annual revenue.
Park Hyatt Philadelphia
General Manager
Served as General Manager of the Park Hyatt Philadelphia, overseeing the luxury hotel and its acclaimed XIX:NINETEEN restaurant.
Credentials That Differentiate
A career marked by firsts, recognitions, and contributions at the intersection of hospitality, technology, and community.
FastCompany Most Innovative Companies
OTG Management & CLEAR
Recognized twice as a senior leader at companies named to FastCompany's Most Innovative Companies list — OTG Management and CLEAR — reflecting a career at the frontier of hospitality technology.
Amazon JWO — World's First Airport Computer Vision Stores
EWR, JFK & LGA
Worked on highly sensitive projects at Amazon HQ, ultimately developing the world's first three computer vision-based cashierless shopping experiences (Just Walk Out) at Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia airports. The launches received major national and international press in both technology and hospitality.
NYC Mayor's Food & Beverage Hospitality Council
Founding Member
Founding member of the New York City Mayor's Office Food & Beverage Hospitality Council, alongside Marc Murphy, David Chang, Will Guidara, Amanda Cohen, and other influential NYC chefs and restaurateurs.
Executive Certificate in Elements of AI
University of Helsinki
Completed advanced coursework at the University of Helsinki, earning an Executive Certificate in Elements of Artificial Intelligence — well before the current AI wave reached the hospitality industry.
Speaker & Mentor — Pace University
BBA Hospitality & Tourism Candidates
Recurring speaker and mentor at Pace University for BBA candidates in Hospitality and Tourism, contributing to the development of the next generation of hospitality leaders.
Operations at the Intersection of People and Technology
"I've spent my career at a very specific intersection: where technology meets the human moment in hospitality. I've built cashierless stores with Amazon. I've led biometric identity platforms at airports. I've deployed AI tools before most of my peers knew what a large language model was. And through all of it, I've held onto one conviction that has never wavered."
A few months ago, I was walking through one of our restaurants when I watched a long-time server recognize a regular guest who hadn't been in for a while. Before the guest even sat down, the server had sent over their usual lunch order. It wasn't a complex transaction. It was a simple, personal gesture. And it stopped me in my tracks.
In an industry increasingly driven by data and digital convenience, it's the human element — the memory, the recognition, the personal touch — that ultimately builds true loyalty. We don't just sell food. We sell connection.
That belief shapes how I lead. I use technology to remove friction, not to remove people. I use data to surface what matters, not to replace judgment. I build systems that give frontline teams more time for the moments that actually matter to guests.
People First, Always
The people closest to the guest are the most important people in any hospitality organization. My job as a senior leader is to remove the obstacles that prevent them from doing their best work.
Technology in Service of Humanity
I earned an AI certificate before it was fashionable because I believe operators who understand technology will lead the industry. But technology should serve people — not replace them.
Community is the Brand
When budget shortfalls threatened over 100 educators in our community, we launched the Teacher's Table — a dedicated space for displaced teachers to continue their work, with lunch on us. Hospitality is about serving your community when it matters most.
Honest About What I Don't Know
The best leaders I've worked with are the ones who are clear about the edges of their knowledge. I've built my career on intellectual honesty — including about where I still have room to grow.
Ask About Ben
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What I Can't Claim
The best leaders are honest about the edges of their knowledge. These are areas where Ben's experience has real limits — stated plainly, because credibility matters more than a perfect pitch.
No C-Suite Title at a Publicly Traded Company
My most recent title was Vice President. I have not served as a CEO, COO, or CFO at a publicly traded organization. I have, however, operated at the scale and complexity of those roles — managing $340M in P&L, leading 3,200+ employees, and reporting directly to a CEO.
Limited Direct Marketing Oversight
My experience with marketing has primarily been through interfacing with outside agencies and partners. I have not directly managed an internal marketing function or team. I bring strong opinions about brand and guest experience, but I would partner with a dedicated marketing leader rather than lead that function myself.
"I've found that the executives who are most trusted are the ones who are clear about what they don't know. I'd rather you discover my limits in this conversation than six months into the role."
— Ben Teevan-Feilen
Let's Have a Conversation
If you're a hiring manager or executive recruiter exploring a senior operations role, Ben would welcome the conversation.