FAQ
How do I know that Leland Harper Consulting is the right consulting agency for me?
Leland Harper has a broad range of experience across a number of bars, restaurants and nightclubs, ranging from 1-location family-owned venues to multimillion-dollar corporations with dozens of locations. He has worked as s dishwasher and as a General Manager - and everything in between. While other DEI consultants may offer services to the hospitality industry, Leland Harper Consulting is the only one that specifically focuses on the hospitality industry. This means an unparalleled level of understanding of the unique challenges of your venue.
How can we maintain COVID-19 precautions while utilizing your services?
As we navigate these challenging times and work to get your venue back to profitability, Leland Harper Consultants has the ability to offer a range of services both in-person or remotely. Meetings, training, discussions, staff orientations can all take place virtually or in-person while observing acceptable social distancing and face-covering protocols. Of course, each situation is unique and we are happy to tailor services that suit your venue's needs.
Why should I value Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in my organization?
In addition to the (as some argue) intrinsic value of diversity, equity and inclusion, there is also extrinsic value. Higher retention, decreased shrinkage, improved staff morale, broader guest demographics, increased profitability and improved public perception are just some of the tangible benefits of placing a higher emphasis on DEI in your organization. For more on some of the benefits of improved DEI in organizations, see these recent articles by Forbes and Overproof.
How much do your services cost?
How much you want to budget for services will depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to the size of your organization, the scope of the project and its deliverables and, in some cases, the timeframe in which you would like the work completed. Each project is unique and, as with anything in the world of hospitality, costs can range drastically. With that in mind, we offer a range of services that can be tailored to meet most budgets. To discuss pricing for your specific project, please contact us.
What is Leland's Background in the Service Industry?
Leland began working in the hospitality industry in 2003 as a dishwasher. Since then, Leland has gone on to work at dozens of restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels in a number of capacities. From dishwasher, to kitchen manager, to bartender, to server, to bar manager, to general manager (not necessarily in that order), Leland has a broad range of experience in this industry. Having worked for large multinational corporations, fast food, family-owned pubs, exclusive lounges and high-volume nightclubs, Leland has a wealth of experience and perspective from which to draw.
What is Leland's Background in DEI?
Leland earned his PhD from the University of Birmingham (UK) in 2016 and, since then, has gone on to work at several universities and to serve a number of roles. Leland has spent time working at the Access Centre for Students with Disabilities, has chaired director-level DEI search committees, and has served as the interim Director of the Ethnic and Gender Studies Institute at Siena Heights University. In addition to Leland's recent book about religion, he has two forthcoming books that address race, racism and justice and is currently leading an international project that aims to establish a DEI curriculum for several major universities. Leland's work has been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, The Heller Center for Arts and Humanities, and the Carnegie Mellon Foundation. He has spoken about topics of race and inclusivity at a number of international conferences and has also completed several professional development certificates related to diversity, equity and inclusion.