Eric Lenard,
Senior Consultant
PROFESSIONAL
Eric brings more than 20 years of culinary and kitchen operations management to Envision Strategies. Classically trained as a chef in France, he made a name for himself in the highly competitive restaurant scene of San Francisco in the early 1990s. Eric entered the area of luxury hotels in Seattle and was recognized by Condé Nast as running one of the top food and beverage programs in the western United States in 1997. He went on to be the Corporate Chef for a privately held restaurant company overseeing three locations and around 150 employees. In 2001, he opened and operated the first phase of a $30 million renovation and repositioning of The University of Washington food service program.
In addition to these accomplishments, Eric has consulted for wineries, breweries, resorts and higher education. He has written and edited cookbooks, taught culinary arts in accredited culinary programs, and run his own catering company.
Industry Honors
Rising Star of Northern California Food Scene by the San Francisco Chronicle in 1993; Wine Spectator awarded the Heritage House where he helmed the kitchen as “Best Restaurant in Mendocino Wine Country.”; 1101 Café at University of Washington won Best of Show Award at the National Restaurant Show in 2005.
Featured Projects
- Colorado State University
- California State University, San Bernardino
- University of California Riverside, Riverside, California
- University of Alaska Anchorage
- Northwest Missouri State University
PERSONAL
Eric is the father of two children who are both attending college in Oregon. An avid outdoorsman, Eric enjoys fly fishing, back country skiing, backpacking and bird hunting with his spaniel CJ. He continues to stay active in cooking and wine appreciation, as he has over his 40 year career in restaurants.




