CL 2.jpeg — Christie Lawler

Founder & Owner of CJL CONSULTiNG and Founder, The WITI Group

Christie J. Lawler – Founder & Owner of CJL CONSULTiNG and Founder, The WITI Group

Christie founded CJL CONSULTiNG in 2009 while completing her MBA as a way to stay engaged in her career while completing her studies. As Founder & Owner of CJL CONSULTiNG, Christie supports clients by creating beverage marketing and training programs for the likes of Alamo Drafthouse, American Social, Arcis Golf and Flagship Restaurant Group.

Prior to the rebrand of CJL CONSULTiNG in 2017, Christie was consulting with AREAS, Smokey Bones and Shula’s after spending seven years serving as the National Accounts Manager for both Sidney Frank Importing Company and Lavazza. After managing more than 200 accounts across the U.S., she was excited to bring her knowledge of the sales side full circle to help her company’s clients drive their beverage strategy forward.

Before entering the world of sales, Christie worked as a newspaper reporter and went on to create the marketing office for MWR Europe covering Southern Germany while stationed overseas with her active-duty husband. Upon moving back to the U.S. in 2004, Christie got her first taste of national accounts beverage marketing while creating training and beverage programs for HMSHost, Consolidated Restaurant Operations, Outback Steakhouse and House of Blues.

In 2018, Christie developed the charitable side of her career founding The WITI Group, a 501(c)(3) foundation focused on empowering and supporting the women of the hospitality industry. She is also proud to serve as a CORE Ambassador as well as an advisory board member for “The Bar” with Datassential. CJL CONSULTiNG is WBENC Certified as a Woman-Owned Small Business. Christie also travels the U.S. for her speaking engagements covering marketing, branding, sales strategy and cultural development topics.

The WITI Group is just over 50 female volunteers around the U.S. who are all at the top of their companies in national accounts on both the operator and supplier sides. The WITI Conference is the only invitation-only, female-only, exclusively non-profit conference in the hospitality industry. We come together for several days in the heart of Sonoma to empower each other, build friendships and raise money for CORE (Children of Restaurant Employees) and The WITI Group.