MISSION
Connecting Talent with Opportunity: Our Search, Your Success
Who we serve
Hospitality & Restaurants
With over twenty years of experience in the food and beverage industry, we offer specialized Talent Acquisition consulting services and executive search services tailored to meet the industry's unique needs. Our extensive TA expertise provides valuable support to scaling companies leveraging people solutions to drive digital transformation in hospitality & foodservices.
Food & Beverage
Our active engagement in the food and beverage industry connects us with key thought leaders, ensuring your company remains competitive in a dynamic market. We foster strong relationships with craft brewers, wineries, and food establishments through active association memberships, attendance at major conferences, and hosting networking events, which provide our clients access to top talent.
Contract Food Service
With extensive experience filling hundreds of Contract Food Service roles, the UpTalent Search Team utilizes a vast network to help clients secure key talent. Every role is considered crucial, and our team works diligently to exceed our clients' expectations, filling roles from Regional Presidents and Senior Living Culinary Leaders to Stadium Food and Beverage Directors and Corporate Controllers.
Agriculture, Food Science & Manufacturing
Finding the right leader for you requires expertise, connections, and dedication. That's where we come in. We manage your search so you can focus on your business. As top food and beverage executive recruiters, we cover all industry functions, including executive leadership, HR, R&D, finance, technology, product development, production manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and sales. We serve C-suite leaders, HR professionals, board members, and investors in the food science, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors.
Louise Bijesse
Founder| CEO
Louise Bijesse is the founder and chief executive officer of UpTalent Consulting, a technology-powered, value-driven talent acquisition firm specializing in search. Leveraging her extensive background in professional search and the hospitality and healthcare industries, Louise strategically grows the organization and helps client companies achieve their business objectives. She brings a keen capacity for leadership, comprehensive business acumen, exceptional attention to detail, and outstanding skills in identifying technical and operational talent.
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Before founding UpTalent Consulting in 2022, Louise was vice president of talent acquisition and corporate human resources at BrightSpring Health Services and PharMerica, developing end-to-end hiring strategies. She also held leadership roles at Compass Group North America from 2005 to 2018, where she led talent acquisition. From 1999 to 2005, Louise owned Brighten Staffing, a New York-based culinary and hospitality staffing agency.
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Louise holds a master of science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she was recognized for her leadership, and a bachelor of science in business, management, and economics from Empire State University. Additionally, she has a culinary arts degree from NYIT and won several culinary awards.
Carolyn Ellison
Managing Director
Carolyn Ellison is a dedicated professional with a diverse background in writing, sales, communications, event production, and recruiting. Originally from the Virgin Islands, Carolyn grew up in Western North Carolina, where she developed a passion for cultivating relationships and creating engaging experiences through her years of experience in food service, event management, and hospitality.
Carolyn has a bachelor's in professional writing focused on marketing and sales from Western Carolina University. Dedicated to personal and professional growth, Carolyn is a health coach passionate about holistic wellness and emergency first aid and is in continuous training for nonviolent communication and mediation.
Miranda Drury
Search Consultant
Miranda Drury is a seasoned and dedicated search recruiter with over 15 years of experience in the recruitment industry. Known for her authenticity and passion, she excels at building meaningful connections between candidates and employers. Miranda’s comprehensive expertise spans various disciplines, including the food and beverage industry, and she is a talented recruiter who can find the perfect hire for any role.
Miranda is client and relationship-focused, ensuring that her clients' needs are met through strong and lasting professional relationships. She earned a bachelor of arts in public relations from Eastern Kentucky University and resides in Kentucky.
Patricia "Trish" Hosch
Recruitment Coordinator | Talent Sourcer
Patricia Hosch is an accomplished Human Resources Management Recruiting Coordinator with over 18 years of experience. She holds a master’s degree in Human Resource Management and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. At UpTalent Consulting, Patricia excels in coordinating interviews, collaborating with recruiters to identify top talent, and ensuring a positive experience for potential hires. Driven by a passion for connecting talent with opportunities, she provides essential recruiting and onboarding support, making her a valuable asset to hiring managers.
Patricia is also an active community leader, volunteering with organizations such as Special Needs Network, Autism Speaks, and Mooresville Soup Kitchen. Originally from Winston-Salem, NC, she has lived in Charlotte since 2013 and is the proud mother of two adult children.
Annie Mott
HR & Search Administrative Coordinator
Annie Mott is an experienced administrative professional with nearly twenty years of expertise in legal compliance, corporate organization, and management. A lifelong native of Western North Carolina, she holds a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University. Annie’s extensive background has equipped her with a keen eye for detail and a strategic approach to organizational efficiency with UpTalent.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Annie is deeply committed to her community. In her spare time, she volunteers as an administrator at local farms and wilderness schools, and she dreams of raising goats at her mountain homestead. She enjoys hiking and swimming with her teenage son in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains.