Board Member

Russell W. Bendel

CEO
The Habit Restaurants, LLC


Background Information

In June of 2008, Mr. Bendel was appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Habit Burger Grill, which is based in Irvine, California. Prior to The Habit, Mr. Bendel joined the Cheesecake Factory in July of 2007 as its President and Chief Operating Officer. Beginning in June of 2001, Mr. Bendel worked at Mimi’s Cafe as its President and CEO. Prior to joining Mimi’s Cafe, in 1999 he was appointed President of Roy’s Steakhouse, a joint venture between Outback Steakhouse and Roy Yamaguchi, noted celebrity chef from Hawaii. From 1995 until June of 1999, Mr. Bendel was a partner in the Outback Steakhouse franchise group in California. His other experiences include being the Chief Operating Officer for El Torito Restaurants and Panda Express.

Mr. Bendel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Administration from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the California Restaurant Association and is immediate past chairman. Mr. Bendel also takes pride in serving as a Board member of the Culinary School for the Art Institute of Los Angeles/Orange County, and as a Board member of The Collins College of Hospitality Management at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

In 2003, Mr. Bendel had the distinct honor of receiving Operator of the Year at the MUFSO conference in Atlanta. Mr. Bendel was also recognized as the Restaurateur of the Year in Orange County, California in 2004, and received UCLA’s Creative Partnership Award in 2005.