We have been in your shoes. Behind Pinnacle Restaurant Consultants is a wealth of knowledge acquired from decades of experience in the restaurant business. No matter how complex your problems might seem, chances are, we have experienced them too and now you can benefit from the lessons we learned.

John Herman is the driving force behind Pinnacle Restaurant Consultants. With a proven track record of hospitality leadership, John is able to make your business increasingly successful.
With more than 35 years of experience in the restaurant industry, John has formed Pinnacle Restaurant Consultants in order to meet the consulting needs of the restaurant industry for organizations both large and small.

John has served as president of several highly-acclaimed regional and national organizations, such as Restaurants Unlimited Inc. and Desert Island Restaurants. His companies have operated more than 20 distinct and award-winning restaurant concepts, ranging from special occasion steak houses to Asian bistros and from small, neighborhood pizza restaurants to 90,000-square-foot family dining and entertainment facilities.

With his naturally motivated, energetic, and results-driven nature, John has all the skills of a natural leader. He specializes in providing innovative, effective direction for organizations while developing their management and employee teams and in increasing profits while improving operational quality and enhancing the guest experience.

John also has a strong background in organizational development, which enables him to build a framework of success for all of his clients as he provides them with the tools they require for continued growth and success. Through his vast experience, John has developed excellent skills in strategic planning, profit improvements, concept development, increasing sales, building cohesive teams, and elevating operational quality. John has built a firm reputation for successful restaurant turnarounds, rejuvenating many struggling restaurants and concepts. He has now turned his experience toward the hospitality industry to become a vital consultant for restaurant and hospitality organizations. When you have John working for your organization, your restaurant business plan cannot help but succeed.

Scott Gilkey joined the team of Restaurants Unlimited Inc. in 1980, a legend in the hospitality industry for their excellent food and exceptional hospitality. Throughout his 20-year tenure at RUI, Scott held such prestigious positions as executive chef, senior director of food and beverage, and director of operations. During his career at RUI, Scott assisted in designing, opening, and operating more than 25 full-service restaurants, all of which supported the growth of the Palomino, Kincaid’s Steak Chop, the Fish House, Zoopa, and RUI’s various Bistro brands.

Scott eventually left RUI for the position of vice president of operations at Ruby’s Diner, a Seattle franchise that he successfully operated for an additional 5 years. From Ruby's Diner, Scott owned and operated a restaurant consulting firm in Seattle, and recently he has joined his vast experience to the talent of the Pinnacle Restaurant Consultants advisory team.

"John Herman designed, implemented and trained financial systems and tools
in our organization resulting in
improved profitability.  Gross profit has improved in our San Jose Restaurants
by combined 3.1% saving approximately $400,000 from previous year."
[Chris Yeo, Straits Management LLC]