Kristin Elftmann – SHRM-SCP

Kristin Elftmann is an award-winning hospitality recruiter with more than two decades of experience connecting top talent with leading hospitality organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of San Diego with a double major in Communications and Psychology and earned her SHRM-SCP (Senior Certified Professional) certification from the Society for Human Resource Management.

Kristin began her career at San Francisco’s California Culinary Academy, where she advanced to lead the Career Services, Externship, and Alumni Relations departments, maintaining a 90–95% placement rate for graduates entering the hospitality industry. Her passion for helping people launch and grow their careers led to guest speaking opportunities at Napa Valley College and Purdue University.
Her career later brought her to Chicago, where she served as Director of Human Resources for the historic Allerton Hotel on Michigan Avenue. There she played a key role in the property’s closure and reopening, hiring more than 300 associates and rehiring 225 team members following renovation. She later joined The Cheesecake Factory as a Regional Recruiter, where she staffed management teams for more than ten new restaurant openings and supported recruiting efforts across the Midwest, setting company records for hires, cost-per-hire efficiency, and low turnover.
Kristin also served as a Task Force Recruiter for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, assisting in the opening of two flagship U.S. luxury properties: Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago and Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, where she helped recruit more than 1,000 associates across the two hotels.

Today, Kristin is a Senior Recruiting Specialist and serves as Vice President of the Illinois/Wisconsin Market where she specializes in nationwide hospitality recruiting. She has earned numerous company awards including Recruiter of the Year, the Brian Hirt Award of Excellence, Highest Sales, and Most Placements, and has consistently ranked among the firm’s top recruiters. Her Chicago office has also been recognized as the #1 top-performing office multiple times.

Kristin is passionate about helping industry professionals advance their careers while helping organizations build strong leadership teams. Her deep industry relationships, strategic recruiting expertise, and commitment to excellence continue to make her a trusted partner to both clients and candidates.