I WANT PEOPLE TO LOVE WORKING IN RESTAURANTS AGAIN

LEADERSHIP COACHING

I coach managers at every level in HR best practices and people leadership, helping them build thriving, inspired teams. I also guide supervisors through the critical transition into management.

BENEFIT & PAYROLL ADMINISTRATION

Together, we’ll create a cost-effective, forward-thinking benefits plan for your team. I provide open enrollment, ongoing benefits management, and a professional, reliable alternative to handling payroll in-house.

NEW PROJECT HR CONSULTING

I provide everything you need to get started with confidence, so you can spend less time on forms and more time focusing on your vision. I also offer additional guidance and support tailored to your team’s needs.

Close-up portrait of a smiling woman with short dark hair, wearing a red sleeveless top, gold hoop earrings, a nose ring, and a delicate gold necklace with small red beads, outdoors with greenery in the background.
Bright yellow-green star-shaped abstract graphic on black background.
A purple heart shape on a black background.

I’m Katherine Pinson (SHRM-CP), founder of Family Meal HR Consulting LLC and a lifelong Bay Area resident. Alongside being a mother, sister, friend, daughter, and epic Prince fan, I’m an HR professional dedicated to supporting restaurants, their staff, and their owners. Feeding and caring for people—that’s my true life’s work.

For over 20 years, I’ve worked as a GM, operations manager, consultant, HR manager, and HR director for some of California’s most iconic restaurants, including Chez Panisse, LULU at the Hammer Museum, Brown Sugar Kitchen, Chow, Cafe Ohlone, and Quince & Co.

My practice is rooted in firsthand experience. As a GM without HR support, I spent countless nights wrangling forms, handling disputes, and Googling labor laws—all while trying to run a profitable business and lead my team. I know how overwhelming it is to stay compliant while still doing the work you love.

Now, two decades later, I bring the expertise and perspective to help fellow owners and operators. My goal is simple: to give business leaders back their time, so they can focus on what they set out to do—run a business they love.