Laurel Kaufman has built a career that blends her deep personal passion for food, wine and lifestyle with considerable business acumen and legal expertise. Her love of food and wine began during her college years in Santa Barbara, pouring wines and producing events for Geisinger Winery. After graduating, Laurel moved east to attend Rutgers University, where she received both her J.D. and M.B.A. and began to expand her taste buds nationally. Laurel continued to fill her appetite for the food industry while in Philadelphia, producing special events for the city’s only five star Michelin rated restaurant, Le Bec Fin as well as their more casual dining bistro Brasserie Perrier. While east Laurel also did marketing for the Public House Restaurant Group, helping to open their first flagship restaurant in Philadelphia. Upon returning to Los Angeles, Laurel took on the role of Executive Vice President and In-House Counsel for Bassett, a national retail brand, and subsequently began consulting for beauty, fashion, hospitality and entertainment companies founding EMB in 2007. Laurel continued to consult with creatives, focusing on restaurants and retailers like The Must Bar, Malibu Food and Wine Festival and Planet Lulu. Laurel launched Elevate My Brand in 2010 to further distill her love and passion for elevating food, wine and retail brands globally. Laurel sits on the board of directors for Change America, The Fender Music Foundation and Totally Fabulous Females and is Managing Director for the Los Angeles Chapter of Girls in Tech. Laurel is a mentor with Jewish Big Brother Big Sisters of Los Angeles and has been a member of the California Bar since 2006.