Rob Citto
Co-Founder and Lead Consultant
rcitto@discoverytalentstrategies.com
(303) 868-9216
“My favorite part of recruiting is introducing a candidate to a new experience they otherwise wouldn't have known about.”
About Rob Citto
Co-Founder and Lead Consultant
Rob Citto has been an Executive Chef and Food & Beverage leader for over twenty-five years, working in four-star resorts, hotels, and restaurants. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York (‘95). He has managed large-scale, high-end, multi-outlet properties across the United States and abroad. He has achieved success in high-end establishments, receiving numerous accolades, including four-diamond ratings and Conde Nast awards, and is recognized as a leader in the industry. His experience includes managing food and beverage operations, hiring hospitality teams, and focusing on innovative ways to build elite culinary and dining programs. His unique insight into the food and beverage industry is advantageous to any hospitality industry client or other client seeking his services.
As an Executive Chef managing a professional sports stadium at the height of the pandemic, Rob learned to be creative, proactively sourcing and recruiting culinary and dining teams during the most challenging time in history for the hospitality industry. Knowing the pain of being severely short-staffed and needing help but having limited time to dedicate to recruiting is still fresh for Rob, and he not only empathizes with those in similar positions but has figured out how to persevere during difficult staffing situations. Rob approaches each situation as a challenge, tapping his years of commitment to excellence in the culinary and dining field and applying it to his talent acquisition work.
After witnessing the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry, Rob decided to shift his career to focus exclusively on his passion for finding great talent. His intuitive nature, ability to build relationships and knack for learning a person’s story made it a natural transition. As a talent acquisition professional, Rob isn’t just a hospitality expert but an avid learner who has become an expert in multiple industries. Whether he is recruiting for an executive chef, web developer, or director of finance, the way he goes about sourcing doesn’t change. He listens to his client’s “must-have’s” and “nice to haves,” finding the best fit while being open to diverse talent. Then, he immerses himself in the position being hired for, becoming an expert in that field.
Education
Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York, 1995