LM Ownership


  • Nicole has a lifetime of experience in the hospitality industry, stretching back to her childhood in Hamburg, Germany, where her parents owned and managed several restaurants. Her family background led her to study the hotel business; she apprenticed at the Grand Elysée Hotel in Hamburg while completing coursework in hotel and restaurant management.
    In the early 90’s Nicole left Hamburg for London, where she started her professional career with Hilton International. After stints at Hilton properties in London, New York and Guam, she accepted a position at The Drake Hotel in Chicago. She was the Drake's Director of Catering and Convention Services from 1993 to 2002, responsible for selling, planning, and executing hundreds of deluxe events.
    Following her time at The Drake she served as GM of the Mid-America Club, one of the most prestigious of Chicago’s private dining clubs, where she was responsible for oversight of all of the club’s operations. Prior to opening LM Nicole served as the GM of The Clare at Water Tower, an upscale senior living facility.
    Outside of work Nicole is an active supporter of Lawrence Hall and their programming. When not working Nicole can be found riding horses or spending time with her two children, Luc and Mary.


  • Stephan is a third-generation restaurateur. His parents owned traditional brasseries in Normandy, where he was born and raised, and his grandparents owned a small hotel-restaurant in Caen, France.
    As a young man, he learned the restaurant business by working through all of the roles in his family's brasseries, from dishwashing to front-of-house. He supplemented his family hospitality experience with formal training from Notre Dame de Nazareth in France and a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Oxford Brookes University in Oxford, England. While at Oxford, he was recruited into Hilton International’s prestigious fast-track management training program. He was one of a few dozen chosen from 3,000 applicants to spend a year training in Glasgow.
    In 2002, Stephan moved to Chicago, where he began a seven-year stint at The Drake Hotel. He moved up the chain of command, starting as Food & Beverage Controller in the Cape Cod Room and eventually becoming Director of Banquet Operations, responsible for supervision and execution of The Drake’s considerable private event business.
    While at The Drake he also supervised the creation of the Drake Bros.' Steakhouse, an experience that inspired him to open his own restaurant; the original LM in Lincoln Square.
    When not working, he very much enjoys spending time with his two kids, Luc and Mary, and paddle-boarding.

Leadership Team

  • Director of Catering Sales & Operations

    Hospitality runs in Gabi’s blood - she was born and raised in Germany and by the age of 11 was already working in the kitchen at her Aunt’s restaurants. After a number of years working in the family business Gabi began her formal professional career at the Hotel Dorint in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Looking for a change of scenery, she set off to Namibia to work as a house supervisor and chef at a game resort (and even worked on a hunting farm that only had enough electricity for 2 hours a day!) She then went to work in the Canary Islands off the coast of Northwest Africa in hotel operations and as a tour guide for the Isla La Palma. A few years later Gabi jetted back to mainland Europe and landed in Spain where she owned a restaurant near the port of Empuriabrava in Catalonia.Finally, she headed stateside to Chicago where she had started working with the Spanish Embassy on a two-year contract with the plan to move to Argentina upon completion. But within her first year here, she fell in love with Chicago (and has yet to visit Argentina.) While in the Windy City Gabi worked with a wide variety of renowned restaurants and catering companies before heading to LM. When not working, Gabi can be found cooking for friends and family, traveling, scuba diving, or fueling her flamingo obsession. Her dream is to one day own a small B&B on a beach or island.

  • Director of Branding & Communications

    Originally from the Washington DC area, Lauren joined the LM team in June 2014. She brings with her over 15 years of experience in the marketing, PR and social media industry with a focus on hospitality and event management.

    In her time with LM Lauren oversaw all marketing and PR efforts for James Beard nominated chefs Diana Dávila and Jennifer Kim and their respective Michelin rated restaurants, Mi Tocaya Antojeria and Passerotto while they were part of LM’s portfolio.

    Prior to coming to LM she was an Account Manager with a local Chicago hospitality agency working with a variety of restaurants in the Chicagoland area. Additionally, she served as Marketing Coordinator for The Executives’ Club of Chicago, a speakers forum and membership association in the city, helping to coordinate publicity for such notable guests as Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Former Managing Director of the IMF Christine Lagarde and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Bob Iger.

    Lauren holds a BA in Mass Communication from Miami University. When not working she can be found cheering on the Chicago Cubs and Washington Capitals, cooking and spending time with her family and friends, especially her husband and two daughters.

  • Director of People & Culture

    With nearly a decade of Chicago hospitality experience Grace began her career in the industry as a caddy when she was just 13 years old. She began her HR career with the prestigious Hilton Chicago and continued working with such notable brands as Accor (Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile), Nobu and HEI (W Chicago Lakeshore & Hotel Chicago Autograph Collection) before bringing her expertise to LM. 

    Grace is an energetic and visionary leader who brings a forward-thinking approach to management. She is deeply passionate about people, dedicating herself to understanding what motivates individuals to excel and grow in their roles. Grace grew up in Minnesota and attended the University of Wisconsin Stout where she majored in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management with a minor in Human Resources.

    Outside of work, Grace loves to learn about law as well as about plants and their origins, go on walks, cooking and traveling.

  • Director of Restaurant Operations

    From the time as a small child hearing about the restaurant her grandparents once had, Tiffany has always been drawn to the hospitality world. Her first job was as a restaurant host and from that moment on she knew she had found her calling. Tiffany went on to get her bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Kendall College. After graduating she found her way to a private country club in Chicago’s northwest suburbs, where she found herself growing in leadership roles, and work her way up to becoming the Director of Food & Beverage. Chicago was calling her home and after five years of experiencing the wonders of the Pacific Northwest.

  • Director of Culinary

    Aaron joined the LM Team in June of 2023. He has been in the hospitality industry for 25 years, and has worked in several fun locations including Arizona, California, India, Cabo San Lucas Mexico and even in Alaska on the fishing boats!

    When Aaron isn’t working he loves spending time with family up in western Michigan in the summer, rock climbing and cycling.

  • Director of Finance

    Our globetrotting Director of Finance, Angela Romic, comes to us with an extensive background in accounting. Born in Germany, Angela was raised in Bosnia and Herzegovina and originally moved to Chicago 6 years ago (where one of her first jobs was at Brasserie by LM!) upon completing her degree in civil engineering.
    After a few months she headed south to Key West where she lived until moving back to Chicago in March of 2020. During her time in Florida Angela was an Accounting Manager for Highgate, a hospitality company that manages resorts and restaurants across the country.
    When she’s not working Angela can be found traveling and spending time with friends and family.