Elaine Patel
About Elaine Patel
Elaine Patel serves as the Director of Local Store Marketing at FAT Brands Inc., where she has worked since 2020. She has a strong background in marketing, having previously held leadership roles at Macerich and the Women's March Foundation, and is also the founder of the nonprofit Career Sparks.
Current Role at FAT Brands
Elaine Patel serves as the Director of Local Store Marketing at FAT Brands Inc. since 2020. In this role, she introduced and created the Local Store Marketing department, which provides strategic resources to hundreds of franchisees. She is responsible for spearheading all new store openings within the Fast Casual division, which includes notable brands such as Fatburger, Buffalo’s Express, Elevation Burger, and Johnny Rockets. Additionally, she hosts weekly Local Store Marketing Office Hours, facilitating direct communication with franchisees for problem-solving and brainstorming.
Previous Experience at Women's March Foundation
Before her current position, Elaine Patel worked as the Executive Director at the Women's March Foundation from 2017 to 2020. During her tenure, she played a significant role in growing the Women's March movement to over 2 million participants, collaborating closely with the founder. Her leadership contributed to the movement's visibility and impact during this period.
Marketing Director at Macerich
Elaine Patel held the position of Marketing Director at Macerich from 2000 to 2003, where she worked in the Greater Los Angeles Area for three years. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing marketing strategies and initiatives that supported the company's objectives in a competitive retail environment.
Education and Expertise
Elaine Patel earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Loyola Marymount University, where she studied a double major in Marketing Management and Organizational Behavior from 2001 to 2003. Her educational background provides a strong foundation for her expertise in marketing and organizational dynamics, which she applies in her current and previous roles.
Founding Career Sparks Nonprofit
In response to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Elaine Patel founded Career Sparks, a nonprofit organization. This initiative has developed into a national Virtual Career Day, reaching schools in over 15 states. The program aims to provide career guidance and resources to students, adapting to the needs of education during the pandemic.