
our team
ready to make a difference
Our dining team promises to educate and inspire every guest that comes to our table with a true, mindful, and rooted approach to food. Read about our leadership team below, and say hello when you see us around campus!

Laura Thompson
District Manager
Laura is originally from Pittsburgh, PA, and has been with Elon Dining for a total of nine years. She has a B.S. in Nutrition from Penn State University, and her favorite pastimes are sitting at the beach with her family, hearing her kids laugh, reading a good book and enjoying the sound of the ocean!

Tisha Davidson
Director of Operations
Tisha is a Elon University alumni, and she worked for Elon Dining from 2001 to 2003 as a Location Manager and 2010 to 2013 as the Catering Director. Elon has held a special place in her heart since her first campus visit when she was 16. When not at work Tisha enjoys spending time with her family - from the horse barn to the baseball field and everywhere in between!

Walter Ellerbe
Hospitality Services Director
Walter is a down-to-earth former celebrity chef, corporate chef, culinary instructor, and restaurant owner with 30 years in the business. He is a proud graduate of Johnson and Wales University and the School of Life. In his free time, Walter loves spending time with his family, grilling out, cooking, golfing, and listening to music.

Jonathan Burns
Director of Culinary Development
Jonathan, 19 years a chef, hails from the BBQ capital of Lexington, NC; so his extensive 15 years’ experience with NC BBQ should come as no surprise. When he's home, Jonathan enjoys being outside and showing off his vast sneaker collection (especially the Jordans).

Brandon Rudisill
Executive Chef
Brandon hails from a small town, Lincolnton, NC just outside Charlotte. Growing up in the hospitality field he worked during High School at the local BBQ restaurant and developed a passion around the culinary arts. He furthered his passion by living in Texas, Arizona and Utah for 7 years honing skills around Latin flavors and Southwestern cuisine, slowly making his way back east. In his down time, he enjoys spending time cooking with his wife and daughters along with outside activities with his rambunctious German Shepherd.

Audrey Zelaya
Guest Experience Manager
Audrey grew up in Lexington, NC and attended UNC Greensboro where she received her Bachelors in Recreational Therapy. Audrey has worked with Harvest Table for the last five years, wearing many hats, she feels passionate about learning and sharing the story of our team and community. In her free time, Audrey enjoys trying new local restaurants, traveling and spending time with her family.

Chrissy Lane
Controller
Chrissy is originally from Pittsburgh, PA and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Wheeling Jesuit University. She has been in food & retail merchandise industry with Aramark & the Pittsburgh Penguins for the past 17 seasons. In her free time, she loves spending time with friends and family, hiking, or reading a good book.

Seressa Carter
Director of Associate Support
Originally from New Jersey, Seressa has lived in NC for the past 11 years. Graduated with a degree in Human Resources Management and Business Administration. She loves spending time with her family, baking, and enjoying trips to the beach in her free time.

Myles Hamilton
Chef de Cuisine | McEwen
Myles is originally from Norwalk, CT and attended Johnson and Wales University where he received his Bachelors in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management. He enjoys cooking and coming up with new healthy and creative plant based recipes.

Patrick Sawyer
Chef De Cuisine | McEwen
Patrick is from North Carolina and attended Johnson and Wales Culinary School. He's been cooking for 10 years and has worked in James Beard and Michelin kitchens from Charleston to DC. In his free time he's either working on his car, drinking way too much coffee, or trying to get to the beach. He enjoys church and loves spending time with his friends and family.

Danielle Patterson
Chef de Cuisine | Lakeside
Danielle became a chef while working under the direction of The Colonel, and has been cheffing ever since. She loves cooking for family, especially her mom, sister, and daughter.

Ric Gutierrez
Hospitality Service Manager
Ric Gutierrez has been a leader in the food and entertainment industry in the Triad for over 30 years. He is a former Owner, Executive Producer, and GM of the oldest operating dinner theatre in the US; producing hundreds of plays and concerts while serving the best of Southern cuisine. He enjoys traveling with his wife and time with his family.

Tyler Kunselman
Hospitality Services Manager
Tyler grew up on a small family farm raising cows. The ethics of the farm life have taught him to provide the best of the best, here at Elon they’re striving for the same goals- from the local partnerships to the commitments of the dining team here. He has been a part of Elon going on five years. Being able to be part of helping the local farmers is one of the main reasons he enjoys working here!

Kaylie Littlejohn
CATERING DIRECTOR
Kaylie is from Burlington, North Carolina and has strong ties to the area. The farthest she has ever travelled from her home is Maryland, but her heart always brings her back to Elon. She has worked at Elon University since 2019. She loves going to the beach and spending time with her dog Remi, short for Rimshot, who is named after the dog in "Ernest Goes to Jail."

Lori Myers
Hospitality Services Manager
Born & raised in Greensboro NC. Ever since her first job as an ice cream scooper 22 years ago; Lori has been passionate about the food service industry. She enjoys providing smiles through amazing food and service.

Madelyn Ring
Health and Wellness Manager
Maddie is from High Point, NC. She has a Bachelor’s in Nutrition and Dietetics from Appalachian State University and completed her dietetic internship at Meredith College. She has worked in the food service industry for 8 years. In her free time, she enjoys visiting the mountains to snowboard, listening to podcasts, and helping her brother on his farm.

Gus Bruker
Hospitality Services Manager
Gus is from Augusta, GA where he attended Augusta University and received a B.S. in Marketing with a minor in Hospitality Administration. He worked as a retail manager at the University of South Carolina before coming to Elon. Gus enjoys playing disc golf and exploring the triad area.

Orin Ealey
Hospitality Services Manager
Orin Ealey is from Whitsett North Carolina. He currently oversees 3 of our retail locations. He previously worked for other national brands where his love for food service continued to grow. Orin loves baking his signature dish; his sweet potato pies, listening to music, and being with family. Orin also is a proud Veteran of the United States Marine Corp. He goes by the quote "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm".

Arianna Riddle
Catering Manager
Arianna, a native Californian, has been a part of the Elon family since 2010. During her time here, she has held positions in various departments across the campus. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and currently works on a fantasy novel in her spare time. In addition to her work, Arianna values time spent with her friends and family.

York Wilkinson
Catering Manager
Born and raised in Mebane, NC York started with Elon Dining in 2017. York has worked in the food and beverage industry for over 10 years. As a catering manager he enjoys being given the opportunity to interact with Elon’s community members every day. In his free time York loves going to the lake with his family and having pizza night at his grandma's!

Leslie Bosse
Sustainability Coordinator
Leslie is from Huntersville, North Carolina and a graduate of High Point University. She is passionate about sustainable living and is especially interested in the way that our food contributes to an eco-friendly lifestyle. In her free time, she enjoys spending time on the lake, playing games with friends and family, and reading a good detective fiction novel.

Elliot Egerton
Digital Specialist
Elliot is originally from Durham, North Carolina. He has nine years in the graphic design field; highlights include a stint of freelance web design, a year and change managing a local sign shop, and a little over four years designing for a national grocery retailer. Likes to think he knows a little bit about everything. You’ll find him kicking back on his screen porch with a cup of strong coffee most evenings, no matter the weather.