Home » Bartending News » USBG Member Spotlight: Robert Martinez, Los Angeles, CA
“As President of USBG SoCal and a 14 year veteran of the Hospitality Industry Robert believes it is his mission in life to educate, uplift, protect, and lead the hospitality community. An LA Native, Robert loves to celebrate Los Angeles’ diversity through its food and drinking culture. He believes bars and restaurants use food and drinks as a vehicle to create connections with people and build communities. He’s created these connections while bartending at neighborhood bars like Cole’s French Dip, and as Beverage Director for acclaimed Michelin Star Chef, Curtis Stone, at Gwen.
A University of California Davis graduate with a degree in Political Science, he married his love of public service and hospitality by becoming involved in local government. He is the current President of the United States Bartenders’ Guild for Los Angeles, Serves on the US Bartenders’ Guild National Council of Chapters, and is seeking re-election to the DTLA Neighborhood Council.
He stands up for people who have historically been discriminated against and is a voice for the working class community. This includes events and initiatives to raise money or advocate for the following: The LGBTQ community, emergency grants for bartenders, women in leadership, addiction resources, homeless resources, a sustainable future, safety in the historic core, cleaner streets, labor rights, S.A. & S.H. protections, D.E.I., Health/Wellness/Physical fitness, free standardized education for hospitality professionals, coalition building across hospitality facing organizations, and clear/transparent paths to promotion in the hospitality community.
Its a lot to take on, but Robert strives to create the kind of Hospitality Community he would have liked to experience when he was first a barback and tries to create that for the barbacks joining us today”
@cocktailsandotherlies and @usbgsocal