Luke Holden, President

Luke was born and raised in Cape Elizabeth, a small town on the coast of Maine. He spent his sunny summers lobstering in his hand-made skiff, and his frigid winters playing ice hockey in Casco Bay. Luke left home to study finance and management at Georgetown University, but remained a Mainer at heart. Luke's Lobster was borne of Luke's undying passion for all things Maine and the business savvy he accrued as an investment banker.

Jeff Holden, Co-Owner

Jeff started his career as a lobsterman in Portland wearing his orange rubber overalls. Now he owns a seafood processing company in Maine and spends more time these days wearing a hair net and lab coat. Jeff singlehandedly hauled an old steel boiler out of the restaurant's basement that his collegiate athlete sons Luke and Bryan couldn't lift together. His other favorite pastimes include grooming his mustache.

Ben Conniff, Vice President

Ben Conniff graduated from Yale University in 2007 with a major in tailgate grilling and a minor in obscure Brazilian history. Since then he’s cooked, devoured, and written professionally about his greatest love: seafood. Ben joined Luke and Jeff in August '09 to get the business off the ground. Outside of work, Ben brews his own beer, attempts small carpentry, and is a very amateur Photoshop artist.

Bryan Holden, Managing Partner

Having grown up in Cape Elizabeth and attending Bowdoin College, Bryan is the epitome of all things Maine. After stints in banking and consulting, Bryan decided to join the family business. Known as the Doze, Bryan is the ultimate Renaissance man: All-American lacrosse player, lover of theatre and art, deft carpenter and flexible yogi. It was once rumored that he grew the best moustache on the East Coast, an allegation he will neither confirm nor deny. But perhaps Bryan's most admirable characteristic is his uncanny ability to bring his unique sense of humor to any situation. (by Scott)

Scott Bullard, Managing Partner

Scott is known around the restaurant as “HT Fox,” as early reviews on Twitter noted that he is both “foxy” and “a heartthrob.” Back off ladies! The Fox is married to a beautiful woman named Susannah whom he sees almost weekly. Like Luke, Scott moved to the city from afar (in his case outside Chicago) to take a job in finance. When the Luke’s UES location opened in his backyard, he knew it was time to get an honest job. Scott spends most of his time icing other employees and draining venti lemonade iced teas from Starbucks, but he occasionally does some work, too. (by Ben)

Evi Englert, Head of Human Resources

Evi grew up in Saratoga Springs, NY. She spent many summers as the ultimate camp counselor and according to her Facebook pictures has ridden a kayak off a mountain. Evi loves everyone and everything, but nothing can equal her passion for animals. As a result, she has a strictly no-meat diet. But she happily devours any unlucky thing that lives underwater. The other half of “Evily,” she joined Emily at Hunter College to take pre-med classes after graduating from Mount Holyoke with degrees in philosophy and Spanish. (by Haleigh)

Nina Beinart, Controller

Nina has always been a controller. As a young child she controlled the playground, ensuring swing, slide and jungle gym safety. As a student at Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration, she controlled rowdy Andy Bernard-esque frat brothers. Professionally, she has controlled the front desk at a swanky Ithaca hotel, and she now controls the books and antics of Luke’s Lobster management. In her free time, she tends to get up to her own antics, but they are (almost) always controlled. (by Bryan)

Lauren Drell, Social Media & Web Manager

As punmaster, social media guru and webmistress of Luke’s Lobster, Lauren does a little bit of everything. She's a grad of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, who "sunlights" as an assistant editor at Mashable. When not writing or tweeting, Lauren enjoys learning useless trivia, beating Luke at Texas Hold’em, and consuming schooners with astonishing speed. (by Luke)

Garret Currier, Director of Operations -- Mid-Atlantic

Maine native, Colby alum, tortured Cleveland sports fan and owner of quite possibly the world’s largest collection of L.L. Bean short sleeve plaid shirts, Garret came to us as a wayward volunteer from South Africa. However, the true origins of the marriage between Luke's and Garret unfolded many years before, on the ice rinks of Maine where he won multiple hockey state championships alongside the Holden boys. Customers can come to expect similar chemistry in the kitchen of Luke's DC. Pass. Shoot. Score. (By Bryan)

Lauren Gibson, Director of Catering

When she’s not trying to conceal her love of mayonnaise from the rest of the Luke’s crew, Lauren excels at catching striped bass, compiling complex recipes for her blog, ToastSoldier, and searching for the perfect slice of pizza. A native Upper East Sider and recent Penn grad, Lauren’s favorite movie is Flicka and is unabashedly in love with horses and the country (perhaps because of her concrete jungle upbringing). Don’t let Lauren’s initial shyness fool you; her lack of filter has quickly earned her the title of Luke’s sassiest team member. When Lauren can withstand her frequent blueberry muffin and ice cream cravings, she works with the rest of management at effortlessly brainstorming, planning and executing special events and projects for Luke’s. (by Hilary)

Grace Needleman, Marketing and Events Coordinator (DC)

Grace might be the only true Mainer with a southern accent. Her happiest days were working at a summer camp in Maine, so she spends most of her time trying to convert Luke's into Lobster Camp. Grace also enjoys the L.L. Bean Signature collection. You may recognize her from the ESPN coverage of her asking Theo Epstein, former GM of the Red Sox, to prom. With high school classmates like Luke, Bryan and Garret, it's no wonder she had to venture out of Cape Elizabeth to pick a date! Although he publicly declined her invitation, she still didn't ask Luke, Bryan or Garret to prom. (by Lilly)

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