Upon graduation from Cornell in 1987, Plotkin joined Hilton Hotels Corporation as Director of Purchasing at the Hilton Miami Airport Hotel. In 1989, he connected with Harvey Hotels Corporation in Dallas, Texas, as Corporate Food Buyer, and was promoted in 1991 to Senior Buyer. While at Harvey, he handled all aspects of food purchasing as well as auditing, supplier bid-outs and control procedures.
Plotkin founded L.P.Enterprises, Inc. in 1994 as a buying cooperative and independent consulting firm with headquarters in Dallas. Between 1996-99, Plotkin also served as Purchasing Manager for La Madeleine Bakeries & Cafés and forayed into retail as Corporate Director of Purchasing for FootAction USA from 1999-2001. In 1999, Plotkin received his Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) designation from the Institute of Supply Management.
Plotkin continues to bring his innovative hospitality purchasing strategies directly to cost-conscious clientele throughout the United States. L.P.Enterprises specializes in two key service areas: providing out-sourced hospitality purchasing management expertise and handling specific consulting projects—such as audits, contract negotiation, supplier bid-outs and vendor account management. The firm continues to grow as more start-ups recognize the value of outsourcing purchasing functions; and independents as well as chains understand how a separate set of expert eyes can reveal opportunities for cost savings.
"Unless it’s a win-win, somebody’s at a loss—and the only loss I like is the loss of excess cost," Plotkin has been known to remark. He is a long-time member of the Institute of Supply Management (formerly National Association of Purchasing Management) and volunteers as a "Big Pal" with Jewish Family Services. When not achieving client cost savings, Plotkin might be found bicycling around the metroplex, testing the best beef grilling methodology or analyzing pinot noirs with family and friends at his home in Dallas.
