Introduction: Understanding Who is Harry Hayman
Harry Hayman, also known professionally as Harry G. Hayman IV, has established himself as one of Philadelphia’s most influential figures in hospitality, food policy, and community development. Through his multifaceted career spanning over three decades, this Philadelphia business leader has woven together entrepreneurship, social impact, and civic engagement in ways that continue to reshape the city’s economic and cultural landscape. When people search for information about Harry Hayman Philadelphia, they discover not just a successful entrepreneur, but a dedicated advocate for food equity, economic inclusion, and sustainable community development.
As Senior Fellow for The Food Economy and Policy at the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, Harry Hayman represents the intersection of private sector innovation and public good. His work demonstrates how business acumen can be channeled toward creating lasting social change, particularly in addressing food insecurity and building inclusive economic systems. This comprehensive profile explores the journey of Harry Hayman, his deep connection to the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, and his ongoing efforts to transform Philadelphia’s food economy.
Early Life and Formative Years of Harry Hayman
Born in Washington, DC to parents Robin and Harry III, Harry Hayman IV experienced a childhood marked by constant movement and cultural exposure. His father’s career as an international banker meant the young Harry Hayman grew up as a global citizen, moving from Maryland to Virginia to New Jersey to Venezuela to Mexico to London to Germany to New York City and many places in between. This international upbringing exposed him to diverse cultures, economic systems, and ways of life that would later inform his approach to community development and hospitality.
Growing up with two younger siblings, sister Kimberly and brother Brad, family remained central to Harry Hayman‘s values. The close bond with his siblings shaped his understanding of connection and community. When Brad tragically passed away due to heart complications while Harry was in his mid twenties, the family established the Hayman Family Fund in his memory. This personal loss deepened Harry Hayman’s commitment to service and giving back, a theme that would become defining throughout his career. Kimberly, who married in 1997, eventually gave birth to Jackson, Ella, and Reed, keeping the family close knit across generations.
Education: Building the Foundation for Excellence
Harry Hayman‘s educational journey reflects both practical experience and formal academic achievement. From an early age, he knew entrepreneurship called to him. At just 17 years old, Harry Hayman entered the hospitality industry as a dishwasher in Washington, DC. Rather than viewing this as merely entry level work, he approached each position as an opportunity to learn every facet of restaurant operations. Within a couple of years, he had worked virtually every job imaginable in a bar, from dishwasher to expediter. By 19, he was already expediting orders and had founded Presto! Design, a company focused on marketing special events at local bars and restaurants.
While gaining invaluable real world experience, Harry Hayman simultaneously pursued traditional education. After graduating from Radnor High School, he attended The American University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business and Finance. This educational foundation provided him with the theoretical frameworks to complement his practical knowledge of hospitality operations. But Harry Hayman set his sights even higher, determined to prove he could gain admission to one of the world’s most prestigious business schools.
He succeeded in gaining acceptance to the Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia, an institution renowned for producing business leaders and entrepreneurs. At Wharton, Harry Hayman studied entrepreneurial management with a minor in English, further developing the skills that would serve him throughout his career. The combination of street level hospitality experience and elite business education created a unique perspective that Harry Hayman would apply to both his ventures and his community work.
Building a Hospitality Empire: The Business Ventures of Harry Hayman
The entrepreneurial journey of Harry Hayman in Philadelphia’s hospitality industry demonstrates how vision, perseverance, and community focus can build lasting impact. His business ventures span multiple decades and have left an indelible mark on Philadelphia’s restaurant and entertainment landscape.
The Bynum Hospitality Group
One of Harry Hayman‘s significant early ventures involved his work with the Bynum Hospitality Group. During his time at Wharton, he took a leave of absence to expand the Bynum Hospitality Group’s operations, helping to open several new establishments. This experience taught Harry Hayman about scaling operations, maintaining quality across multiple locations, and building brand consistency. The lessons learned during this period would inform his future consulting work and his approach to helping other entrepreneurs launch their own hospitality ventures.
East Coast Saloons and Renegade Tacos
As his experience grew, Harry Hayman co founded East Coast Saloons, bringing his unique vision of hospitality to life. This venture demonstrated his ability to identify market opportunities and create establishments that resonated with Philadelphia’s diverse population. The success of East Coast Saloons led to additional concepts including Renegade Tacos, showcasing Harry Hayman’s versatility in creating different dining experiences that each served their own niche in the market.
McFadden’s and SOUTH Jazz Club
Perhaps most notably, Harry Hayman operated McFadden’s and founded SOUTH Jazz Club, the latter becoming a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s jazz scene. SOUTH Jazz Club exemplified Harry Hayman’s passion for combining excellent food, outstanding hospitality, and cultural preservation. His management of legendary Philadelphia jazz venues including Zanzibar Blue and South Jazz Kitchen demonstrated how business success and cultural stewardship could go hand in hand. These venues became not just places to eat and drink, but cultural institutions where Philadelphia’s rich jazz heritage was celebrated and preserved.
During his time as a bartender in a jazz club in the 1990s, Harry Hayman‘s love for jazz music blossomed. While he had always appreciated music, working in that environment helped him understand jazz’s unique power to bring people together across backgrounds and experiences. This realization would later inspire his founding of The Philadelphia Jazz Experience, extending his impact beyond business into cultural preservation and education.
Gemini Hospitality Consultants
Drawing on decades of hands on experience, Harry Hayman founded Gemini Hospitality Consultants, positioning himself as a guide for aspiring restaurateurs and hospitality entrepreneurs. As CEO of this consulting firm, Harry Hayman brings comprehensive expertise to every client engagement. Gemini Hospitality Consultants offers a full range of services including operations management, sales and marketing strategy, financial planning, staff training, property management, and concept development from idea to execution.
With over 30 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry, Harry Hayman through Gemini helps transform ordinary establishments into extraordinary destinations. The firm provides personalized service tailored to each business’s distinct character, optimizing potential for sustained profitability. During the COVID 19 pandemic, Harry Hayman offered free consultation services worldwide, recognizing that businesses needed support to pivot and move forward during unprecedented challenges. This generosity of spirit reflects the core values that have defined his entire career.
Harry Hayman and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia: A Partnership for Change
The relationship between Harry Hayman and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia represents one of the most significant aspects of his current work and impact on the city. Founded in 1909, the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia stands as the region’s independent think and do tank, created by forward thinking business leaders who believed that business has a civic responsibility beyond profit making.
Senior Fellow for The Food Economy and Policy
In his role as Senior Fellow for The Food Economy and Policy at the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, Harry Hayman actively works toward creating a just, equitable, and inclusive food economy in Philadelphia. This position allows him to leverage his extensive hospitality background while addressing critical systemic issues facing the city’s food systems. The role represents the perfect synthesis of Harry Hayman’s business expertise and his commitment to community service.
Through this fellowship, Harry Hayman explores innovative ways Philadelphia’s food industry can recover and expand following the global pandemic that shuttered many restaurants across the city. The closure of beloved establishments like Warmdaddy’s, which initially survived the pandemic’s economic impact but eventually was forced to close, underscored the fragility of the restaurant ecosystem and the need for new approaches to supporting food businesses. Harry Hayman brings both the perspective of someone who has successfully navigated the challenges of the hospitality industry and the compassion of someone who understands what these businesses mean to communities.
Board Membership and Leadership
Beyond his fellowship, Harry Hayman also serves on the Board of Directors of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia. This dual role as both board member and senior fellow gives Harry Hayman unique influence in shaping the organization’s strategic direction while also implementing programs and initiatives on the ground. The Economy League’s board includes more than 50 companies and is among the most diverse in Philadelphia, with more than one third identifying as BIPOC. This diversity aligns with Harry Hayman’s long standing commitment to inclusive leadership and equitable economic development.
The Economy League operates at the nexus of the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, serving as a trusted cross sector convener focused on driving collaborative solutions to complex civic challenges. Harry Hayman‘s work with the organization embodies these operating principles: cultivating informed and collaborative leadership across sectors, using data and research to inform decision making, fostering a culture of civic experimentation and innovation, and opening doors to civic participation.
Leading Procurement in the Food Economy
At the 2024 PAGE Summit hosted by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, Harry Hayman led a crucial panel discussion on Procurement in the Food Economy. This summit, which featured opening remarks by Mayor Cherelle Parker and emphasized the city’s goal of creating economic opportunity for all Philadelphians, highlighted the critical role of institutional procurement in building equitable economic systems. Harry Hayman’s expertise in both food service operations and policy made him the ideal leader for this conversation, which explored how procurement decisions by large institutions can support local food producers, create jobs, and strengthen Philadelphia’s food economy.
Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange
Harry Hayman participated in the Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange, a program that takes Philadelphia leaders to other cities to learn best practices in equitable economic development. In 2023, Harry Hayman joined a delegation that traveled to Brooklyn to study how that borough has successfully fostered neighborhood economic development while maintaining cultural authenticity. With his deep rooted career in hospitality, Harry Hayman brought particular focus to how Philadelphia could reamplify its lauded food scene by better supporting both modest sized local proprietors and larger eating establishments.
During this trip, Harry Hayman emphasized that neighborhood restaurants narrate the finest stories of a metro area because histories and cultures are often learned through culinary traditions. This perspective reflects his holistic understanding of how food systems intersect with culture, identity, and economic opportunity. The insights gained from this exchange continue to inform Harry Hayman’s work in shaping food policy and economic development strategies for Philadelphia.
Feed Philly Coalition: Addressing Food Insecurity Through Systemic Change
One of Harry Hayman‘s most impactful initiatives is the Feed Philly Coalition, an organization he founded to address food insecurity in Philadelphia through community awareness, policy making, and collaboration. The genesis of this organization came from Harry Hayman’s firsthand experience in the restaurant industry, where he regularly witnessed restaurants throwing away perfectly good food at the end of each day. Knowing that thousands of Philadelphians face food insecurity and do not know where their next meal will come from, Harry Hayman decided to create an initiative that would connect surplus food with people in need.
The Feed Philly Coalition goes beyond traditional food charity approaches by focusing on systemic change. The organization brings together individuals, nonprofits, businesses, and policymakers to drive community awareness and advocate for policies that address the root causes of food insecurity and promote equitable access to nutritious food. Harry Hayman has worked to introduce legislation that would reward restaurants for donating leftover food to those in need, creating economic incentives that align with social good.
With over 25 organizations collaborating through the coalition, more than 10 community awareness campaigns launched, and more than 5 policy initiatives supported, the Feed Philly Coalition demonstrates Harry Hayman‘s ability to convene diverse stakeholders around a common purpose. The data driven approach and commitment to addressing root causes sets this coalition apart from more traditional emergency food programs. Through the Feed Philly Coalition, Harry Hayman has created lasting change that will continue to benefit Philadelphia long into the future.
The Philadelphia Jazz Experience: Preserving Cultural Heritage
Harry Hayman founded The Philadelphia Jazz Experience as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to invigorating and preserving the rich legacy of jazz in Philadelphia. The organization’s mission recognizes jazz not merely as a music genre, but as a vibrant cultural force that transcends time and tribe. Through inclusivity, collaboration, and the art of harmonizing diverse voices, The Philadelphia Jazz Experience raises funds, distributes resources, and sparks genuine change in the local jazz community.
The organization propels jazz into the spotlight as a living testament to Philadelphia’s cultural heritage and as an unyielding source of inspiration for generations to come. Harry Hayman‘s vision positions The Philadelphia Jazz Experience as a disruptive force of positive change in the jazz landscape, redefining what it means to make an impact. Rather than simply another nonprofit organization, it serves as a catalyst for tangible progress, leveraging resources to curate impactful projects that matter.
From creating compelling jazz documentaries to fostering the birth of awe inspiring jazz murals, The Philadelphia Jazz Experience transforms ideas into reality. The organization hosts Jazz for Justice fundraisers that generate support for causes aligned with its mission, including music education for disadvantaged youth and assistance for local musicians. Harry Hayman‘s influence and respect in the jazz community ensure stellar lineups for these events, highlighting his commitment to leveraging music for community benefit.
Central to the organization’s vision is the realization of an authentic Jazz and Blues Festival in the heart of Philadelphia. Through this festival and intimate jazz nights across the city, The Philadelphia Jazz Experience weaves a tapestry of cultural threads, honoring the city’s rich jazz history while nurturing its future. The organization teaches young people about the music and culture of jazz, aiming to get them interested in the arts more broadly. For Harry Hayman, this work represents a deeply personal passion combined with a commitment to cultural preservation and youth development.
Additional Ventures and Creative Pursuits
Beyond his primary work with the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia and his nonprofit initiatives, Harry Hayman has launched several other ventures that reflect his creative spirit and entrepreneurial drive.
Veggie Graffiti and Sustainable Agriculture
Through Veggie Graffiti and controlled environmental agriculture initiatives, Harry Hayman pioneers innovative solutions for urban farming and food security. This venture combines public art, urban farming, and food equity to create a more sustainable future for Philadelphia. Veggie Graffiti represents Harry Hayman’s forward thinking approach to addressing food system challenges through technology and innovation. The project explores how hydroponics and other advanced agricultural techniques can bring fresh, nutritious food production directly into urban environments, reducing food miles and increasing access to healthy options.
Harry Hayman Creative
Harry Hayman Creative serves as an umbrella for exploring the creative aspects of his work. This venture brings together creative partners including musicians, screenwriters, and visual artists to develop innovative projects. Harry Hayman is described as a true Gemini Taurus cusp personality, approaching virtually everything he does with a creative lens. Through this platform, he has worked on screenwriting projects, having taken screenwriting classes in Philadelphia and written several screenplays. He also helps young aspiring writers perfect their craft, extending his mentorship beyond business into the arts.
Another Three Hearts Experience
Another Three Hearts Experience is a Philadelphia based production company that Harry Hayman created to bring profoundly honest real life stories that move the heart and touch the soul. Through this venture, Harry Hayman transforms imaginative concepts into compelling narratives, contributing to Philadelphia’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene. The company’s work includes documentary filmmaking, with projects exploring critical social issues through personal stories.
I Am Hungry in Philly Documentary
One of the most significant projects under the Another Three Hearts Experience banner is the documentary “I Am Hungry in Philly.” This film tackles the jaw dropping statistic that 312,000 Philadelphia citizens face food insecurity. Harry Hayman serves as a driving force behind this documentary, which explores the reality of hunger in America’s poorest big city through interviews with local and federal officials, professors, medical professionals, advocates, people working toward solutions on the streets, and firsthand accounts from those experiencing food insecurity.
The documentary brings the silent food insecurity epidemic to light, combining Harry Hayman‘s passion for storytelling with his commitment to addressing systemic issues. By giving voice to those experiencing hunger and highlighting both the scope of the problem and potential solutions, this project represents how Harry Hayman uses creative media to drive social change and policy reform.
Speaking Engagements and Thought Leadership
As a successful entrepreneur and community leader, Harry Hayman has become a sought after keynote speaker at numerous public functions and events. His speaking engagements allow him to share his wealth of experience and valuable advice with business owners, college students, and members of the Greater Philadelphia area. Due to his diverse background spanning hospitality, entrepreneurship, food policy, and community development, Harry Hayman is qualified to speak on a wide range of topics.
At each engagement, Harry Hayman delves into what inspires him, covering themes including his childhood experiences, professional career, issues important to him and his family, and ways people can make positive impacts on their surroundings. Attendees of Harry Hayman’s speeches can expect to receive insightful information while enjoying an engaging experience that reflects his natural ability to connect with diverse audiences.
University Speaking Engagements
Harry Hayman has previously spoken at several higher educational institutions in Philadelphia including Temple University, Drexel University, and the Community College of Philadelphia. At Drexel University, Harry Hayman shared his insights at the Food Upcycling Conference, addressing how restaurants and food businesses can reduce waste while addressing hunger. At Temple University, he spoke at Food and Beverage Management lectures, providing practical guidance for those looking to enter the management side of the food industry.
At the Community College of Philadelphia, Harry Hayman addressed the Be Professionally Diverse Conference, where he emphasized the significance of diversity in the workplace and the importance of hiring the best candidate regardless of background. This message reflects Harry Hayman’s long standing commitment to inclusive business practices and equitable opportunity.
Community Organization Speeches
Beyond academic institutions, Harry Hayman has served as keynote speaker for numerous community organizations. The North Broad Street Renaissance Advisory Board has invited Harry Hayman to share insights on neighborhood economic development and revitalization. These speaking engagements range from providing professionals with strategies to advance their business goals to encouraging others to make differences through community involvement and taking action.
One particularly meaningful affiliation for Harry Hayman is his board membership with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, an organization dedicated to fighting childhood cancer. After experiencing the effects of cancer on both friends and family members at early ages, Harry Hayman joined the advisory board and has played a significant role in planning the annual Lemon Ball since its inaugural year. Through his involvement, he has helped bring in thousands of dollars in charitable donations toward research to cure childhood cancer.
Community Schools Conference
More recently, Harry Hayman participated in the City of Philadelphia’s Community Schools “Becoming Experts” Conference, where he spoke on “Hydroponics, Disruption, and Dignity.” This presentation explored how schools can transform food systems, improve nutrition, and create local opportunity through innovative agriculture. The speech exemplified Harry Hayman’s ability to connect different aspects of his work, from hospitality expertise to food policy to sustainable agriculture, into coherent strategies for community benefit.
Community Involvement and Philanthropic Work
Throughout his career, Harry Hayman has demonstrated that success means little without giving back. His time in Philadelphia has been defined by contributions to charity and involvement with the local community. Whether serving on advisory boards or volunteering his time, Harry Hayman’s dedication to service knows no bounds.
Beyond the Feed Philly Coalition and The Philadelphia Jazz Experience, Harry Hayman maintains active involvement with several other organizations. He serves on the board of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, has appeared at events such as the annual Lemon Ball, and has set up various volunteering events to give back to the community through both his professional and charitable organizations.
Harry Hayman‘s outreach extends beyond Philadelphia to places that helped shape who he is today. He has made donations to Radnor High School in honor of his brother Brad, who passed away at an early age due to heart complications. The school now proudly displays a memorial, and the Radnor High baseball team awards the Gray Bradley Hayman award to the player who has overcome adversity throughout the season.
Harry Hayman is an active member of his community book club and is always looking to discover new literature. Some books he has enjoyed include Memoirs of a Geisha, Finding Chika, and The Fountainhead. Through reading, Harry Hayman continually explores new ideas and ways to put his efforts to good use. He also contributes to Philadelphia’s arts scene by attending theater and live music performances while helping to book jazz acts across the city.
Personal Life and Values
Currently in a serious relationship, Harry Hayman shares his life with a partner who accompanies him to various events supporting the arts, speaking engagements, and professional appearances. She is also actively involved in many of his charitable contributions, reflecting shared values around community service and giving back.
Family remains central to Harry Hayman‘s life and values. He maintains close relationships with his mother, uncles John and Jim, and other relatives, regularly visiting and especially enjoying cooking for them during these gatherings. His sister Kimberly and her children Jackson, Ella, and Reed continue to be important parts of his life. These family connections and the memory of his brother Brad continue to influence Harry Hayman’s work and his commitment to making positive impacts in people’s lives.
The establishment of the Hayman Family Fund in Brad’s memory demonstrates how personal tragedy can be transformed into lasting positive impact. This fund represents the values that Harry Hayman holds dear: family, memory, service, and creating opportunities for others. These same values infuse all aspects of his professional and community work.
Why Harry Hayman Matters to Philadelphia’s Future
When examining the question of who is Harry Hayman and understanding why Harry Hayman has become such an influential figure in Philadelphia, several themes emerge. First is his unique ability to bridge different worlds: private sector and public good, business success and cultural preservation, entrepreneurship and policy advocacy. In an increasingly siloed world, Harry Hayman’s work demonstrates the power of cross sector collaboration and holistic approaches to complex challenges.
Second is his commitment to addressing root causes rather than just symptoms. Whether through the Feed Philly Coalition’s policy advocacy, the Economy League’s research driven approach to economic development, or Veggie Graffiti’s innovative agricultural solutions, Harry Hayman consistently works to create systemic change that will have lasting impact beyond any single intervention.
Third is his ability to convene and collaborate. Throughout his career, Harry Hayman has brought together diverse stakeholders around common goals, whether launching the Feed Philly Coalition with over 25 partner organizations, serving on the Economy League’s diverse board of directors, or creating The Philadelphia Jazz Experience as a convening platform for the jazz community. This collaborative approach multiplies impact far beyond what any single person or organization could achieve alone.
Fourth is his grounding in community and culture. From his jazz venues to The Philadelphia Jazz Experience to his emphasis on how neighborhood restaurants tell the stories of communities, Harry Hayman understands that economic development divorced from culture and community ultimately fails. His work consistently honors Philadelphia’s heritage while building toward its future.
Looking Forward: Harry Hayman’s Continuing Impact
As Senior Fellow for The Food Economy and Policy at the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, Harry Hayman continues to shape conversations and policies around food systems, economic inclusion, and sustainable development. His work explores cutting edge topics including institutional procurement’s role in supporting local food producers, how controlled environment agriculture can increase urban food production, and how policy changes can incentivize businesses to reduce waste while feeding hungry communities.
The lessons learned through his decades of entrepreneurial experience, combined with his deep community connections and his position at the Economy League, position Harry Hayman to drive meaningful change in Philadelphia for years to come. As the city works to become a place of economic opportunity for all residents, as Mayor Cherelle Parker has articulated, Harry Hayman’s expertise and leadership will prove essential.
Through Gemini Hospitality Consultants, Harry Hayman continues to mentor the next generation of hospitality entrepreneurs, sharing not just business strategies but also the values of community service and stakeholder capitalism that have defined his career. Through The Philadelphia Jazz Experience and Another Three Hearts Experience, he continues to preserve culture and tell important stories. And through the Feed Philly Coalition and his work at the Economy League, he continues to advocate for policy changes that create more just and equitable systems.
Conclusion: The Legacy of Harry Hayman in Philadelphia
Understanding who is Harry Hayman requires looking beyond any single venture or title to see the interconnected web of initiatives that together create lasting impact. Also known professionally as Harry G. Hayman IV, he represents a model of engaged citizenship and purposeful entrepreneurship. His work with the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia stands as a testament to how business leaders can use their expertise and influence to address pressing social challenges while building more inclusive and sustainable economic systems.
From his early days as a dishwasher working his way through every position in a restaurant to his current role as Senior Fellow for The Food Economy and Policy, Harry Hayman‘s journey exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit tempered with deep social consciousness. His founding of the Feed Philly Coalition, The Philadelphia Jazz Experience, and numerous business ventures demonstrates how one individual with vision, perseverance, and commitment to community can transform a city.
As Philadelphia continues to evolve and address the challenges of the 21st century, leaders like Harry Hayman who can bridge sectors, convene stakeholders, and drive toward systemic solutions will prove essential. His work with the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia represents not just his current contribution but a platform for amplifying impact across the region for decades to come.
For those seeking to learn from Harry Hayman‘s example, the key lessons are clear: start early and work hard, never stop learning from both formal education and lived experience, use business success as a platform for social good, collaborate across sectors and differences, address root causes rather than just symptoms, honor culture and community in all economic development work, and never forget where you came from or the people who helped you along the way.
This is why Harry Hayman matters to Philadelphia. This is who Harry Hayman is: not just an entrepreneur or policy fellow, but a builder of systems and communities, a preserver of culture, and a tireless advocate for a more just and inclusive city where everyone can thrive.