Ruth's Chris Steak House and Marie Claire Celebrate Female Entrepreneurs

ORLANDO, Fla., May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In 1965, a single, working mother named Ruth Fertel mortgaged her home to buy a neighborhood steak house, which today is the largest fine dining restaurant group in the United States. In honor of founder and female entrepreneur, Ruth Fertel, Ruth's Chris Steak House and Marie Claire magazine today announce the Women in Business speaker series.

Running May through October 2012, the Women in Business speaker series consists of 12 networking and speaking engagements in eight select cities nationwide. Each engagement will be hosted at a Ruth's Chris Steak House and feature signature sizzling menu items as well as Veuve Clicquot Champagne.

The premiere Women in Business speaker event will occur in New York on Monday, May 7, during which Joanna Coles, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief, will host a live Q&A with Alexa von Tobel, founder and CEO of LearnVest.

"Ruth Fertel broke the mold and built the steak house category we know today," stated Cheryl Henry, Senior Vice President & Chief Branding Officer of Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc., and a working mother herself. "This series celebrates Ruth while providing women in business a networking opportunity and a chance to share in their entrepreneurial spirit. In Ruth's words, 'Do what you love and love what you do.'"

"The Women in Business speaker series provides Marie Claire and Ruth's Chris Steak House the opportunity to connect with the modern-day career woman in a unique way," said Nancy Cardone, VP, publisher & chief revenue officer of Marie Claire. "We are bringing together a community of like-minded women who want to share their experiences and learn from their strong, professional counterparts."

Below is a list of confirmed events; additional details will be released at a later date.

• New York (5/7) – Alexa von Tobel (LearnVest) & Joanna Coles (Marie Claire)
• Pasadena, Calif. (5/24) – Jenny Fleiss (Rent the Runway)
• San Francisco (6/11) – Jenn Hyman (Rent the Runway)
• Winter Park (6/14) – Alexis Maybank (Gilt Groupe)
• Chicago (9/19) – Jenny Hyman & Jenny Fleiss (Rent the Runway)
• San Francisco (10/15) – Leslie Blodgett (Bare Escentuals)
• Pasadena, Calif. (10/16) – Jeanine Lobell (Stila)

For more information on the Women in Business speaker series, please visit: www.ruthschris.com/women or follow us on Twitter at #ruthschriswomen.

About Ruth's Chris Steak House

Ruth's Chris Steak House is the largest upscale steak house company in the world, with over 130 restaurant locations around the globe. Founded in New Orleans by Ruth Fertel in 1965, Ruth's Chris specializes in USDA Prime grade steaks served in Ruth's Chris signature fashion ... "sizzling." 

About Ruth's Hospitality Group

Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RUTH) is a leading restaurant company focused on the upscale dining segment. The Company owns the Ruth's Chris Steak House, Mitchell's Fish Market, Mitchell's Steakhouse and Cameron's Steak house concepts. With more than 150 company- and franchisee-owned locations worldwide, Ruth's Hospitality Group was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Winter Park, Florida.

About Marie Claire

Marie Claire (www.marieclaire.com) is the fashion magazine with character, substance, and depth, for women with a point of view, an opinion, and a sense of humor. Each issue is edited for a sexy, stylish, confident woman who is never afraid to make intelligence a part of her wardrobe.  A culturally relevant experience, Marie Claire is published in 35 countries and is read by more than 15 million worldwide. The magazine was founded in 1937 by French industrialist Jean Prouvost, whose goal was to present the realities of life mixed with fashion and beauty coverage. The American edition is published by Hearst Magazines, one of the nation's largest diversified communications companies. With its acquisition of Lagardere SCA's 100 titles in 14 countries outside of France, Hearst Magazines now publishes more than 300 editions around the world, including 20 U.S. titles. Hearst Magazines is a leading publisher of monthly magazines in the U.S. in terms of total circulation and reaches 87 million adults (Spring 2011 MRI). Follow Marie Claire on Twitter at @marieclaire.

SOURCE Ruth's Chris Steak House