CAREERS

AQUA by El Gaucho is a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. Individuals who are self-starters, committed to high standards, and delivering unparalleled service thrive on our team. Our company was built on seven key pillars that drive our company forward, which include: Individual Responsibility, Professionalism, Stewardship, Action-Oriented, Free Enterprise, Building a Strong Community, and Heritage of Hospitality. If you have a can-do attitude and heart for hospitality, we’d love to hear from you!

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OUR TEAM

Rena Lehn

General Manager
rlehn@elgaucho.com

Rena Lehn has been part of the El Gaucho team for more than 10 years, starting at El Gaucho Tacoma and later moving to the company flagship, El Gaucho Seattle, before joining the AQUA team in 2017.  Her dedication and leadership talents led to her new role as general manager.

Rena was born and raised in Montana and began working in the hospitality industry at 15 years old.  She began as a housekeeper in a hotel in Missoula and eventually moved to Seattle to gain new experiences and opportunities, and to create friendships in a new community.  She began at Marriott Hotels as a supervisor in the housekeeping department but knew her heart was in the restaurant side of the hospitality industry.  She began working in a few small family-owned restaurants before moving to Restaurants Unlimited for 8 years prior to joining the El Gaucho team.

In addition to her leadership role at AQUA, Rena also started a small business in 2012 making and selling handcrafted jewelry.  Rena is a creative crafter and gift-maker and she and her husband of 12 years enjoy travelling and spending time outdoors skiing and hiking and taking care of their two cats and 19-year-old chinchilla.

Maggie Trujillo

Culinary Director
mtrujillo@elgaucho.com

Maggie Trujillo grew up and spent most of her life far from the ocean, yet she says it is where she feels most at peace. As a competitive swimmer, she thrives near water, so the sweeping views of Elliott Bay make AQUA by El Gaucho the perfect spot for this rising star chef. Maggie earned her Culinary Arts degree from Le Cordon Bleu at the Western Culinary Institute in Portland, OR in 2004 and is a creative, committed leader. She worked for the Portland Hilton Hotel before moving to Ashland, OR and Lela’s, Chateaulin and Caldera Brewing Company. In 2014, she joined Larks Restaurant at the Inn at the Commons in Medford, OR. In 2018, Maggie became the opening executive chef for Aerlume and eventually became managing executive chef in 2020.  She also contributed to the new direction for the menu at AQUA by El Gaucho and became executive chef for the waterfront gem in May of 2021 and continues to support the Aerlume culinary team in an advisory role. In recognition of her outstanding use of fresh produce, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) honored Maggie with the top honor in the fine dining category of the national 2023 Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards.

CIGNA
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