Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit 2024 | Networld Media Group | 24 March 2024 | InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, 401 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64112, USA

Many of the fastest growing and most successful chains in the restaurant industry are embracing innovation throughout their operations. These forward-thinking brands are constantly looking for the next innovation — new technologies, new menu items, new marketing tactics, new training programs, etc. that will propel them to even greater heights. At the summit, executives from leading brands will share their success stories of the numerous ways they have innovated to grow their franchises. Attendees will gain insight and inspiration to help them be more progressive in every facet of their businesses.

2024 Speakers

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Dustin Portillo
Author, Dustin Portillo Communications

PANELISTS & MODERATORS:

Bob Andersen
President, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill

Jim Balis
Managing Director, Strategic Operations Group, CapitalSpring

John Berberich
Vice President of EMEA & North America, Shake Shack

Jim Bitticks
President & COO, Dave's Hot Chicken

Jami Bond
VP of Franchise Development, Goodcents

Cherryh Cansler
Vice President of Events, Networld Media Group

Sara Carhart
Vice President of Operations, SPIN! Pizza

Tom Carr
Chief Marketing Officer, Chicken Salad Chick

Nathan Casey
VP of Digital Marketing, Engagement & Experiences, IHOP

Alonso Castañeda
VP of Brand Development & Strategy, Savory Restaurant Fund

Darden Coors
CEO, Salad Collective

David Daniels
Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Potbelly

Jaydee Devine
Senior Content Architect, Contentful

Lauran Driver
Head of Industry - Dining, Auto, Travel, TikTok

Alexis Eldridge
VP of Marketing, Angry Chickz

Rafik Farouk
Head of Global Business Development and Retail, PF Changs

Tom Foley
Founder, Indigo Group LLC

Scott Ford
President & Co-CEO, Hawaiian Bros Island Grill

Nate Fowler
President, Long John Silver's

Yaron Goldman
CEO, Rib and Chop House

Jose Gonzalez
VP Sales, Datawrkz

Tom Gordon
Co-Founder & CEO, Slim Chickens

Natalie Green
Chief Operating Officer, Nékter Juice Bar

Beto Guajardo
CEO, Blaze Pizza

Brad Haley
CMO, Dave's Hot Chicken

Craig Haley
President, Smokey Mo’s TX BBQ

Josh Halpern
CEO, Big Chicken

Geoff Henry
President of the Americas, Gong cha

Lovell Holloway
General Manager, Kansas City International Airport

Troy Hooper
CEO, Hot Palette Holdings

R.J. Hottovy
Head of Analytical Research, Placer.ai

Christine Johnson
Chief Operating Officer, Le Duff America

Stacey Kane
Fractional Chief Marketing Officer, National Restaurant Association

Abhinav Kapur
Co-Founder & CEO, Bikky

Prakash Karamchandani
Co-Founder, Balance Pan-Asian Grille

Josh Kern
CEO, SPB Hospitality

Brian Kim
Chief Commercial Officer, DSA Signage

Frank Klein
Founder & CEO, Post Road Hospitality

Jennifer Wrenn Klein
Catering & Events Director, FUKU and Bluestone Lane

Eric Knott
Chief Operating Officer, PDQ Restaurants

Marielle Kokos
Head of Sales and Partnerships, Lineup.ai

Andy Korbak
VP of Sales, Instant Financial

Jessica Leyva
Director of Marketing, Another Broken Egg Cafe

Steve Lieber
VP of Franchise Development, BurgerFi

Desmond Lim
Co-Founder & CEO, Workstream

Jill Marchick
VP, Consumer Insights & Business Analytics, Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar

Ryan Maybee
Co-Founder & Managing Director, J. Rieger & Co.

Rob McColgan
Co-Founder & CEO, Modern Restaurant Concepts

George McLaughlin
Founder, Vicious Biscuit

Sam Mendal
Director of Purchasing, Bartaco

Priya Monga
GM Emerging Business, Instacart Business

Janet Monroe
CEO, ClusterTruck

Glenn Moon
Vice President, U.S. Development, Moxies

Kevin Moran
Chief Development Officer, Blaze Pizza

Rachael Nemeth
CEO & Co-Founder, Opus Training

Neil Newcomb
CEO, Kelly’s Roast Beef Franchising

Nico Nieto
Chief Marketing Officer, Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill

Craig Norris
Program Manager - Energy Efficiency, Budderfly

Zack Oates
Founder & CEO, Ovation

James O'Reilly
CEO, Ascent Hospitality

Andrew Pudalov
Founder & CEO, Rush Bowls

CJ Ramirez
EVP & Marketing Director, Dog Haus

Sam Rothschild
COO, Slim Chickens

Desi Saran
Founder & CEO, Sweetberry

Shokouh Shafiei
President/CEO, DSA Signage

Max Sheets
Founder & CEO, Chick N Max

Andrew Simmons
CEO, Mamma Ramona's Pizzeria

Sam Stanovich
SVP of Development & Alliances, Big Chicken

James Sura
SVP, Sales, TouchTunes

Tommi Tervanen
CEO, The European Pizza Company

Anand Tumuluru
CEO & Co-Founder, Loop

Chad Urice
EVP Chief Strategy Officer, USIM

Peter Vogel
Chief Revenue Officer, vPromos

Harold Walters
Co-Founder / CEO, Shootz Hawaiian

Ryan Weaver
CEO, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken

David Wentworth
Vice President, Learning & Talent Development Platform Evangelist, Schoox

Doug Willmarth
President, MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes

Greg Wold
VP of Marketing, Toppers Pizza

2024 Sponsors

PLATINUM SPONSORS:
• Botrista Beverages
• Budderly
• Chatmeter
• DSA Signage
• SMG
• Tiktok
• Touchtones

GOLD SPONSORS:
• Bikky
• Contentful
• Datawrkz
• Instacart Business
• Instant Financial
• Lineup.ai
• Loop
• Opus Training
• Ovation
• Placer.ai
• Schoox
• USIM
• vLoyalty

ROSE GOLD SPONSORS:
• Otter
• Peblla
• Rosnet
• Workstream

SILVER SPONSORS:
• Convx
• Evocalize
• Hang
• InMarket

BRONZE SPONSORS:
• ACE Mystery Shopping
• Clayton Kendall
• Cloud Kitchens
• CUBO Pods - One Touch Wellness
• Freezing Point/Frazil
• IPConfigure
• Momos
• PepsiCo Foodservice
• Prefix Maintenance
• Superorder

ASSOCIATE SPONSORS:
• Beekeeper
• Citrin Cooperman
• Complete Construction Service
• Dentons
• Doyle HCM
• Gemsys Money Handling Systems Inc.
• GLMV Architecture
• Hyperlocology
• MediaDex
• Olo
• Silicon Signs
• Tradon Menu Management Solutions
• Vesuvius Games, Inc.

PARTNERS:
• Fast Casual
• Food Truck Operator
• Pizza Marketplace
• QRSweb
• Rewards That Matter