Thank you to our sponsors! - UCLA Extension Business

Thank you to our sponsors!
Foodservice Social Media
13189-12. Not printed at state expense. Printed with green ink on recycled paper.
explore. experience. expand.
16th Annual
Restaurant Industry
Conference
Legends and Lessons
Tue, Apr 17, 2012
7:30am-7pm
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel
Century City, California
Welcome to the 2012 Conference
Van Anderson
Program Director,
Department of Business,
Management, and Legal,
UCLA Extension
For the past 16 years, UCLA Extension has worked to develop our annual restaurant industry conference and expand from a regional to a preeminent national event.
Our goal is always to bring the collective synergy of honored speakers and panelists
together to present topics addressing current issues and trends in the restaurant
industry. Education, practical application and networking are the key components to
making our conference a relevant event year after year. This year’s conference is no
different and includes vital sessions in regard to management, financing, design,
emerging concepts, and the future of the industry. I would like to thank our amazing
planning committee and staff for all the hard work and effort that they put into creating such a value added event. Words alone can’t express our appreciation for our
wonderful sponsors and Circle of Excellence members who have made this continued learning experience possible. We welcome and thank you all for joining us for
the 16th Annual UCLA Extension Restaurant Industry Conference and hope to see
you again for many years to come.
Circle of Excellence Members
The following restaurant operating companies support the 16th Annual UCLA Extension Restaurant
Industry Conference in our advocacy of education, leadership development, networking, innovation,
and community involvement in the restaurant industry:
A Message from the Conference Chair
Thank you for attending the 16th Annual UCLA Extension Restaurant
Industry Conference. The theme of this year’s conference, “Legends and
Lessons in the Restaurant Industry,” seems highly appropriate given the
improving economic outlook, favorable trends in restaurant operating
performance, escalating consumer confidence, and increasing same store
sales. While we are not yet enjoying a complete recovery, most restaurants
feel they are operating on firmer ground and are now spending time and
effort on the extras that delight their customers. To assist in the process,
conference speakers will introduce intriguing and progressive ideas which
can be put into practice immediately to help restaurant operators recapture
the magic of their brands.
During the conference, recognized experts will share best strategies for
engaging your guests and ensuring higher traffic through creative marketing
approaches, innovative menu items, and unique customer experiences.
We will learn how restaurant companies are building remarkable brands,
highlighting their distinctive cultures, appealing directly and instinctively to
their target audiences, and generating strong loyalty to their concepts. Our
speakers include social media pioneers, motivational leaders, and experts
in building a sense of community, both inside and outside their restaurants’
doors. On the legal and economic side, we have food law and privacy
experts, and economic and industry forecasters and analysts. The human
capital side is covered too. All the tools you need are here!
We are extremely fortunate to have two outstanding keynote speakers:
Danny Meyer, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, and Chip Conley,
founder and former CEO of Joie de Vivre (JDV). We will be honoring an
extraordinary man and an extraordinary concept: Jerry Deitchle, Chairman
and CEO of BJ’s Restaurants. These gentlemen will share the insights and
experiences that have led to their incredible successes, and in so doing,
challenge your current way of thinking. We are also tremendously lucky
to have more than 10 restaurant CEOs/presidents among our speakers,
ranging from the leaders of some of today’s most rapidly growing new
concepts to several who epitomize the word “legend,” all of whom are true
masters of hospitality and innovation.
We have put together an amazing group of people, both on the stage
and behind the scenes. I am very proud to serve as conference chair,
and grateful to the members of the planning committee and the staff of
UCLA Extension for their dedicated work in designing the curriculum and
organizing such a powerful and prestigious group of speakers. I am also very
thankful to our generous sponsors and members of our Circle of Excellence,
without whom there would be no conference. And I want to thank all of you
for attending.
The conference can continue to maintain its relevance to the industry only
with the support and commitment of dedicated industry participants. If
you would like to become more personally involved with the conference
through sponsorship or other opportunities, I invite you to contact me at
[email protected].
Anna M. Graves
Co-Leader of the Restaurant, Food & Beverage Industry Group
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Anna M. Graves
Conference Chair, Co-Leader of the
Restaurant, Food & Beverage Industry Group,
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Anna Graves is co-leader of Pillsbury’s
Restaurant, Food & Beverage Industry Group
and a partner in the firm’s corporate & securities practice. Ms. Graves has broad-based
experience in M&A, securities, finance, licensing, and general corporate matters. Voted by
her peers as one of Southern California’s
“Super Lawyers,” Ms. Graves represents a
number of restaurant and retail clients. She
concentrates her practice in the core areas
of mergers and acquisitions, capital formation
activities (including private placements), brand
licensing transactions, supply and distribution
agreements, asset sales, private equity
investments, joint ventures, SEC compliance
matters, and restructurings. Ms. Graves’
public and private finance experience includes
acting as counsel for operating entities, venture investors, strategic buyers, private equity
funds, start-up companies, issuers, underwriters, and selling stockholders. Her mergers and
acquisitions experience includes representing
both buyers and sellers, asset acquisitions
through bankruptcy, other distressed transactions, structural reorganizations, and advising
independent director committees.
Legends and Lessons
Conference Program
7:30-8:30am
10-11am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
Location: Los Angeles Ballroom Foyer
Emerging Concepts
Location: Los Angeles Ballroom
8:30-8:45am
Welcome and Program Overview
Location: Los Angeles Ballroom
Van Anderson, Program Director, Department of Business,
Management, and Legal, UCLA Extension
Anna M. Graves, Co-Leader of the Restaurant, Food &
Beverage Industry Group, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP
8:45-9:30am
Opening Keynote:
Chip Conley
Founder, Joie de Vivre
This panel probes the all-important questions of how to
effectively build to last an emerging concept. What’s most
important: capital, people, real estate, culture, or ? We ask
the leaders of today’s impressive concepts to share their
experience.
Moderator:
Wallace Doolin, Chairman/Founder, Black Box Intelligence &
Principal of People Report
Panelists:
Keith Cox, Co-Founder and CEO, Pacific Catch
Jim Mizes, President, Freebirds World Burrito
Erik Oberholtzer, Chef/Owner, Tender Greens
Phil Ratner, Consultant, Synergy Restaurant Consultants;
CEO, Bicoastal Restaurant Partners LLC (DBA Five Guys
Burgers and Fries)
11-11:15am
How to Be an Emotionally Intelligent Leader
Location: Los Angeles Ballroom
Chip Conley is founder and former CEO of Joie de Vivre
(JDV). After 2 dozen years as CEO, he came to realize the
best leaders understand that the most neglected fact in
business is that we are all human. Author of The New York
Times bestseller, Emotional Equations: Simple Truths For
Creating Happiness + Success, he will show you how to
make emotional intelligence practical in your day-to-day
restaurant operations to create more engaged employees,
more loyal customers, and a stronger operating model.
(chipconley.com)
9:30-10am
Restaurant Industry Status and Outlook:
Who Will Be the Winners and Why?
Location: Los Angeles Ballroom
Following a brief industry review and forecast, our speakers
discuss the drivers of consumer behavior and the impact
these have on the industry. They also examine the competitive environment and identify some of the likely winners and
why they are the ones best positioned for success.
Speakers:
Andy Barish, Managing Director, Restaurant Equity
Research, Jefferies & Company, Inc.
Ron Paul, President and CEO, Technomic, Inc.
Networking Break
Location: Santa Monica Ballroom
11:15am-12:15pm
Concurrent Sessions: Session I
Location: Los Angeles Ballroom
The Newest Frontier:
Engaging Your Guests through Mobile Strategies
Statistics show smartphone usage and data consumption
continue to rise, with 91.4 million smartphones in the U.S.
alone. Experts predict that mobile will overtake fixed Internet
access by 2014. Currently, half of all local searches are done
on a mobile device, and these include searches for a great
place to dine or a favorite chain restaurant in a new city. How
can restaurateurs take advantage of this technology to reach
guests and create loyalty, and what are the legal implications
when it comes to privacy? Our panelists provide insight from
multiple angles: a service provider, a restauranteur using the
technology successfully, a trend forecaster predicting the next
step in the evolution of mobile marketing, and a legal expert
to help us avoid the pitfalls of this exciting technology. The
group also shares thoughts on the future of mobile couponing,
QR codes, tracking mobile connections, and whether your
restaurant should invest in a customized mobile app.
Moderator:
Beverly Macy, UCLA Extension Distinguished Instructor,
CEO, Gravity Summit
Panelists:
Gar Benedick, Director, Mobile Strategy, bizM3, Inc.
Avery Block, Social Engagement & Brand Champion,
Taco Bell
Catherine D. Meyer, Counsel, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw
Pittman LLP
Rob Reed, Founder and CEO, MomentFeed
Todd Shasserre, Founder, ShoutGeo
11:15am-12:15pm
Concurrent Sessions: Session II
Location: Constellation Ballroom
Updates on Food Law and Policy
Learn about recent developments in food regulation and law
that affect restaurants, including areas of food safety, labeling, nutrition, obesity, and animal welfare. The presentation
also projects future regulatory trends and focuses on unique
regulatory challenges for restaurants.
Featured Speaker:
Michael Roberts, Director of Law & Food Policy,
UCLA Law School
1:30-2pm
Networking Break
Location: Santa Monica Ballroom
2-3pm
To Franchise or Not to Franchise:
An Examination of the Issues
Location: Los Angeles Ballroom
Collecting royalties from franchisees and operating restaurants
are two completely different business opportunities which
require vastly different skill sets. While some restaurant companies engage in both activities effectively, others struggle
with the conflicting management skills required to successfully
act as both operator and franchisor. (Complicating the issue
today is industry and market pressures to generate higher
operating incomes through expanding operating activity vs.
decreasing corporate overhead and liability through refranchising.) Veteran CEOs Greg Creed of Taco Bell and
Stephen Carley of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers discuss the
merits of corporate restaurant ownership vs. franchising.
Moderator:
Kevin Burke, Managing Partner and Founder,
Trinity Capital, LLC
Panelists:
Stephen Carley, CEO, Red Robin
Greg Creed, CEO, Taco Bell Corp
12:15-1:30pm
Luncheon Program
Location: Beverly Hills Ballroom
Remarks:
Roger L. Torneden, PhD, CFP®, CPCU,
Department Director, Department of Business,
Management, and Legal, UCLA Extension
Keynote Speaker:
Danny Meyer, CEO,
Union Square Hospitality Group
Keynote Address:
The Power of Hospitality
In October 1985, Danny Meyer, at age 27 with a good idea
and little restaurant experience, opened what would become
one of the most revered restaurants in New York City, Union
Square Cafe. Today, Danny is CEO of an extremely
dynamic and highly acclaimed restaurant organization, which
has been the winner of 24 James Beard Awards and holds
an unprecedented number of “Most Popular” ratings in the
New York Zagat Survey. What is his winning recipe for creating and sustaining so many winning brands in the world of
food? He calls it “enlightened hospitality.” Listen as Danny
shares his philosophy of putting the power of hospitality
toward the people who work for you FIRST, then applying it
to your guests, community, suppliers, and investors. Danny
considers this philosophy the foundation of every success he
and his restaurants have achieved... and you will too!
3-4pm
Inside the Operators Studio:
The Secrets to Achieving Excellence
Location: Los Angeles Ballroom
Famed filmmaker and winemaker Francis Ford Coppola says
the two professions are almost the same; each depends on
source material and each takes a lot of time to perfect. The
big difference, according to Coppola: “Today’s winemakers
still worry about quality.” Come hear the insights of top executives of 3 restaurant companies that not only care about
quality, but achieve excellence in their segment. Join us for
this highly interactive session where audience members have
the opportunity to engage top industry leaders as they share
their winning strategies and why they work.
Moderator:
Teresa Siriani, Industry People Expert
Panelists:
Paul Bolles-Beaven, Senior Managing Partner,
Union Square Hospitality Group
Philip Cummins, Partner, Innovative Dining Group
GJ Hart, CEO, California Pizza Kitchen
4-4:15pm
Networking Break
Location: Santa Monica Ballroom
4:15-5:30pm
5:30-7pm
Presentation of the 2012 Innovation Award
Location: Los Angeles Ballroom
Closing Reception
Location: Santa Monica Ballroom
Recipient:
Sponsored by Young’s Market Company
This year’s wine-tasting reception features more than 40
premium wines.
Gerald (Jerry) W. Deitchle, Chairman and
CEO, BJ’s Restaurants, Inc.
Our 2012 Innovation Award recipient Jerry
Deitchle is Chairman and CEO of BJ’s
Restaurants, Inc., a publicly-held operator of
115 high volume, casual dining restaurants in
13 states with total sales of $620 million in 2011. Prior to
joining BJ’s board of directors in 2004, Mr. Deitchle served
in executive and financial management positions with other
national restaurant companies, including The Cheesecake
Factory, Long John Silver’s, and Fazoli’s QSR. He earned a
BBA from Texas A&M and an MBA from the University of
Texas at San Antonio, and maintains an active CPA license
in Texas. Mr. Deitchle restaurant industry recognitions include
IFMA’s 2011 Silver Plate Award, People Report’s 2011
Legacy Award, and Nation’s Restaurant News’ 2009 Golden
Chain Award.
Interviewer:
Mark Saltzgaber is an active consultant and
partner to leading restaurant companies, aiding
them in managing and financing their development, and to prominent private equity firms
looking to make restaurant industry investments.
He previously co-founded and was a venture
partner of Dorset Capital Management, a consumer-focused
private equity firm, where he was responsible for evaluating,
making and monitoring private equity investments in the restaurant industry. Prior to co-founding Dorset Capital, Mark
was a Managing Director and a Co-Director of the
Restaurant Investment Banking Group at Montgomery
Securities. From 2001-2006, he served on the Board of
Directors and the Corporate Governance Committee and
acted as Chairman of the Compensation Committee of Lone
Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc.
Coordinated by Leanne Lindsey, President, Leewine Consulting
Note: Program and presenters are subject to change without notice.
Conference Speakers & Panelists
Andy Barish, Managing Director, Restaurant
Equity Research, Jefferies & Company. Mr.
Barish joined Jefferies in June 2010, from
Cowen and Company, where he was a managing director for consumer investment banking.
Previously, he was a managing director and
senior restaurant industry research analyst at
Banc of America Securities, where he spent 7 years and
was consistently a top-ranked institutional investor analyst.
Before that, he spent 6 years as a senior restaurant industry
analyst at Robertson, Stephens and worked in equity
research at Kidder, Peabody & Company. He received a BS
from the University of Southern California.
Gar Benedick, Director of Mobile Strategy,
bizM3. Mr. Benedick creates, innovates, and
motivates. He comes from a background in
design, production, and presentation of large
screen media for corporate, education, and
entertainment. To stay ahead of the curve, he
saw the world heading toward mobile, social
digital integration as the new interface to the consumer and
landed at the doorstep of bizM3 2 years ago. Mr. Benedick
is now integral in heading up mobile marketing and customer
relation management for bizM3 major accounts. Avery Block, Social Engagement & Brand
Champion, Taco Bell. Ms. Block’s fast-paced
career spanning 16 years in the restaurant
industry has made her a sort of “Jackie-of-AllTrades.” Her multi-disciplined experience and
journey through various functionalities and roles
has enabled her to develop, implement, and
evolve relevant initiatives to drive and support strategies surrounding social media, internal brand alignment, employee
retention and engagement, training, people performance and
development, total compensation, and recognition. Ms. Avery
has served as an industry panelist covering an array of subjects and has been featured in publications such as Nation’s
Restaurant News and Human Resource Executive.
Paul Bolles-Beaven, Senior Managing Partner,
Operations, Union Square Hospitality Group,
whose acclaimed restaurants include Union
Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison
Park, Union Square Events, and others. Mr.
Bolles-Beaven became a founding employee
of Union Square Cafe (USC) in 1985 after
graduating from Columbia College with a bachelor’s in
music. He started at USC as a waiter, and ultimately rose
through the ranks to become a managing partner. Mr. BollesBeaven is the only GM to have presided over a restaurant
which earned Zagat Survey’s #1 Most Popular Restaurant
rating for 6 consecutive years. As GM of Union Square Cafe
in 1999, Paul was named one of “50 Tastemakers” by
Nation’s Restaurant News.
Kevin Burke, Managing Partner and Founder,
Trinity Capital LLC. Mr. Burke joined Franchise
Mortgage Acceptance Company, the nation’s
largest franchise lender, in 1997 after executive
roles at investment banking firms in New
York. In July 2000, he formed Trinity Capital
LLC, an Los Angeles-based investment banking
and restructuring boutique. The firm has been involved in
over $20 billion of transactions during the past 12 years and
is an acknowledged leader in the U.S. restaurant industry.
Trinity has served as an investment banker or restructuring
advisor for Taco Bell, Burger King, Dunkin Brands, Yum!
Brands, Metromedia Restaurant Group, Farmland Industries,
Schlotzsky’s, El Pollo Loco, Quiznos, Church’s Chicken, and
many other companies.
Stephen Carley, CEO, Red Robin. Mr. Carley
has more than 30 years of marketing and operations experience in the restaurant, foodservice,
and consumer products industries. At Red
Robin, he oversees all activities, including
communications with investors and the board
of directors. Prior to joining Red Robin in 2010,
Mr. Carley served as CEO and president of El Pollo Loco.
He also served in various management positions at Taco Bell
Corporation, Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park and
Citywalk, General Mills, Inc., The Pillsbury Company, and
PepsiCo, Inc. Mr. Carley holds a bachelor’s in finance from
the University of Illinois in Urbana and a Master’s with a
Concentration in Marketing from Northwestern University.
Chip Conley, founder, Joie de Vivre (JDV). In
1987, Mr. Conley started JDV and grew it into
the second largest boutique hotel company in
the nation. At the age of 26 with no industry
experience, he transformed a seedy 1950s
“no-tell motel” into the world-renowned Phoenix
Hotel, a legendary rock ‘n’ roll destination catering to the likes of David Bowie, Linda Ronstadt, and Nirvana.
JDV expanded into a collection of over 35 award-winning
hotels, restaurants, and spas, each with its own unique
theme that inspires guests to experience an “identity refreshment” during their stay. Mr. Conley and his company’s timetested techniques and transformational leadership practices
have been featured in every major news outlet. His latest
book is The New York Times bestseller, Emotional
Equations: Simple Truths For Creating Happiness +
Success. (chipconley.com)
Keith Cox, Co-Founder and CEO, Pacific Catch,
a growing chain of Pacific Rim-inspired seafood
restaurants in Northern California. Earlier in his
restaurant career, Mr. Cox launched and served
as CEO/CFO of World Wrapps, a west coast
chain of gourmet, quick-service restaurants and
Hot Concepts Award winner. As a serial entrepreneur, Mr. Cox has also founded businesses in the resort
real estate and consumer technology industries as well as
starting a venture capital firm; portfolio companies have
included OpenTable.com, Zappos.com, Santa.com, and
Me.com. Mr. Cox’s previous business experience included
management consultant at BoozAllen Hamilton and financial
consultant at Deloitte & Touche. Mr. Cox graduated from UC
Santa Barbara and received his MBA at Stanford University.
Greg Creed, CEO, Taco Bell Corp. Mr. Creed
has more than 30 years’ experience in marketing
and operations with leading packaged goods and
restaurant brands. He joined PepsiCo in 1994 as
director of marketing for KFC in Australia. When
Yum! was formed in 1997, Mr. Creed’s responsibilities expanded to include Pizza Hut and Taco
Bell in Australia. In 2001, Mr. Creed joined the U.S. team as
Taco Bell’s CMO, spearheading the popular “Think Outside the
Bun” campaign. In 2006, Mr. Creed became CEO for Taco
Bell. He has presided over Taco Bell’s tremendous growth over
the last 6 years, including the revolutionary product Doritos
Locos Tacos.
Philip Cummins, Partner, Innovative Dining
Group. Mr. Cummins began his career at the
prestigious investment banking firm of
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ), advising
Fortune 500 clients on high-profile deals.
Working with companies like Occidental
Petroleum, Starbucks, and MGM, he developed
sophisticated finance and management philosophies, while
refining strategic planning, modeling, and growth techniques.
After leaving DLJ, Mr. Cummins transferred those skills to the
hospitality industry, founding three nightclubs in L.A. and
contributing to New York’s nightlife culture. A founding partner in Innovative Dining Group (IDG), Mr. Cummins is
responsible for strategic planning, finance, design, and construction. The Hollywood Hills resident is a member of Young
Presidents Organization.
Wallace (Wally) Doolin, Chairman/Founder,
Black Box Intelligence & Principal of People
Report. Mr. Doolin’s unique experience working
with multiple concepts on a global basis, from
turn around, start up, high growth, public ownership, and private ownership, as well as his commitment of time and resources to the foodservice
industry, has established him as a trusted and effective leader
within the global hospitality industry. Mr. Doolin is currently an
entrepreneur and Chairman of the Board of Thomas Doolin
and Associates LLC, the holding company of People Report,
the leading Human Capital Business Intelligence Company in
the restaurant business (currently tracking 1,000,000 employees monthly). He is also founder & CEO of Black Box
Intelligence, a state-of-the-art business intelligence product
for the restaurant industry (currently tracking approximately
12,000 restaurants weekly). Additionally, Mr. Doolin serves on
the boards of Famous Dave’s, Caribou Coffee, ESP System,
and Share Our Strength.
Anna M. Graves, Conference Chair, Co-Leader
of the Restaurant, Food & Beverage Industry
Group, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
(see Message from the Conference Chair for
full bio)
GJ Hart, Executive Chairman, CEO, and
President, California Pizza Kitchen. Mr. Hart is
the former president and CEO of Louisvillebased Texas Roadhouse restaurants. Founded
in 1993, Texas Roadhouse has grown to more
than 350 restaurants in 46 states and two
countries. Under Mr. Hart’s leadership, revenues
have increased from approximately $63 million in 1999 to
more than $1 billion in 2010. In 2004, Mr. Hart led the
$600-million initial public offering of the company’s stock,
which trades on the NASDAQ under the symbol TXRH. In
2006, readers of Consumer Reports magazine voted Texas
Roadhouse as the top concept in the Pub/Grill category, and
the company was given the prestigious Golden Chain Award
in 2006 by Nation’s Restaurant News.
Beverly Macy, UCLA Extension Distinguished
Instructor; CEO, Gravity Summit. A unique
thought-leader in the new “real-time” web, Ms.
Macy draws on her experience as author, educator, and expert on the evolution of social business to help brands and individuals leverage
social media’s speed to create buzz, strengthen
their message, listen to customers, and effectively measure
results. She is the co-author of The Power of Real-Time
Social Media Marketing, a critical new business book for
understanding social media. Ms. Macy is also the CEO and
co-founder of Gravity Summit, the premier series of social
media marketing conferences that educate, inform, and
empower businesses and organizations with these new
communications tools.
Catherine D. Meyer, Counsel, Pillsbury
Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Before her current
position, Ms. Meyer was a partner with the firm
for 20 years practicing in the areas of finance
and privacy regulation. She regularly counsels
financial institutions and other commercial clients in compliance with state, federal, and international statutes and regulations affecting the collection, use,
protection, sale, transfer, and sharing of customer and
employee information, including responding to data security
breaches. Ms. Meyer is a frequent speaker and writer on
data protection and privacy issues, co-authored Privacy
Compliance and Litigation in California, Chapter 5,
“Marketing and Sales Regulation” (Continuing Education of
the Bar-California 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011).
Danny Meyer, CEO, Union Square Hospitality
Group, which includes Union Square Cafe,
Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, Blue
Smoke, Jazz Standard, Shake Shack, The
Modern, Maialino, Untitled, Union Square
Events, and Hospitality Quotient, a learning
business. At the end of 2011, USHG opened
its newest fine dining restaurant, North End Grill, in Battery
Park City. Mr. Meyer, his restaurants, and chefs have earned
an unprecedented 24 James Beard Awards. Mr. Meyer’s first
business book, Setting the Table (HarperCollins, 2006), a
New York Times bestseller, examines the power of hospitality
in restaurants, business and life. An active national leader in
the fight against hunger, Mr. Meyer has long served on the
boards of Share Our Strength and City Harvest. Jim Mizes, President, Freebirds World Burrito.
Mr. Mizes has successfully led other fast-growing concept restaurants, including Jamba Juice,
Noah’s Bagels, and Taco Bell. Over the past 30
years, he has served at every level in the restaurant business, building sales and profits through
innovation, consistent execution, and leadership. Mr. Mizes has opened over 400 fast casual restaurants
and recently served as CEO and President for a leading
health and fitness organization. Mr. Mizes earned his BA in
Economics from Dartmouth and his MBA from the University
of California, Los Angeles.
Erik Oberholtzer, Chef/Owner, Tender
Greens. Mr. Oberholtzer was born in the heart
of Pennsylvania Dutch Country and his parents
often took him to the local Amish farms, where
he first developed his love for fresh food and
seasonal influence. After attending Johnson &
Wales Culinary, Mr. Oberholtzer moved to the
Bay Area, working in notable kitchens, including The Lark
Creek Inn under Bradley Ogden, Aqua with Michael Mina,
and Roland Passot’s Left Bank. He was then recruited as
Executive Chef of Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica,
where he met his Tender Greens business partners David
Dressler and Matt Lyman.
Ron Paul, President and CEO, Technomic, Inc.,
a company that offers consulting and market
research services to suppliers, distributors, and
chain restaurant organizations. Since its inception, Technomic has conducted more than $100
million worth of client-funded research on the
restaurant and foodservice industry. The company publishes the Technomic, Inc. Top 500 Report, an
annual analysis of the chain restaurant market. In addition to
heading Technomic, Mr. Paul is a frequent speaker at industry events and the co-author of the Winning the Chain
Restaurant Game: Eight Key Strategies.
Phil Ratner, Consultant, Synergy Restaurant
Consultants; CEO, Bicoastal Restaurant
Partners LLC (DBA Five Guys Burgers and
Fries). Mr. Ratner is a veteran restaurant executive, who served as a CEO for more than 20
years in the casual-full service segment. His
record of successful turnarounds began at
Acapulco Restaurants in 1984, where he took the nearly
bankrupt company and doubled its size to $90 million in
sales with a 10% EBITDA. He moved onto Spaghetti
Warehouse in 1994, reducing debt from $19 million to $6
million in less than 4 years. Most recently, he served as CEO
of Marie Callender’s Restaurants where he improved both
sales and profits and successfully merged the company with
Perkins Family Restaurants. Mr. Ratnor has both a bachelors
and MBA from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.
Rob Reed, Founder & CEO, MomentFeed, a
Los Angeles-based venture-backed startup
offering an integrated solution for managing
analytics and campaigns for Facebook Places,
foursquare, Gowalla, Twitter, and other locationbased services (LBS) platforms.
Michael Roberts, Director of Law & Food
Policy, UCLA Law School. With a background
that blends academic and private practice, Mr.
Roberts is well versed in a broad range of legal
and policy issues from farm to fork in local,
national, and global food supply systems. He is
a prolific author, has lectured on food law at
various law schools in the U.S. and abroad, and is a codirector of the Food Drug Supervision Center at East China
University of Science and Technology Law School in
Shanghai, China. Mr. Roberts is currently the director of the
newly formed nonprofit, Food Law and Policy Center, and
serves on the advisory boards for the World Food Law
Institute, The Los Angeles Food Policy Council, and the
National Agricultural Law Center.
Todd David Shasserre, Founder, ShoutGeo.
Mr. Shasserre has a rich background in advertising, digital production, mobile marketing,
social media, and business development. His
past includes working as an interactive producer and creative director, with a focus on
emerging technology. Through multiple-channel marketing, Todd has provided innovative solutions to
many international brands, universities, political organizations, and charities. He has a unique gift of identifying organizational weaknesses and providing accountable solutions,
with an eye toward relationship nurturing, solid ROI, and
quantitative results.
Teresa Siriani, Industry People Expert.
Recognized as one of the industry’s best human
resource and training executives, Ms. Siriani
brings passion, commitment, and many years of
operations and human resource experience to
every presentation. Now partnered with
Technomic, Inc. as program principal for optimizing employee engagement, Ms. Siriani focuses on improving the workplace for our industry. She is a graduate of
UCLA, and devotes herself to Share Our Strength, the
nation’s leading anti-hunger organization. She serves on the
board for Share Our Strength’s Great American Dine Out
and serves as chair for Taste of the Nation – Laguna Beach.
Teresa knows that together we can end childhood hunger!
Conference Sponsors
ADM Marketing provides direct marketing services to identify, attract, and retain customers on behalf of our restaurant
chain clients. Working within the fields of database, list,
direct mail, email, social media, and promotions, we use
trackable ROI positive tools to maximize the effectiveness
of our clients marketing spend every year.
Altametrics has been providing web-based enterprise software solutions for the restaurant industry since 1997.
Altametrics solutions are affordable, easy-to-use business
management solutions designed specifically to help businesses of all sizes work more productively, operate more
profitably, and increase customer service and value. Their
suite of applications provide food management, workforce
management, supply chain management, and point of sale. Altametric’s products are currently deployed in some of the
world’s most successful companies, including McDonald’s,
Wendy’s, and Chipotle.
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (NYSE: DPS) is the third
largest refreshment beverage business in North America with
nearly $6 billion in revenues. With a brand heritage spanning
more than 200 years, the DPS portfolio includes some of the
most recognized beverages in the Americas. DPS manufactures, bottles, and distributes more than 50 brands of carbonated soft drinks, juices, teas, mixers, waters, and other
premium beverages. More than 75% of the company’s overall volume is from brands that are either #1 or #2 in their
flavor categories. In addition to its flagship Dr Pepper and
Snapple brands, the DPS portfolio includes 7UP, Mott’s,
A&W, Sunkist soda, Hawaiian Punch, Canada Dry,
Schweppes, RC Cola, Diet Rite, Squirt, and other wellknown consumer favorites. DPS has approximately 20,000
employees and operates 22 manufacturing and bottling facilities in North America, including more than 200 warehouses
and distribution centers across North America. In 2010, Dr
Pepper celebrated its 125th anniversary as America’s oldest
soft drink. Since its modest beginnings in 1885 in Waco,
Texas, the drink formerly known as the “Waco” has grown
into a beloved national brand.
Catering to your unique needs with insight and commitment
Working with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, you have
access to the full integrated capabilities of one of the world’s
largest financial institutions. We’ve served the unique needs
of restaurant operators for more than 25 years, from advising
on the capital structure of acquisitions to remodeling facilities, providing specialized knowledge and investing billions
of dollars. Leveraging our extensive experience and expertise,
we work with you to identify the connections between how
you can raise, manage, and protect capital and achieve your
strategic objectives. While we are at the forefront of some of
the most transformative client successes in the global marketplace, our relationships reach deeper than large deals and
critical transactions. They are day-to-day, ongoing partnerships that lead to mutual success over the long term.
Elevate My Brand (EMB) is a boutique marketing company
dedicated to elevating food, wine, and retail brands globally.
Our purpose is to bring new passions and flavors into people’s lives through food, wine, and fashion. We at EMB dedicates ourselves to this goal by helping new and existing
brands in these markets develop and implement full circle
marketing plans to successfully take their company or product to the next level. Whether you are re-branding, taking
your first steps into online marketing and social media,
launching a new brand or product, or are in need of highlevel brand strategy, EMB has a team that’s hungry to help.
The global Ernst & Young network has the largest integrated
real estate, hospitality, and construction practice of any Big
Four organization, with 5,000 professionals around the world.
We work hard to earn and maintain our clients’ trust and confidence, and have implemented methodologies, quality control
policies, supporting tools and technology, and training to provide quality services. Ernst & Young’s hospitality practice services more restaurant companies from the Nation’s Restaurant
News’ Top 100 Restaurant Companies list than any other firm,
including the largest restaurant company in the world. We
assist our restaurant clients in addressing the challenges that
confront them, including real estate issues, operational hurdles, human resource constraints, and meeting financial objectives. Our global network of professionals offers advice in a
variety of areas of interest to restaurants, including energy, risk
management, tax, transactions, and human capital. Our
approach combines entrepreneurial understanding and working knowledge of restaurant issues with broad restaurant
experience, significant resources, and a diverse network of
clients and contacts.
Gallagher Hospitality and Restaurant Group is a leading practice
within Gallagher Benefit Services. We understand that restaurants seeking to provide attractive, yet cost-effective, employee
benefit programs face complex issues, including a highly diverse
workforce incorporating hourly workers, salaried managers, trainers, corporate staff, and senior executives; a significant number
of part-time workers, unionized employees, or non-union employees; decentralization—making it difficult to process enrollments,
provide Internet access and in general, communicate with
employees; high turnover and the need for benchmarking tools to
stay competitive and retain employees; assistance outside of
normal corporate office hours; and the need for easy-to-understand communication materials to keep employees informed.
Addressing these difficult issues and implementing smart solutions can be time consuming for a busy restaurant leadership
team. That is why so many restaurants turn to GBS. We provide
the full breadth of expertise in employee benefits, compensation,
property casualty, and risk management that meet the everchanging needs of our current and prospective clients.
GoFit® A Better Way to Burger!
FocalPoint is an investment banking firm that specializes in
mergers and acquisitions, private placements (both debt and
equity), and financial restructurings. The firm’s primary focus
is on middle-market companies. Recent restaurant clients
include Fuddrucker’s, Buca di Beppo, Claim Jumper, and Fat
Burger. For more information visit focalpointllc.com.
Foodservice Social Media
FohBoh, Inc. is a leading social web technology company
dedicated to providing unparalleled social web technology
and services to the $1.7 trillion foodservice industry. In addition to Foodservice Social Media Universe (FSMU), the only
social media conference created for and dedicated to the
restaurant and hospitality industries, social CRM, food +
tech, and restaurant social media and technology are at the
center of FohBoh’s world. FohBoh’s mission is to build the
world’s largest, most vibrant and vital online community and
resource to help restaurant professionals worldwide. FohBoh
is a powerful tool that gives you a voice in the global restaurant industry. We are passionate about creating a community
that engages you, educates you, and helps you in your business. As we like to say, The Conversation Starts Here™.
We make your favorite foods healthy. Our products are
healthy versions of America’s comfort foods, with high appeal
to mainstream customers. GoFit sells to foodservice and
retail stores a new class of lean, high protein products for
hamburger and sausage.
Innovation Capital is a leading boutique investment bank
dedicated to representing mid-market clients in the gaming,
leisure, restaurant, and retail industries. Innovation Capital
provides comprehensive advisory services in the areas of
mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and capital raising, financial restructurings, and valuations/fairness opinions
to companies in the $20 million to $500 million value range.
Having collectively advised on transactions aggregating over
$30 billion, the firm provides its clients with value maximizing
strategic advice and unique capital placement expertise.
Jefferies & Company, the global investment banking firm,
has served companies and investors for nearly 50 years.
Headquartered in New York, with offices in over 30 cities
around the world, the firm provides clients with capital markets and financial advisory services, institutional brokerage
and securities research, as well as wealth and asset management. The firm provides research and execution services
in equity, fixed income, currencies and commodities markets,
and a full range of investment banking services, including
underwriting, merger and acquisition, restructuring and
recapitalization, and other advisory services with all businesses now operating across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Jefferies & Company, Inc. is the principal U.S. operating subsidiary of Jefferies Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEF: jefferies.com),
and Jefferies International Limited is the principal UK operating subsidiary. Jefferies International Limited, a
UK-incorporated company, is authorized and regulated by
the UK Financial Services Authority.
Moss Adams is the 11th largest accounting and consulting firm
in the U.S., and the largest headquartered in the west. Moss
Adams provides accounting, tax, and consulting services to
public and private middle-market enterprises in numerous
industries. It also provides consulting and advisory services for
mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, valuations, personal wealth management, business planning, litigation and
forensic accounting, information technology integration and
reviews, and compensation. In addition, Moss Adams offers
additional services such as investment banking and asset management by drawing upon its affiliate companies, Moss Adams
Capital LLC and Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC.
PepsiCo Foodservice
The PepsiCo Foodservice Division integrates the relevant
units of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay together with Quaker,
Tropicana, and Gatorade in the United States and Canada.
Rooted in PepsiCo’s “Power of One” principles, PepsiCo
Foodservice leverages the scale and breadth of the corporation’s brands to provide a unified voice to its customers and
deliver competitive advantage in the fast-growing foodservice and vending channels. PepsiCo Foodservice is committed to bringing solutions to the foodservice industry.
PepsiCo, Inc.
For more than 40 years, Nation’s Restaurant News has
served the information needs of foodservice professionals.
Today, offering integrated media solutions for changing times,
NRN is the media brand over 500,000 professionals turn to
every month to help them tackle the challenges facing the
foodservice industry. For operators, NRN provides a onestop resource for complete industry coverage in whatever
formats they prefer, whether print, digital, or web-based. For
suppliers, NRN’s audience-rich portfolio of print, digital, and
live-event products provides the reach, access, and flexibility
needed to open doors and grow businesses.
People Report is the foremost provider of human capital
metrics, trends, and best people practices for the service
industry. Acknowledged by the industry as the expert in
workforce practices, this innovative research firm publishes
monthly insight reports for its members that track, analyze,
and benchmark the people side of the P&L.
Black Box Intelligence, the sister company of People Report,
is the only state-of-the-art interactive technology source
benchmarking public and private company financial and
operational results. With their partner, Consumer Edge
Insights, they collectively track the human, financial, and
consumer metrics of 12,000+ restaurants, 1,000,000+
employees, and monthly surveys of over 2500 households.
(peoplereport.com — blackboxintelligence.com)
PepsiCo offers the world’s largest portfolio of billion-dollar
food and beverage brands, including 22 different product
lines that each generates more than $1 billion in annual retail
sales. Our main businesses—Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola,
Tropicana, and Gatorade—also make hundreds of other
nourishing, tasty foods and drinks that bring joy to our consumers in more than 200 countries. With annualized revenues of nearly $60 billion, PepsiCo is committed to
sustainable growth, known as Performance with Purpose. By
dedicating ourselves to offering a broad array of choices for
healthy, convenient, and fun nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, PepsiCo balances strong financial returns with
giving back to our communities worldwide. For more information visit pepsico.com.
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is a full-service law firm
which offers depth of knowledge in core industry sectors,
including Restaurant, Food & Beverage; Wine, Beer & Spirits;
and Consumer & Retail. We deliver practice strength in mergers and acquisitions, gift card law, ABC law, public and private
equity transactions, meal and rest break litigation, trademark
and trade dress protection, brand licensing, franchising, consumer class action litigation, debt financing, insurance coverage, and executive compensation and benefits. Our practice is
organized to offer our clients a maximum return on the firm’s
collective knowledge about our clients’ businesses, industries,
and legal issues. We work in multidisciplinary teams that allow
us to anticipate trends and bring a 360-degree perspective to
complex business and legal issues—helping clients to take
greater advantage of new opportunities and better mitigate
risk. This collaborative work style helps produce the results
our clients seek.
Piper Jaffray is a leading investment bank and asset management firm serving clients in the U.S. and internationally. Our
proven advisory teams combine deep product and sector
expertise with ready access to global capital. Founded in 1895,
the firm is headquartered in Minneapolis with offices across
the United States and in Hong Kong, London, and Zurich. The current business environment demands that every company, new or established, optimize its profitability, outdistance the competition, be vigilant in its quest to attract top
talent, and grow revenue. Our focus is to help you make
more money, increase sales, and energize your team! We
save you money and optimize your profitability The restaurant
industry is in a period of turmoil; challenged by a housing
crisis, a credit crunch, and rising commodity prices, companies have slowed growth, reduced staff, closed locations,
and sought ways to reduce costs and increase sales. Our
supply chain, operations, and financial experts aid companies
in identifying cost savings in overhead and operating areas.
Recognizing the need for an immediate ROI, we perform an
assessment that defines potential savings and helps you to
execute a plan against your goals. For more details visit
resultsthrustategy.com.
SoCal AMA is the Los Angeles-based chapter of the
national American Marketing Association. The AMA is the
largest marketing organization in North America with a history spanning over 70 years. With members from some of
the largest companies in the greater Los Angeles area,
SoCal AMA is the place to go if you want to plug into the
local marketing community.
Technomic, Inc. is the most recognized and experienced
marketing research and management consulting firm serving
the foodservice industry. Founded in 1966, the company has
a broad and diverse base of domestic and international clients, including major manufacturing, distribution, and supermarket companies, as well as chain restaurants and other
foodservice operators, and related trade associations.
Technomic helps clients capitalize on growth opportunities
and meet market challenges by providing perspectives and
intelligence on a broad scope of topics.
The Culinary Edge is a business advising firm specializing in
strategic branding, culinary, and operational solutions for the
global food and restaurant industry. With clients ranging from
multi-unit national chains to start-up entrepreneurs, the company has a consistent track record of growing bottom lines
and establishing long-term, sustainable growth for its clients.
Headquartered in San Francisco, The Culinary Edge is a
privately held company.
Trinity Capital is an internationally recognized boutique
investment bank in the restaurant and food sectors. Having
completed over $4 billion of successful restaurant assignments, Trinity boasts a client list that includes Burger King,
Yum! Brands, Panda, and Dunkin’. It has also been hired to
complement the restaurant efforts of many of the nation’s
most successful private equity organizations, including
Bain Capital, Thomas H. Lee & Company, The Carlyle
Group, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Sun Capital,
and Lee Equity Partners. Trinity prides itself on providing
each client the full complement of the firm’s professionals,
resources, expertise, and experience. For more details visit
trinitycapitalllc.com or call (310) 268-8330.
Vine Solutions is the leading restaurant accounting and consulting firm for the premier restaurateur. Our specialized restaurant financial services provide sophisticated tools,
proprietary software, and experienced professionals to help
maximum business potential. We strive to offer the best business services possible with personalized hands-on guidance.
Our goal is to provide the most accurate and timely information so restaurateurs can make informed and timely decisions
for their continued success. Providing a full range of services, Vine Solutions helps organize all aspects of restaurant
accounting needs, including monthly and annual financials,
vendor payments, and payroll. We also provide consulting
services on everything from concept development to analytical services.
Founded in 1888, Young’s Market Company is one of the
nation’s largest distributors of fine wines and distilled spirits,
serving accounts in Hawaii, Arizona, Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Alaska, and Montana. Young’s Market
Company distributes fine wines by Trinchero, Kobrand, Wilson
Daniels, Hess, DFV, Kenwood, etc. and distilled products from
Barcardi, Brown-Forman, Remy USA, William Grant and Sons,
and Proximo, among others. The company’s standard is
providing excellent customer service to suppliers and retail
customers, including national accounts, restaurants, bars,
nightclubs, hotels, grocery stores, drug stores, and wine and
liquor shops. The Estates Group was started in 2000 with the
initial concept of providing an even finer level of service to
1,000 of Young Market Company’s top accounts—a number
that has since grown to 4,500—by offering salespeople who
have a specialized knowledge and background in wine. The
wineries represented by The Estates Group tend to be smaller
in size and offer estate-grown fruit from around the world.
The personalized service is generally enjoyed by savvy wine
programs and top Zagat accounts.
Planning Committee
Daryl Ansel, Director of Food & Beverage,
UCLA Housing & Hospitality. Restaurant
industry veteran Daryl Ansel brings more than
two decades of experience to his duties as
Director of Food and Beverage for UCLA
Housing and Hospitality Services. His experience includes operations and finance in executive level positions at a diverse and prestigious group of
food service companies, including the Starr Restaurant
Organization of Philadelphia, Los Angeles-based Grill
Concepts (NASDAQ: GRIL), and Universal Studios
Hollywood. Mr. Ansel holds a Bachelor of Arts in
Economics from the University of California at Berkeley
and a Master’s in Hospitality Management from Cornell
University’s School of Hotel Administration.
Sarah E. Atkinson, Director, Social Media
Marketing, FohBoh, Inc. As a founding
employee of FohBoh, Ms. Atkinson has spent
the last 4 years in community management,
development, advertising, and partnership
management. She has served as a panelist at
several marketing and restaurant industry conferences. Ms. Atkinson brings over 11 years of professional
experience in publishing, social media, and foodservice. She
earned her degree in Communication and Business from
Arizona State University in 2005. In her spare time she
enjoys traveling, watching sports, and drinking wine. She is a
reality TV junkie and a passionate San Francisco Giants fan.
Lynda Boyer, Vice President, CBRE, Inc.
Since 1982, Ms. Boyer has been a trusted
advisor to restaurateurs across the country.
She has successfully represented restaurant
owners, operators, chefs, developers, landlords, shopping centers, and investors in the
acquisition, disposition, development, and
leasing of restaurant-related real estate. Ms. Boyer received
her undergraduate degree in Finance from the Haas
Business School at the University of California, Berkeley.
She also worked as a professional development officer for
UCLA, raising unrestricted funds for the university for 15
years. Ms. Boyer is also a member of the C5 Youth
Foundation Board of Directors.
Karla Cameron, is a Director of National
Account Sales for the Dr Pepper Snapple
Group Inc. A restaurant and lodging industry
veteran with over 21 years experience. Ms.
Cameron has an extensive knowledge base,
with cross functional expertise in national
account management, contract negotiation,
operations, and managing strategic partnerships. She currently serves on multiple boards in both the public and private arenas, including the Rebuild New Orleans Foundation.
In 2005, Ms. Cameron was honored as one of the top fifteen
female executives in Los Angeles County.
Huntley Castner, Executive Vice President,
Yogurtland Franchising Inc. Prior to joining
Yogurtland, Mr. Huntley served as Vice President,
Strategy and Finance on the senior team at
Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. Before joining the
Panda team, Mr. Castner worked at several strategy consulting firms, including Swander Pace &
Company and LEK Consulting. He also founded and operated
the San Francisco-based WA-HA-KA Mexican Grill and Baton
Rouge Cajon Roadhouse restaurants during the 1990s.
Damon S. Chandik, Managing Director, Head
of Restaurant Investment Banking, Piper
Jaffray & Co. Mr. Chandik is a managing
director at Piper Jaffray and is head of the
firm’s Restaurant Group. He is focused on
providing investment banking and mergers
and acquisitions advisory services to restaurant companies. He has 15 years of investment banking
experience, including public equity and debt offerings,
private capital raising, mergers, acquisitions, leveraged
buyouts, and recapitalizations.
Cyrus DeVere, Vice President, Global Human Resources,
5.11 Tactical Inc. Mr. DeVere started his career as a dishwasher 25 years ago and has enjoyed a restaurant leadership journey. He now serves in the apparel industry with
5.11. He understands that “greatness and excellence” are by
design, and intentionally approaches results accordingly. He
relishes exploiting opportunities and bettering people’s lives.
Mr. DeVere holds a MS in Executive Leadership from
University of San Diego, a BS in Business Management from
Arizona State University, and is currently working on his doctorate in Business Administration from Walden University.
Wallace Blair Doolin, Chairman, People Report & Black Box
Intelligence (see Conference Speakers & Panelists for photo
& full bio)
David Goldstein is a highly respected, restaurant industry veteran with over 25 years’ experience of progressive leadership. With an
emphasis on high growth operations, and R&D,
Mr. Goldstein has held executive-level positions
in some of the industry’s leading brands, such
as TGI Friday’s, Kenny Rogers Roasters, and
Baja Fresh. Since 2007, he has played an essential role
leading Sharky’s Woodfired Mexican Grill as their Chief
Operating Officer.
Steven Goldstein, Partner, The Culinary Edge,
a branding, culinary, and operational solutions
provider for the food and restaurant industry.
With more than 25 years’ experience in the
foodservice and consumer packaged goods
industries, Mr. Goldstein focuses on client
development and management as he successfully links food creativity with business strategy and brand
attributes to help deliver sustainable growth. Mr. Goldstein
is a graduate of the Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant
Management at The University of Houston, Texas, and The
Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY.
Anna M. Graves, Conference Chair, Co-Leader of the
Restaurant, Food & Beverage Industry Group, Pillsbury
Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (see Message from the
Conference Chair for photo & full bio)
Sarah Grover, Executive Vice President and
Chief Concept Officer of California Pizza
Kitchen, Inc. Ms. Grover joined the company in
1990 as director of public relations and has
served as senior vice president of marketing
since November 2000, Chief Communications
Officer since July 2008, and was recently promoted to her current role. She is also president of the
California Pizza Kitchen Foundation. In 1996 and 2007, Ms.
Grover was named one of the “Marketing 100” and
“Marketing 50” respectively, by Advertising Age magazine, a
distinction given to the top marketers in the United States.
Rod Guinn is restaurant industry coverage
leader with FocalPoint Partners LLC, a director
of FohBoh, Inc., and a director of Anthony’s
Coal Fired Pizza. Before FocalPoint, Mr. Guinn
led Wells Fargo Foothill’s Restaurant and
Hospitality business. Several years before this,
he led FleetBoston Financial’s Restaurant, Food
& Beverage Group. Mr. Guinn has spoken at numerous
industry and capital markets events. He writes a bi-weekly
blog on restaurant finance and related topics available on
FohBoh and other sites. Mr. Guinn holds a Master’s in
Business Administration from the Amos Tuck School of
Business Administration, Dartmouth College, and a Bachelor
of Arts from the University of New Mexico.
Terri Henry, terri henry marketing LLC. Ms
Henry founded her company in 2011, after
serving for 12 years as vice president of marketing for Grill Concepts. Having thoroughly
enjoyed 20+ years in the restaurant arena, Ms.
Henry has had extensive experience in both
marketing and operations in concepts such as
Chipotle, Starbucks, and locally owned Norms Restaurants
and Bristol Farms. She is the author of Biscotti, Bars and
Brownies (1997, Crossing Press).
Paul Huffman, President and Founder,
Commodore Advisory Partners, a boutique
investment banking firm. Prior to forming the
company, Mr. Huffman spent 18 years as an
investment banker with several firms, each with
a focus on the restaurant industry. Mr. Huffman
has advised clients in connection with over 90
merger & acquisition, capital raising, and advisory transactions. Mr. Huffman’s experience in the restaurant industry
includes over 40 completed assignments for clients operating in the casual dining, quick service, family dining, and fine
dining sectors. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics
and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.
Justine Hunter, CPA, Business Assurance
Partner, Moss Adams LLP. Ms. Hunter has
served the restaurant and consumer product
industry for over 26 years. Previously with a
Big 4 firm, she has been with Moss Adams for
the past two years. Her background includes
extensive experience in managing multiple clients’ service relationships, including audit and tax services,
and providing strategic acquisition and due diligence services solutions for middle-market companies, as well as
review of process and procedures surrounding internal
control systems.
Leanne Lindsey recently retired from Young’s
Market Company, a distributor of fine wines
and spirits, where she worked for over 30
years. Ms. Lindsey worked in national
accounts, calling on corporate restaurant
chains. Ms. Lindsey has traveled through the
wine country in California and Europe, and has
completed the Society of Wine Educators Program and
received her CSW. She is currently looking to start a wine
and spirits consulting business.
Michael Patrick, Managing Director for
Gallagher Equity Advisors, the Private Equity
Practice of Arthur J. Gallagher. Mr. Patrick is
responsible for the growth and management
nationally of the company’s private equity practice which specializes in advising the private
equity community on acquisitions and strategic
implementation of employee benefits across industries. In
addition, Mr. Patrick is responsible for new client prospecting,
client renewals, marketing, claim analysis, client management,
employee surveying, industry benchmarking, and seminars.
Ron Paul, President and CEO, Technomic, Inc. (see
Conference Speakers and Panelists for photo & full bio)
Stephen Pettise, Managing Principal, Golden
Spike Resources Group, Inc. After heading
successful marketing/strategic planning efforts
with IHOP Corp., Carl Karcher Enterprises, and
Burger King, Mr. Pettise founded Golden Spike
Resources Group to consult in the franchising
and foodservice arenas. Leveraging his experience has enabled Mr. Pettise to focus on consumer strategy
and marketing, business start-ups/acquisitions, emerging
growth chains, and turnarounds. Some of his current or past
clients include Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina, Pepsico, HMS,
McAlister’s, Panda, Polly’s Inc. and Baja Fresh.
Lauralynn Rogers manages the Internal Audit
function for DineEquity, franchisor of IHOP
and Applebee’s. She is responsible for
internal control and process improvement,
the franchise sales reporting program, and
Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Ms. Rogers
makes regular presentations on audit and
internal control matters to the Audit & Finance Committee
of the DineEquity Board of Directors.
Teresa Siriani, Industry People Expert. (see Conference
Speakers and Panelists for photo & full bio)
Robert D. Valasquez, Audit Senior Manager,
Ernst & Young, LLP. Mr. Valasquez has over 12
years’ experience in serving the attestation
needs of high-growth companies, both publicly
held and private, in the real estate, hospitality,
and construction industries. In addition, he has
extensive experience in the coordination, scoping, and testing for various entities that are required to comply with section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. His clients
have included IHOP Corp, Applebee’s International Inc.,
Panda Restaurant Group, Elephant Bar Restaurants,
Pinkberry, and King Taco, Inc. Robert is a CPA in the State
of California and earned his BS in Business Administration
with an emphasis in Accounting from California State
University, Los Angeles.