BREAKOUT SESSION / TUESDAY / OCTOBER 20, 2020 / 1:15 PM ET
We’re Living in a Mobile Revolution
It may sound dramatic to call these times that we are living in a mobile revolution, but that doesn’t make it any less true.
As we see more technology and disruption in the restaurant market, brands must continue to adjust accordingly. Where restaurants used to only focus on their menus, physical environments and the experience created there, they now must become experts in technology and in creating experiences for guests who may never set foot in a physical restaurant.
This session will teach attendees how to do just that.
PANELISTS
Scott Redler | COO & Co-Founder | Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Growing up in St. Louis, Scott Redler got his start in the restaurant business at age 15 catering events for groups of two to 6,000. Paying his way through college by managing a steakhouse, he attended the University of Missouri and earned a degree in restaurant and hotel management. Scott has managed and overseen everything from 5-star restaurants to corporate cafeterias in Wichita, St. Louis, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. In 2002, Scott partnered with Bill Simon and his brother Randy to launch Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. After franchising in 2004, Freddy’s has grown to more than 350 domestic locations that serve 32 states across the country.
Kelly Roddy | CEO | Saladworks
Kelly Roddy took his position as the CEO of Saladworks in August of 2019 with more than 30 years of industry experience. With a strong brand foundation and management team, Kelly is focused on rapid growth and franchisee profitability. Kelly most recently served as President of Schlotzsky’s where he repositioned the brand from a sandwich deli chain to a high quality eatery with more than twice the average unit volumes in sales. Prior to Schlotzsky’s, Kelly was Director of Retail Operations and Director of Sales and Marketing at HEB. He was also the Executive Director at Scholastic and worked for over 10 years in various positions at Walmart.
Steve Schulze | Co-Founder & CEO | Nékter Juice Bar
Now with more than 140 locations across 15 U.S. states, another 175 in development and more than $100 million in systemwide sales, Steve Schulze, as co-founder and CEO, has grown Nékter Juice Bar into the clear leader and pioneering champion of the elevated juice bar experience in the $2 billion juice bar industry. Founded in 2010 upon a promise to reinvent a restaurant category that had lost its way, Nékter Juice Bar has been a catalyst for change, vowing ingredient integrity, menu transparency and authenticity across its menu of freshly made, clean and nutritious juices, Superfood smoothies, acai bowls and other healthy snacks.
Bill Valentas | CFO | Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Bill Valentas is Chief Financial Officer for the fast-casual restaurant franchise Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. He oversees day-to-day proceedings of the finance, accounting and IT departments and is credited with implementing a business-intelligence software that collects and streamlines data for convenient interpretation. Prior to Freddy’s, Bill worked nearly 20 years in the financial realm, most recently as CFO and COO for MoJack Distributors, LLC, a product and sales distribution company. Bill’s restaurant-industry experience includes SVP and COO of Shared Services with a company called LS Management, a restaurant business that oversees 325 concepts, including Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Texas Land & Cattle Steak House and Sullivan’s Steakhouse.
MODERATOR
Brian Whitney | VP, Restaurants | Appetize
Brian Whitney leads Appetize’s sales efforts in the Professional and Enterprise space. He brings over 20 years of POS experience to Appetize and has worked with Radiant Systems, NCR and Allure over that term. Brian has worked globally in over 20 countries on 5 continents in industries throughout hospitality, airports, cinemas, stadiums and retail. An avid college sports fan he lives in Atlanta with his wife Monica and daughter Annabeth.
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