General Session | October 20, 2015 | 8:30am - 9:30pm
The Perfect Pitch
Following a global contest, three concepts will be selected to be part of The Perfect Pitch. Listen and learn as entrepreneurs pitch their fast casual concepts to a panel of distinguished investors and consultants who will provide on-the-spot advice.
PANELISTS
Ben Butler | Founder | Rock Creek MT LLC
Ben has extensive experience growing brands in Asia, Latin and North America. His advisory clients include PE firms (CVC Capital Partners, ACTIS) and brands (Dave & Busters, Bloomin Brands). Ben is an active angel investor in restaurants. He serves as a Board Director for AgroAmerica; Central America’s largest sustainable banana and palm producer, and as Oaktree Capital’s Board representative for Quiznos. Prior to his Advisory practice, Ben enjoyed 18 years with YUM! Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell) as President Long John Silver’s and A&W restaurants. GM YUM! Latin America, and VP Business Development/CFO for YUM! Asia.
David Oddi | Founding Partner | Goode Partners
David is a founding partner of Goode Partners, a private equity firm that focuses exclusively on investment opportunities in the restaurant, retail, apparel, direct marketing, and branded consumer product sectors. The firm has established itself as a partner of choice to entrepreneurs by leveraging its unique combination of investment capital, a team of professionals with experience investing in and operating some of the world’s premiere consumer brands and an extensive industry network. Investments in the restaurant sector have included Chuy’s, Elephant Bar, Marie Callender’s, Mimi’s Café, and Rosa Mexicano. David is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Larry Reinstein | President | LJR Hospitality Ventures
Larry is President of LJR Hospitality Ventures, a consulting firm that provides profitable solutions to private equity, owners and operators of restaurant companies. Having led multiple companies, he is one of the original innovators and leaders in fast casual and is past chair of the Fast Casual Industry council.
Moderator: Kent Barkouras | EVP, Enterprise Services | Primary Color Systems
Kent is a 30-year veteran in the restaurant industry and pioneered the first web-to-print marketing portal that supported the needs of market leaders in Fast Casual, QSR, Casual and Family dining. Kent believes that partnering with innovative suppliers to maximize the most out of every opportunity while the continuing tightening the supply chain is critical to the collective success of both franchisor and franchisee. Kent currently serves as EVP of enterprise services at Primary Color Systems, a leading supplier of marketing execution services to the restaurant industry.
Sponsored by Primary Color
