Breakout Session / Monday / October 6, 2025 / 2:45 PM

The Geography of Profit: Location Intelligence for Restaurant Success

Restaurant professionals will leave this session with the knowledge and tools to optimize financial performance across all restaurant locations.

We will explore:

  • Site selection and feasibility analysis by evaluating demographics, competition and market potential.
  • Developing accurate financial projections for new and existing locations and creating and managing budgets to control costs and maximize profitability.
  • Cost control and profit optimization by identifying and mitigating cost drivers specific to each location.
  • Location-based marketing and promotions.

PANELISTS

Sam Ballas, CFE, CCIM | CEO/ President | ECW Enterprises
Jason Sobocinski | Co-Founder & President | Haven Hot Chicken
Jason Sobocinski the president and co-founder of Haven Hot Chicken. After working in restaurants as everything from a waiter to a baker, cook and manager, Jason earned his master’s degree in gastronomy at Boston University. A serial entrepreneur, Jason’s hospitality projects include Caseus Fromagerie, Black Hog Brewing, Olmo, Ordinary, Mystic Cheese and Continuum Distilling. As President, Jason heads commercial, driving brand growth, guest engagement and revenue strategy.
Susan Taylor | President & CEO | Juice It Up!
A highly successful restaurant industry veteran with 30+ years of experience, Susan Taylor joined Juice It Up! in 2019 as VP Franchise Operations and was promoted to President and CEO of the brand in early 2020. In the five years following Taylor’s arrival, Juice It Up! has achieved record sales, generated impressive franchise momentum and significantly ramped up expansion efforts, with sights set on doubling unit count in the next four years. Menu innovation also tops the list of Taylor’s critically successful endeavors, ensuring the brand balances flavor and functionality and remains on the vanguard of ingredient trends.
Greg Vojnovic | Chief Development Officer | Slim Chickens
Greg Vojnovic is a balanced and experienced senior executive with over three decades of transformational change and performance. Known for entrepreneurial thinking, winning strategies and a top developer of talent and culture. A successful record of improving or building organizations from scratch, strategic planning, acquisition, development, and winning real estate strategy. Greg has spent most of his career as a key leader in rapidly growing organizations and turnarounds, most notably as a part of Cheryl Bachelder’s team for the Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen rebirth. Then with Paul Brown at Arby’s and then at Inspire Brands, leading growth in the rebirth of the iconic brand, rebuilding the aged assets and improving first-year operational performance. This led to his role at Inspire Brands and repositioning Buffalo Wilds Wings and the new prototype in the repositioning of that great brand.