AI Powered Retention: Keeping Talent, Protecting EBITDA

Matt Armstrong, along with Thad Hudgens, founded Huey Magoo’s in 2004. Matt has brought a complement to the leadership team by providing expertise in the areas of development and construction to help grow Huey Magoo’s into a brand that guests continually rave about. Matt has committed his lifelong business career to ensure the success of Huey Magoo’s. His goal is to continue the pattern of strategic growth by expanding franchise locations throughout key markets in the United States. He holds a seat on the Huey Magoo’s Restaurants board of directors, and serves on various boards of Central Florida charities and ministries. Beyond his work at Huey Magoo’s, Matt is a devout husband and father of two children, while keeping his faith as the centerpiece of their family.

Christina Coyle is the Founder & CEO of Amp11, the company behind Cait™, the AI Shift Manager helping restaurant leaders run better shifts, build stronger teams, and drive sustainable growth. A recognized workforce operations strategist, Christina led large-scale talent transformation initiatives at McDonald's and has helped enterprise organizations optimize how they attract, deploy, and develop talent to improve business performance. Christina made her mark on high-volume hiring through her work on McHire, one of the restaurant industry's most influential AI-powered recruiting innovations. Today, she is focused on what comes next: bringing practical AI to the restaurant frontline through Cait™, empowering operators and managers to improve shift execution, team performance, and operational consistency. Through Amp11, Christina is helping shape the future of restaurant operations by bringing workforce intelligence and AI to the frontline—built with operators, for operators.

As President and CEO since 2020, Scott Ford has led Hawaiian Bros through remarkable growth, guiding its evolution from a regional concept to a thriving national franchise. With over 30 years of experience in restaurant leadership, including roles at Applebee’s, Goodcents, and as a multi-time entrepreneur, Scott blends big-brand strategy with an operator’s mindset. His focus on operational excellence and innovation has helped Hawaiian Bros scale while staying true to its culture and the Aloha Spirit. Through his leadership, the company continues to refine how technology and hospitality work together to create a better guest and team member experience.