Breakout Session / Monday / October 14, 2024 / 11:30 AM

Building Restaurant Empires: Redefining Operational Excellence Through Technology

Join this session to explore cutting-edge solutions that revolutionize customer engagement and operational excellence. Attendees will discuss how to future-proof their brands while also sharing best practices for optimizing workflow, inventory management and data utilization to drive efficiency and cost savings.

The experts will also dive into innovative strategies to engage, retain, and build loyalty and unlock untapped opportunities for growth through personalized marketing, strategic partnerships and emerging technologies.


PANELISTS

Geoff Alexander | President & CEO | Wow Bao
Geoff Alexander joined Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) in 1993 and following his work on multiple concepts within LEYE’s portfolio, he took over LEYE’s Asian concept, Wow Bao in 2009. A pioneer in both technology and social media, Geoff redefined the fast casual space by implementing mobile ordering, self-ordering kiosks, bicycle delivery and nationwide shipping. Geoff has overseen Wow Bao’s inclusion into airports, major sports stadiums, university campuses, music venues, grocers around the country sell Wow Bao’s frozen retail line. Shortly after being named to both Nation’s Restaurant News’ Power List and Most Influential Restaurant CEOs in the country, Geoff changed the game in the restaurant industry once again by creating Wow Bao Now; launching more than 500 Wow Bao Dark / Virtual Kitchens in more than 400 cities in less than 18 months.
Gregg Majewski | CEO | Craveworthy Brands
Gregg Majewski is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Craveworthy Brands. Previously, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches. The Craveworthy Brands portfolio includes Wing It On!, The Budlong Southern Chicken, Krafted Burger Bar + Tap, Lucky Cat Poke Company, Pastizza, and Scramblin Ed’s, as well as legacy brands Genghis Grill, BD’s Mongolian Grill, and Flat Top Grill, all formerly part of Mongolian Concepts Restaurant Group, for which Gregg previously served as CEO. Known for driving business transformation while putting people first, Gregg leads teams with humility. His approach includes introducing new revenue streams and crafting effective grassroots marketing strategies. Gregg serves on the Board of the Texas Restaurant Association and is a member of the board of Big Chicken. He also serves on the Advisory Board of Ovation, the Fast Casual Industry Council, and the Lunchbox Food Tech Council.
Chris Schultz | CEO | Voodoo Doughnut
Chris Schultz, CEO - Chris boasts a remarkable track record in expanding renowned brands both nationally and globally, with over four decades of industry experience. In the 1990s, he played a vital role in Starbucks' U.S. and international growth, including entry into the UK. Chris was a founding team member at Mod Pizza, growing it from one store to over 300 locations nationally and internationally. His strategic acumen and leadership made Mod Pizza a fast-casual industry leader. Since 2017, as CEO at Voodoo Doughnut, he's tripled the company's size and expanded nationally. Chris' solid business sense, leadership, and growth insights have been pivotal at Voodoo Doughnut, which has grown from five to 22 locations in seven states. Chris has twice been recognized as “One of Most Influential CEO’s” by National Restaurant News and recently as one of “The Top 25 Food and Beverage Executives of 2023” by C-Suite Magazine.
André Vener | Founding Partner | Dog Haus
Along with his two business partners, André Vener co-founded Dog Haus in April 2010, with the mission of elevating stadium food classics into culinary masterworks. Over the last decade, Dog Haus has expanded from its Pasadena, CA, base to nearly 50 locations from coast-to-coast. André and his partners have spearheaded the craft-casual brand’s rapid expansion by forming alliances with leading ghost kitchen networks, an innovative partnership with Live Nation and the 2020 introduction of The Absolute Brands – a suite of virtual restaurant concepts spun off from several of Dog Haus’ signature menu items, such as the Bad Mutha Clucka. André has been interviewed as a restaurant industry expert on multiple national platforms, including CNN, FOX News Channel and MSNBC. He and his Dog Haus partners were featured on the cover of QSR Magazine’s April 2020 edition, and they have been profiled in Entrepreneur magazine, Food & Wine and more.
MODERATOR

Ming-Tai Huh | Head of Food and Beverage | Square
Ming-Tai Huh is a James Beard–nominated restaurant owner and technology executive – he currently serves as the Head of Food and Beverage for Square, and he is also a Partner at Cambridge Street Hospitality Group with six restaurant concepts (and more) located in Greater Boston. Ming recognized the need for better restaurant technology when he opened his first restaurant in 2012, and he founded a loyalty software and hardware startup before later joining Toast to lead consumer product development. After working at Toast for seven years, Ming joined Square in 2023. He is a proud resident of Cambridge, MA.
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