Suzy Badaracco is the President of Culinary Tides, Inc. and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminalistics, Associate degree in Culinary Arts, and Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition. Suzy has been trained in military intelligence, Chaos theory, and predictive analysis techniques and has been practicing trends intelligence and predictive forecasting for more than 18 years. Using these techniques, she has been able to successfully predict and profile government, technology, adversary and ally, food, flavor, consumer, industry, and health trends. Culinary Tides, Inc. helps food industry partners navigate trends by revealing relevant patterns so they can create products that connect with customers. They specialize in foretelling a trend’s birth and forecasting its origin, trajectory, and longevity. The forecast results are used to create entrance, navigation, and exit strategies.

Jessica Bograd is the Senior Director of Culinary at City Barbeque, where she brings over two decades of foodservice expertise and a deep love for authentic BBQ. Since joining City Barbeque in 2022, she’s led the brand’s culinary strategy, from innovative menu development and product research to cutting-edge kitchen design and recipe creation. Jessica’s expertise stems from her 20+ years in foodservice, as well as 16 years as a competitive BBQ pitmaster, and she channels these experiences to deliver true BBQ mastery to City Barbeque guests. Jessica also facilitates City Barbeque’s Pitmaster Certification Program, an intensive 8-month culinary education series designed to deepen BBQ knowledge across the company’s restaurant teams. This program partners with experts at Ohio State University’s meat science department to explore protein science, advanced BBQ techniques, fire management, and flavor-building, equipping City Barbeque’s team members to elevate their craft.

Francesco Brachetti is the Founder and CEO of AVO, a seasonally inspired, fast-casual restaurant with five locations throughout New York City. A seasoned entrepreneur, author, and business leader, he boasts a prestigious academic background and extensive experience in hospitality and finance. Francesco began his career at Dafiti, Rocket Internet in Mexico City, where he led the Business Intelligence department for several years before founding AVO. He holds a Double Master’s degree in International Management from ESADE Business School and in Finance from RSM Erasmus University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Bocconi University.

Noah Burgess, who joined Juice It Up! in 2012, oversees product development and product quality as the brand’s Research & Development Scientist. He uses his background in science to create the perfect balance of powerful nutritional properties and delicious flavors to meet the tastes and dietary needs of the brand’s broad, discerning customer base. He also plays a crucial role in product strategy, innovation, franchisee training and education, procurement, and operations support.

Mike Burns is the Chief Executive Officer at &pizza. He has nearly two decades of operational experience across brands in both the quick-service and fast-casual sectors. Most recently, Mike was COO and EVP for RAVE Restaurant Group, helping lead both its Pie Five Pizza and Pizza Inn concepts. His experience also includes time as the Vice President of Operations for Pei Wei Asian Kitchen and over a decade with the popular Bojangles franchise overseeing more than 175 corporate operated locations.

Cherryh Cansler is VP of Events for Networld Media Group and publisher of FastCasual.com. She has been covering the restaurant industry since 2012. Her byline has appeared in Forbes, The Kansas City Star and American Fitness magazine, among many others.

Tom Carr is the Chief Marketing Officer for Chicken Salad Chick. He has brought to the Chick Family nearly 30 years of experience as a strategic, creative, and innovative marketing executive across a diverse range of industries. This includes entertainment, apparel, restaurants, consumer products, and media. He was twice named “marketer of the year” within the cable television industry. Tom hails from New Orleans, a city whose culture he credits for his unique take on brand storytelling.

Carl Comeaux is the CEO of Crust Pizza Co., a fast-growing limited-service pizza chain that has redefined the local pizzeria experience. With over 22 years of leadership experience, Carl has led Crust Pizza Co.'s transformation from a small local pizzeria to a rapidly expanding franchise with 29 open locations, 9 in development and aims to reach 250 locations across the Southeast U.S. within the next nine years. Under Carl's leadership, Crust Pizza Co. has achieved impressive milestones, including an average unit volume (AUV) of $1.65 million, the development of proprietary technology systems, a 10% reduction in cost of goods, and strategic vendor partnerships to enhance brand efficiency. Additionally, Carl has successfully built and scaled two franchises before Crust Pizza Co., showcasing his proven expertise in the industry. Carl is known for his motivational, strategic leadership style and his hands-on approach to scaling concepts from infancy to franchise success.

Jerome Dees Jr. is an award-winning sales leader with nearly 20 years of experience in the restaurant and CPG industries. Recipient of the National Restaurant Association’s Advanced Leadership Award in 2024 and named among the Most Influential Restaurant Executives in 2021 and 2022, Jerome has driven growth at brands like Bagel Brands, Le Boulanger, Wise Sons, and Tacolicious. Passionate about empowering others, Jerome mentors aspiring entrepreneurs and has sold millions of bagels and tacos while fostering community impact through leadership and education.

Kayla Dillon is a dynamic marketing leader with extensive experience in the restaurant industry, including key roles at Hard Rock Cafe, Bar Louie, and Virtual Dining Concepts. Currently serving as the Vice President of Marketing at Cheba Hut, Kayla drives bold and unconventional marketing strategies that align with the brand's cannabis-themed culture while fueling growth and customer engagement. With a background in hospitality marketing and experience leading creative campaigns, Kayla excels at building brand narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. Her expertise spans creative strategy, local store marketing, and innovative campaign development. Kayla’s proven track record in fast-paced industries reflects her ability to blend bold ideas with data-driven insights, making her a trusted partner for businesses seeking growth and differentiation.

Filippo Fiori, PhD is the Co-founder, President, and Head Chef of Due Cucina Italiana, a fast-casual restaurant concept dedicated to bringing authentic Italian cuisine to the U.S. A trained engineer with a PhD in Nuclear Science and Technology, Filippo applies his scientific expertise to perfecting pasta and baked goods, combining tradition with innovation. His journey spans from nuclear safety analysis to culinary consulting on a Chinese cooking TV show with over 400 million viewers. Passionate about making high-quality Italian food accessible, Filippo is a firm believer that cooking is an art refined by science.

Stacey Gelber is the Vice President of Human Resources at Blaze Pizza, leading people strategy, culture, and franchise training initiatives. With a strong background in talent development and workforce optimization, Stacey has played a key role in leveraging technology to enhance recruitment, hiring, training, and compensation strategies. Passionate about the intersection of people and technology, Stacey brings a forward-thinking approach to addressing industry challenges, including labor shortages and rising operational costs.

Cassie Ghaffar, a native of Houston and dynamic businesswoman, has a diverse background in both science and business. While pursuing her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston, she simultaneously owned her own business in the nightclub industry and worked as a consultant for dental practices. Through these experiences, she gained expertise in business and marketing within the medical and healthcare industries. Cassandra joined ZT Wealth in 2009 and quickly aligned with the company's vision. In addition to her responsibilities in corporate marketing and events, she spearheaded the management and consulting for the dental division at ZT Wealth, drawing from her firsthand experience and passion for dentistry. She made an impressive mark in her career after climbing the corporate ladder as Senior VP of Marketing and Operations at ZT Wealth. Shortly after having a family, she embarked on a new entrepreneurial venture and focused her effects into becoming a franchisee of Amazing Lash Studio with six successful locations in Dallas and Austin.

Kyle Gordon is a dedicated husband, father and restaurateur. He was born and raised in Austin, Texas, where he attended the University of Texas at Austin. After school, he spent many years as a leader in the restaurant industry. Then, in 2013, he started his own restaurant concept, Dillas Quesadillas. Dillas now has 11 locations, with many more under contract, over 400 team members throughout North Texas, East Texas and Louisiana, and has sales trending towards $20 million. In 2020, he was honored by the Dallas Business Journal as a 40 under 40 recipient and by the Nation’s Restaurant News as one of the Most Influential Restaurant Executives. He's a passionate hospitality guy with ketchup in his veins that has the vision to see Dillas worldwide. He and his wife and business partner, Maggie, have two children, Parker (14) and Grace (12), who you'll find him spending time with when he's not flippin' Primo quesadillas!

Geoff Henry is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience leading many of the world’s most recognized consumer brands, including Jamba, Coca-Cola, Dasani, Dunkin’ bottled coffee, and Gold Peak and Honest teas. Geoff joined Gong cha in 2023 as President of the Americas region. Under his leadership, Gong cha grew its U.S. store count by 19% YOY, and was ranked #1 in Tea on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® list. Prior to joining Gong cha, Geoff was President of Jamba, and a senior executive with Coca-Cola for twelve years, where he oversaw their portfolio of water, tea, and coffee brands.

Troy Hooper joined Pepper Lunch as one of the three global business unit CEO’s for the brand, and oversees Pepper Lunch’s parent company in North America, Hot Palette America. Troy brings 30 years of unparalleled experience in hospitality, operations management and executive leadership to this role, which has fueled Pepper Lunch’s infrastructure development, growth efforts, and brand deliverables, creating a fruitful franchise model for the North American market. Throughout his career, Troy has successfully built new concepts, rebranded existing restaurants, and improved well-established venues for iconic brands. Troy’s decades of experience and business acumen brings a breadth of knowledge to the rapidly growing global brand, Pepper Lunch.

With over two decades of leadership in the hospitality and franchise industries, Andy Huang is a dynamic force behind the success of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. As the Chief Operating Officer, he oversees all day-to-day operations of the franchise, including development, corporate strategy, procurement, purchasing, human resources, franchise relations, and training. Before joining L&L, Andy led the Hawaii region for Advantage Rent-A-Car, where he doubled the number of locations, driving annual revenues to exceed $35 million. His ability to scale operations while maintaining quality and efficiency was key to the company's regional success. Andy’s journey in the restaurant industry began during his college years, where he started in an entry-level position and worked his way up to general manager. His passion for creating exceptional hospitality experiences drives his work every day.

As President and Founder of JRI Hospitality, Jason Ingermanson’s focus is on generating enthusiasm for the company’s family of brands and delivering exceptional experiences to every guest who walks through their doors. An experienced restaurateur, business manager, and leader, Jason takes pride in JRI’s ability to foster strong community connections through quality food and genuine service. Under his leadership, JRI Hospitality has successfully opened more than 85 Freddy’s franchises across the country, with plans to open 40 more in the next decade. Jason has also spearheaded the expansion of the company’s other brands, including Chompie’s, Mokas Coffee and Eatery, and Original Grande restaurants. Mokas Coffee and Eatery, which began as a single café, has grown into a thriving concept with multiple locations—and has launched its franchising program to bring its signature coffee and dining experience to new markets.

Rebecca Kahn boasts a decade-long track record as a dynamic Franchise Business Leader. Her expertise lies in spearheading expansive operational field initiatives, orchestrating substantial portfolio acquisitions, overseeing restaurant development, and devising comprehensive operational strategies. Prior to joining the Gong cha team, Kahn served as the Franchise Business Partner overseeing the US Mid-Atlantic region at Burger King, where she played a pivotal role in steering the company's rebranding efforts and spearheading its digital transformation. Before her tenure at Burger King, Khan spent six years as a consultant specializing in enhancing operational efficiency and driving profitability for Subway franchisees.

Sherif Mityas serves as Chief Executive Officer of BRIX Holdings and as an Operating Partner for JAMCO Interests LLC. He focuses on supporting the group in the areas of strategic positioning, growth, and M&A, while leading the shared services and brand teams of the current portfolio companies of BRIX Holdings, LLC and Amici Partners Group, LLC. Prior to this role, Mityas has held various executive positions in consulting and the retail-restaurant industry sectors most notably as the chief experience officer for TGI FRIDAYS and as the chief executive officer for Hollywood Video/Movie Gallery. Mityas received a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering from Boston University, a M.S. in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and an M.B.A. from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

Jim Mizes is the founder/entrepreneur’s best friend and partner as he spent 20+ years working to scale and build new brands. After an initial career in finance, Jim moved to Operations in the late 80’s with Taco Bell. At Taco Bell, Jim pioneered the 59/79/99 cent menu of the early 90’s that changed the value equation for fast food. In the early 90’s, Jim shifted to working with founders, first with Noah’s Bagels for 4 years as the chain grew from 8 to 80 restaurants. He later moved to Jamba Juice and supported growth from 50 to 450 restaurants over 5 years. Jim joined Blaze Pizza with 2 restaurants in 2013 and led the team to 340+ restaurants before retiring in 2019. Since retiring, Jim has joined 2 Boards and serves as an advisor to 5 other tech start-ups supporting restaurants.

Sandy Nguyen, a Houston native and first-generation Vietnamese, has achieved remarkable success as an entrepreneur. Graduating from the University of Houston with an accounting degree, she drew inspiration from her mother's entrepreneurial spirit to forge her own path. After successfully managing her initial restaurant startups for over a decade, Sandy redirected her focus toward scaling quick-service restaurants. In 2019, she co-founded Ordinary Concepts and introduced Saigon Hustle, Sunday Press, and Ginger Kale, all-day cafes that proudly showcase her Vietnamese heritage. Sandy firmly believes that food possesses the extraordinary ability to unite people. Her goal is to achieve a space where relationships can flourish, mirroring the bonds and friendships she has built throughout her years in the food and beverage industry. Her goal was to create a welcoming environment where people could experience meaningful connections and create lasting memories.

Zack Oates is an author, husband, father, entrepreneur, and hot tub aficionado (but not in that order, necessarily). He grew up in restaurants before getting into startups. He was voted Top 100 Entrepreneurs, rang the NASDAQ bell, won the world’s biggest business competition, has been to 50 countries, and started 3 companies. He went on over 1,000 dates before he got married and wrote a book, “Dating Never Works…Until it Does.” He currently is Founder and CEO of Ovation, the no. 1 restaurant feedback platform in America, voted Top 50 Most Influential Supplier by Nation’s Restaurant News, and host of “Give an Ovation: A Podcast for Restaurants.”

After 15 years of working his way up through the competitive ranks of NYC’s financial sector, Andrew Pudalov made a conscientious decision to leave his most recent position as Global Head of Fixed Income Derivative Trading at National Australia Bank to pursue an interest he felt was a virtue of higher importance. While he worked his entire adult life for a number of prestigious financial institutions to achieve an expertise in institutional fixed income derivative trading, he simply felt it time to gratify another more altruistic ambition he had always held. Andrew founded Boulder’s University Hill District’s first all-natural bowl/smoothie bar in the fall of 2004, providing a healthy alternative to the common “Hill” fare. After enormous success, Andrew launched a line of frozen grab-n-go bowls soon to meet the ever-mounting demand. Today, he operates Rush Bowls retail, wholesaling, and franchising with over 100 stores in various stages of development throughout the US.

C.J. Ramirez has been a critical player in Dog Haus’ success since 2013, aiding the brand’s mission to elevate American classics into chef-driven culinary creations. Dog Haus has since expanded from its Pasadena, Calif., base to more than 75 locations across 20 states, including 50+ brick-and-mortar restaurants. Using his wealth of knowledge in designing branding strategies that build strong corporate identities, C.J. oversees high-performing creative, marketing and technology teams at Dog Haus that deliver growth through innovation for the brand and its franchisees.

Kelly Roddy is Chief Executive Officer and President of WOWorks, a position he has held since the company’s inception in 2020. Before assuming this role, Kelly held C-suite and other leadership positions as Chief Executive Officer and President of Saladworks, LLC and Garbanzo Franchising Co., LLC; President of Schlotzsky's Franchisor SPV, LLC; and President of Schlotzsky's Franchise, LLC. Kelly has 21 years of additional executive management experience at HEB, Scholastic, and Walmart. Kelly is an active member in the restaurant industry and has spoken multiple times at International Franchise Association (IFA), International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA), Franchise Springboard, Fast Casual, Restaurant Finance and the IFMA Chain Operators Exchange (COEX). Under his vision, WOWorks has grown to six thriving better-for-you restaurant brands that share the value of fresh, clean, healthy-halo ingredients that can be customized to any taste: Saladworks, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, Frutta Bowls, The Simple Greek, Barberitos, and Z!Eats.

Jeff Sinelli serves as Founder, CEO, and Chief Vibe Officer of Sinelli Concepts and its subsidiary brands. He often says, "Anything is Possible!" That includes creating and growing iconic brands, from Which Wich Superior Sandwiches; Genghis Grill; Paciugo Gelato & Caffe; and Supernova Coffee. Sinelli grew up in Detroit, and after achieving a BA at Michigan State and an MBA from City University, Sinelli headed west to exercise his entrepreneurial spirit in Dallas. Before focusing on building multi-unit concepts, he developed dozens of independent restaurants and nightclubs. Two decades ago, Sinelli created Which Wich, prompting leading industry publication QSR Magazine to dub him a "branding phenom" upon its launch. Which Wich was a huge hit from the moment it opened its doors, and immediately saw demand for franchise opportunities. Today, Which Wich is an international brand with hundreds of locations around the globe. The concept continues to grow with multiple locations in development.

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.

Laura Sporrer is the co-founder of Roll Mobility, an innovative app dedicated to making the world more accessible. Roll empowers individuals with disabilities to find accurate, user-sourced information about the accessibility of restaurants, businesses, bathrooms, parking spaces, and more. Driven by a passion for inclusion and practicality, Laura works to ensure that everyone can navigate their communities with confidence and ease. Before launching Roll, Laura spent over 15 years in the restaurant industry, where she wore many hats across franchise marketing, campus and airport development, FDD management, market planning, public relations, and local shop marketing strategy. Her work with brands like Quiznos, HuHot, and Teriyaki Madness showcased her knack for developing creative, nimble strategies that drive growth while staying true to brand values. With a keen eye for detail and a heart for community impact, Laura continues to bridge the gap between innovation and accessibility, ensuring Roll Mobility makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

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 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.

Peter Wiley forged his skills in multimedia, live video production, broadcast television, web, social media and marketing while working with music artists and church organizations in the Northwest. In 2007, Ray recruited him to help launch the Hot Head Burritos brand. Over the last 10+ years, he has produced countless TV, radio, online, print, and in-store marketing campaigns for Hot Head Burritos.

Doug Willmarth joined Beans & Brews Coffeehouse in 2024 as CEO, bringing nearly three decades of experience in multi-unit restaurant leadership. He was previously brand president at MOOYAH Burgers, Fries and Shakes, where he reinvigorated the brand famous for the best cheeseburgers in America. Throughout his career, Doug has specialized in building iconic brands and creating profitable sales growth in franchised restaurant businesses. Prior to MOOYAH, Doug’s restaurant experience includes roles as Chief Brand Officer for Mongolian Concepts, Chief Marketing Officer for Wingstop, and Director of National Marketing at Pizza Hut. Doug’s passion for best-in-class franchisee support and understanding of key sales and profit levers for restaurants are key to the success of franchisees at Beans & Brews.

Ellis Winstanley is a seasoned restauranteur and business executive with a successful track record of starting up, turning around and growing businesses in the hospitality, software and several other industries. Ellis began turning around historic restaurant brands while in college and has played key roles in dozens of restaurant related operations over the years. It was during this time that Ellis realized there was a huge opportunity to flip restaurant technology on its head by focusing on front-line engagement with company goals. His passion for solving this problem led him to found the revolutionary technology platform Axial Shift.