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2026 Keynote Speakers


2026 Speakers

Bob Andersen

Bob Andersen

President | The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill
Mindy Armstrong

Mindy Armstrong

VP of Menu Innovation | Tropical Smoothie Cafe; NextGen Council Leader
Chris Artinian

Chris Artinian

Founder and CEO | Artinian Holdings Inc
Jim Balis

Jim Balis

Partner and Head of Strategic Operations | CapitalSpring
Scott Ball

Scott Ball

President | FiiZ Drinks

Katherine Barone

Katherine Barone

Sr. Brand Manager, Delivery | KFC U.S.
Sarah Beckett (Moderator)

Sarah Beckett (Moderator)

VP Sales and Marketing | Intouch Insight
David Bloom

David Bloom

Chief Development & Growth Officer | Capriotti’s and Wing Zone
Jonathan Bowyer (Moderator)

Jonathan Bowyer (Moderator)

Director of Business Development | C3
Donny Bradley

Donny Bradley

Founder and CEO | Lola Beans

Jenna Bromberg

Jenna Bromberg

CMO | Papa Johns
Jason E. Brooks (Moderator)

Jason E. Brooks (Moderator)

Restaurant Coach | HospiVation
Lawrence Brown

Lawrence Brown

CDO | Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard
Joel Bulger

Joel Bulger

CMO | WOWorks
Tony Capuano

Tony Capuano

VP of Franchise Operations | Donatos

Shawn Caric (Moderator)

Shawn Caric (Moderator)

VP, Franchise Development | Smoothie King
Matthew Caric

Matthew Caric

Senior Manager, International Operations Excellence | WingStop
Graham Chapman (Moderator)

Graham Chapman (Moderator)

Franchise Coach | FranCoach
Josh Charlesworth

Josh Charlesworth

President & Chief Executive Officer | Krispy Kreme
Miguel Chilleron

Miguel Chilleron

Director of AI & Design | Livit

Chris Cheek

Chris Cheek

Chief Development Officer | Newk’s Eatery
Luke Christian

Luke Christian

CEO | Surcheros
David 'Rev' Ciancio (Moderator)

David ‘Rev’ Ciancio (Moderator)

Restaurant Owner and Marketing Consultant
Joey Cioffi

Joey Cioffi

Founder and CEO | Salad House
Lauren Cohen (Moderator)

Lauren Cohen (Moderator)

CEO and Founder | Cohen Leadership Group

Nancy Combs

Nancy Combs

SVP, Growth | Shake Shack
Alex Cone

Alex Cone

VP of Talent Acquisition | Jason's Deli
Devon Croom

Devon Croom

Senior Team Leader, Networking | Chick-fil-A Corporate
Alice Crowder

Alice Crowder

Chief Marketing Officer | Krispy Krunchy Chicken
Melissa Doolin-Koehne (Moderator)

Melissa Doolin-Koehne (Moderator)

Founder and Principal | Elevate 4

Dan Doulen, CFE

Dan Doulen, CFE

Senior Director of Franchise Business Development | Golden Corral
Chris Dull

Chris Dull

CEO | Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Dana Edwards Manatos

Dana Edwards Manatos

Founder and CEO | Milkshake Factory
Berry Epley

Berry Epley

President and Chief Administrative Officer | Nobles Restaurants, LLC
Michel Falcon

Michel Falcon

CEO and Founder | Brasa Peruvian

Somia Farid Silber

Somia Farid Silber

CEO | Edible Brands
Steve Felson

Steve Felson

Senior Vice President, Franchising | Buona Beef and The Original Rainbow Cone
Victor Fernandez

Victor Fernandez

Chief Insights Officer | Black Box Intelligence
Matt Forbush

Matt Forbush

Franchisee | (Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Jamba, Häagen-Dazs)
Michael Freeman

Michael Freeman

EVP, President of Brands | GoTo Foods

Eleni Gates (Moderator)

Eleni Gates (Moderator)

Founder & Principal | Gates Hospitality Group
Kyle Gordon

Kyle Gordon

Cofounder and CEO | Dillas Quesadillas
Kelly Gray

Kelly Gray

VP and Co-Owner | Hot Head Burritos
Christopher Gumprecht

Christopher Gumprecht

VP of IT | Craveworthy Brands
Josh Halpern

Josh Halpern

Chief Brand Officer | Craveworthy Brands

Damian Hanft

Damian Hanft

VP, Human Resources | Taco John’s
Geoff Henry

Geoff Henry

President | Gong cha
Trish Heusel

Trish Heusel

Vice President of Innovation | Little Caesars Pizza
Cody Hicks

Cody Hicks

Chief of Staff | gusto!
Troy Hooper

Troy Hooper

CEO | Hot Palette America

Ed Howie (Moderator)

Ed Howie (Moderator)

Tricia Houston (Moderator)

Tricia Houston (Moderator)

Vice President of Discovery & Design | KS&R
Clifford Hudson

Clifford Hudson

Former CEO | Sonic Corp
Carmela Hughley

Carmela Hughley

Vice President of Marketing Strategy & Insight | Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard
Nate Hybl

Nate Hybl

CEO and Founder | gusto!

Sunny Ilyas

Sunny Ilyas

Founder and CEO | Vale Healthy Kitchen
Jason Ingermanson

Jason Ingermanson

CEO and Founder | JRI Hospitality
Angela Johnson

Angela Johnson

Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer | Edible Brands
Stacey Kane

Stacey Kane

CMO | California Tortilla
Eric Knott

Eric Knott

CEO | Tiki Taco

Mike LaRue

Mike LaRue

VP of Franchise Development | Angry Chickz
Jodi Latuszek

Jodi Latuszek

VP of Legal and Human Resources | BIGGBY COFFEE
Shawn Lelehzarian

Shawn Lelehzarian

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer | The Red Chickz
Jason Levinson

Jason Levinson

VP, Marketing Technology | WOWorks
Kim Lewis

Kim Lewis

Chief Marketing Officer | Capriotti’s

Claudia Lezcano

Claudia Lezcano

CEO | Fuku
Ben Linero

Ben Linero

CMO | Vicky Bakery
Ben Little

Ben Little

CEO | ZaxNC, Zaxby’s and Sweathouz franchisee, and podcaster
Laura Livers (Moderator)

Laura Livers (Moderator)

Chief Revenue Officer | Intouch Insight
Tonya McCoy

Tonya McCoy

VP, Marketing | Angry Chickz

Kelly McCutcheron (Moderator)

Kelly McCutcheron (Moderator)

Group Director of Training & Development | Whataburger Restaurants LLC.
Craig Miller

Craig Miller

Former CIO | Sonic Corp
Lisa Miller (Moderator)

Lisa Miller (Moderator)

President | Lisa W. Miller & Associates, LLC
Trace Miller

Trace Miller

Founder & CEO | Konala
Paul Miramonte, CHT

Paul Miramonte, CHT

Manager of Learning and Development | Galardi Group – Wienerschnitzel

Adam Modzel

Adam Modzel

Chief Operating Officer | Einstein Bros. Bagels
Jason Morgan

Jason Morgan

CEO | Original ChopShop
Alicia Mowder

Alicia Mowder

CMO | Mendocino Farms
Lacey Navarette

Lacey Navarette

Vice President of Human Resources | Scooter’s Coffee
Heather Neary

Heather Neary

CEO | Taco John's

Corban Nichols

Corban Nichols

Vice President of Restaurant Excellence | Piada Italian Street Food
Heath Nielsen

Heath Nielsen

President | HTeaO
Michael Nilevsky

Michael Nilevsky

Head of Franchising | Yum! Brands
James Nusbaum

James Nusbaum

CEO | Barry Bagels
James O'Reilly

James O’Reilly

Principal and Founder | Brand Capital Consulting

Kelly O'Rourke

Kelly O’Rourke

Director of Marketing | FiiZ Drinks
Carl Orsbourn

Carl Orsbourn

SVP–Food, Hospitality, Retail | Invisible
Jessica Osborne

Jessica Osborne

VP of Marketing | McAlister
Sara Ozege Loughry

Sara Ozege Loughry

Director of Operations & Training | Kettlemans Bagel
Kajal Patel

Kajal Patel

CEO | Hena Group (Buffalo Wild Wings and Dunkin’ franchisee)

Kevin Paul Scott

Kevin Paul Scott

Cofounder | ADDO
Dave Pelletier

Dave Pelletier

Chief Operating Officer | Checkers and Rally’s
Mike Perry

Mike Perry

Founder & Chief Creative Officer | Tavern Agency
Jake Philpotts

Jake Philpotts

VP of Business Development & Franchise Relations | Surcheros
Philip Pinkerman

Philip Pinkerman

Learning, Development & Recruiting Manager | Bristol Farms, Lazy Acres Natural Market, & New Leaf Community Markets

Kevin Planovsky (Moderator)

Kevin Planovsky (Moderator)

Principal, Account Strategy | Croud Atlanta
Jessicah Pounds

Jessicah Pounds

VP of Training and Leadership Development | GoTo Foods
Garrett Reed

Garrett Reed

CEO | Layne's Chicken Fingers
Mandy Ristic

Mandy Ristic

Franchisee, Operating Partner | OM Group (Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins, QDOBA, Smoothie King, Jimmy John’s)
Jay Scherger

Jay Scherger

Founder and CEO | Jukebox

Jackie Secor

Jackie Secor

COO | Taco John's
Jessica Serrano

Jessica Serrano

CMO | Einstein Bros. Bagels
Natalie Sharpe

Natalie Sharpe

CEO | Oliver's Real Food
Tim Sharpe

Tim Sharpe

COO | Oliver's Real Food
Marissa Sharpless

Marissa Sharpless

VP of Marketing | Carvel

Dannon Shiff

Dannon Shiff

Senior Vice President of Real Estate | Dave's Hot Chicken
Maryna Shuliakouskaya

Maryna Shuliakouskaya

Franchisee | Aroma Joes
Erin Snyder

Erin Snyder

Vice President of Franchise Development | Handel’s Ice Cream
Dan Sokolik

Dan Sokolik

Vice President | Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken
Atul Sood (Moderator)

Atul Sood (Moderator)

Fractional Chief Business Officer

Darren Spicer

Darren Spicer

CEO | Clutch Coffee
Sam Stanovich

Sam Stanovich

SVP of Franchise Leadership | Craveworthy Brands
Matthew Steele

Matthew Steele

Director of Training and Innovation | Galardi Group
Ryan Stein

Ryan Stein

Senior Director of Marketing | gusto!
Bethany Strong

Bethany Strong

Chief Operating Officer | NAYA

Joseph Szala (Moderator)

Joseph Szala (Moderator)

Vice President of Digital Experience | 3 Owl
Susan Taylor

Susan Taylor

President and CEO | Juice it Up!
Andrew Thengvall

Andrew Thengvall

Chief Development Officer & Chief Legal Officer | Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Mary Pillow Thompson (Moderator)

Mary Pillow Thompson (Moderator)

Founder and CEO | foh&boh
Paul Tran

Paul Tran

Director of Franchising and Franchisee | Hot Palette America/Pepper Lunch Restaurants

Maria Valero

Maria Valero

Director, International Architecture & Design | Papa Johns
Julie Wade

Julie Wade

Fractional CMO | Crazy Pita
Amer Wahab

Amer Wahab

President | Kettlemans Bagel
Mitch Walden

Mitch Walden

VP of Marketing | Scooter's Coffee
Matthew Walls

Matthew Walls

President, Chief Stores Officer | Edible Brands

Kendall Ware

Kendall Ware

Fractional Chief Growth Officer | Smokey Mos BBQ
Luke Watson

Luke Watson

CEO and Owner | Timber Pizza
Ryan Weaver

Ryan Weaver

Chief Executive Officer | Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken
Dr. Felicia White Ed.D

Dr. Felicia White Ed.D

Director of Operations | Askar Management Group
Brian Witte

Brian Witte

SVP, Operations | Cheba Hut



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December 23 to 26, 2022
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