Speakers | QSR Evolution Conference

2026 Keynote Speakers

Tom Curtis

President • Burger King U.S. & Canada

Susannah Frost

President • Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Scott Greenberg

Author & Keynote Speaker

Lisa Ingram

CEO • White Castle Systems, Inc.

Rob Lynch

CEO • Shake Shack

Jerry Morgan

CEO • Texas Roadhouse

2026 QSR Evolution Conference Speakers

Bob Andersen

President • The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill

Mindy Armstrong

VP of Menu Innovation • Tropical Smoothie Cafe; NextGen Council Leader

Chris Artinian

Founder and CEO • Artinian Holdings Inc

Jim Balis

Partner and Head of Strategic Operations • CapitalSpring

Sarah Beckett

VP Sales and Marketing • Intouch Insight

David Bloom

Chief Development & Growth Officer • Capriotti’s and Wing Zone

Jonathan Bowyer

Director of Business Development • C3

Donny Bradley

Founder and CEO • Lola Beans

Jason Brooks

Founder and CEO • Leadership Simplicity

Jason E. Brooks

Restaurant Coach • HospiVation

Lawrence Brown

CDO • Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard

Joel Bulger

CMO • WOWorks

Tony Capuano

VP of Franchise Operations • Donatos

Matthew Caric

Senior Manager, International Operations Excellence • WingStop

Shawn Caric

VP, Franchise Development • Smoothie King

Graham Chapman

Franchise Coach • FranCoach

Josh Charlesworth

President & Chief Executive Officer • Krispy Kreme

Chris Cheek

Chief Development Officer • Newk’s Eatery

Miguel Chilleron

Director of AI & Design • Livit

Luke Christian

CEO • Surcheros

David ‘Rev’ Ciancio

Restaurant Owner, Marketing Consultant and CMO • Salad House

Joey Cioffi

Founder and CEO • Salad House

Nancy Combs

SVP, Growth • Shake Shack

Alex Cone

VP of Talent Acquisition • Jason

Taylor Crookston-Grace

Director, Brand Standard • BK US&C, Operations

Devon Croom

Senior Team Leader, Networking • Chick-fil-A Corporate

Alice Crowder

Fractional CMO and Executive Advisor

Adrian Deasy

Founder and CEO • Octane Coffee

Jennifer Dodd

CEO • Main Squeeze Juice Co.

Melissa Doolin-Koehne

Founder and Principal • Elevate 4

Dan Doulen, CFE

Senior Director of Franchise Business Development • Golden Corral

Chris Dull

CEO • Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Berry Epley

President and Chief Administrative Officer • Nobles Restaurants, LLC

Michel Falcon

CEO and Founder • Brasa Peruvian

Somia Farid Silber

CEO • Edible Brands

Kelley Fechner

Senior Vice President • Datassential

Imaan Ferdowsi

Chief Executive Officer • MRCO

Victor Fernandez

Chief Insights Officer • Black Box Intelligence

Matt Forbush

Franchisee • (Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Jamba, Häagen-Dazs)

Jeff Galletly

Chairman & CEO • Brooklyn Dumpling Shop

Eleni Gates

Founder & Principal • Gates Hospitality Group

Kyle Gordon

Cofounder and CEO • Dillas Quesadillas

Kelly Gray

President and CEO • Hot Head Burritos

Christopher Gumprecht

VP of IT • Craveworthy Brands

Josh Halpern

Chief Brand Officer • Craveworthy Brands

Ryan Hanawalt

SVP, U.S. Franchise and Operations Service • Church’s Chicken

Damian Hanft

VP, Human Resources • Taco John’s

Allie Haskell

Vice President of Marketing • NorthStar

Trish Heusel

Vice President of Innovation • Little Caesars Pizza

Cody Hicks

Chief of Staff • gusto!

Troy Hooper

CEO • Hot Palette America

Tricia Houston

Vice President of Discovery & Design • KS&R

Ed Howie

Founder & CEO | Lifelong Customers®️

Clifford Hudson

Former CEO • Sonic Corp

Carmela Hughley

Vice President of Marketing Strategy & Insight • Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard

Nate Hybl

CEO and Founder • gusto!

Sunny Ilyas

Founder and CEO • Vale Healthy Kitchen

Van Ingram

Chief Development Officer • Jack in the Box

Angela Johnson

Chief Marketing Officer • Edible Brands

Stacey Kane

CMO • California Tortilla

Jenifer Kern

Eric Knott

CEO • Tiki Taco

Brandon Knudsen

Co-Founder and CEO • Ziggi’s Coffee

Mike LaRue

VP of Franchise Development • Angry Chickz

Jodi Latuszek

VP of Legal and Human Resources • BIGGBY COFFEE

Katherine LeBlanc

Fractional CMO • Apollo CMO

Tony Lamb

Founder and CEO • Kona Ice, Travelin' Tom's Coffee, and Beverly Ann's Cookies

Jason Levinson

VP, Marketing Technology • WOWorks

Kim Lewis

Chief Marketing Officer • Capriotti’s

Claudia Lezcano

Ben Linero

CMO • Vicky Bakery

Laura Livers

Chief Revenue Officer • Intouch Insight

Chris Lyn-Sue

Global Chief Marketing Officer • Papa Johns

Paul Macaluso

Chief Executive Officer • Torchy’s Tacos

Michael MacLennan

Cofounder and Co-CEO • Arc

Tonya McCoy

VP, Marketing • Angry Chickz

Kelly McCutcheon

Group Director of Training & Development • Whataburger Restaurants LLC.

Craig Miller

Former CIO • Sonic Corp

Lisa Miller

President • Lisa W. Miller & Associates, LLC

Trace Miller

Founder & CEO • Konala

Paul Miramontes, CHT

Manager of Learning and Development • Galardi Group – Wienerschnitzel

Adam Modzel

Chief Operating Officer • Einstein Bros. Bagels

Jason Morgan

CEO • Original ChopShop

Lacey Navarrete

Vice President of Human Resources • Scooter’s Coffee

Heather Neary

CEO • Taco John's

Corban Nichols

Vice President of Restaurant Excellence • Piada Italian Street Food

Michael Nilevsky

Head of Franchising • Yum! Brands

James Nusbaum

CEO • Barry Bagels

Ryan O’Malley

Franchisee • Wendy’s of Bowling Green, Inc.

James O’Reilly

CEO • Latitude Food Group

Kelly O’Rourke

Director of Marketing • FiiZ Drinks

Carl Orsbourn

SVP, Consumer Enterprise • Invisible

Jessica Osborne

VP of Marketing • McAlister

Sara Ozege Loughry

Director of Operations & Training • Kettlemans Bagel

Jessa Parette

Head of Design • Yum! Brands

Kajal Patel

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

Dave Pelletier

Chief Operating Officer • Checkers and Rally’s

Mike Perry

Founder & Chief Creative Officer • Tavern Agency

Jake Philpotts

VP of Business Development & Franchise Relations • Surcheros

Kartik Pillai

Director of Data Platform Engineering, Master Data Management, and Data Governance • Yum! Brands

Philip Pinkerman

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

Kevin Planovsky

VP Marketing & Sales • Sparkfly

Stacey Pool

Chief Growth Officer • Ziggi's Coffee

David Portalatin

Senior Vice President and Industry, Advisor, Food and Foodservice • Circana

Jessicah Pounds

VP of Training and Leadership Development • GoTo Foods

Kevin Purcer

Chick-fil-A • Officer VP, Customer Technology & Insights

Garrett Reed

CEO • Layne's Chicken Fingers

Mandy Ristic

Franchisee, Operating Partner • OM Group (Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins, QDOBA, Smoothie King, Jimmy John’s, Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon)

Thibault Roux

Chief Digital Officer • Burger King U.S. and Canada

Michael Schatzberg

Co-Founder and Managing Partner • Branded Hospitality Ventures

Anne Schultheis

Director of Loyalty and CRM • Scooter's Coffee

Jay Scherger

Founder and CEO • Jukebox

Kevin Paul Scott

Cofounder • ADDO

Art Sebastian

Founder & CEO • NexChapter

Jackie Secor

COO • Taco John's

Jessica Serrano

CMO • Einstein Bros. Bagels

Natalie Sharpe

CEO • Oliver's Real Food

Tim Sharpe

COO • Oliver's Real Food

Marissa Sharpless

VP of Marketing • Carvel

Ike Shehadeh

Founder • Ike's Love and Sandwiches

Dannon Shiff

Senior Vice President of Real Estate • Dave's Hot Chicken

Maryna Shuliakouskaya

Franchisee • Aroma Joes

Shivangi Singha

Senior Brand Manager, Core Products • Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (Restaurant Brands International)

Erin Snyder

Vice President of Franchise Development • Handel’s Ice Cream

Dan Sokolik

Vice President • Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken

Atul Sood

Fractional Chief Business Officer

Darren Spicer

Founder • 110 Ventures

Tamara Stanley

Vice President Marketing • Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop

Sam Stanovich

SVP of Franchise Leadership • Craveworthy Brands

Matthew Steele

Director of Training and Innovation • Galardi Group

Bethany Strong

Chief Operating Officer • NAYA

Joseph Szala

Vice President of Digital Experience • 3 Owl

Susan Taylor

President and CEO • Juice it Up!

Andrew Thengvall

Chief Development Officer & Chief Legal Officer • Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Chris Thomas

Senior Principal team Leader • Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Mary Pillow Thompson

Co-founder • The Franchise Profit Playbook

Paul Tran

Franchise Advisor + Franchisee

Maria Valero

Director, International Architecture & Design • Papa Johns

Christina Vaughan

President and COO • Slim Chickens

Amer Wahab

President • Kettlemans Bagel

James Walker

Chief Growth Officer • WOWorks

Matthew Walls

President, Chief Stores Officer • Edible Brands

Kendall Ware

Fractional Chief Growth Officer • Smokey Mos BBQ

Luke Watson

CEO and Owner • Timber Pizza

Ryan Weaver

Chief Executive Officer • Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken

Dr. Felicia White Ed.D

Principal Learning and Operations Leader • FastTrack Hospitality Leadership Consulting

Brian Witte

Founder | Ready Aim Consulting

2026 NextGen Restaurant Summit Speakers

Tammy K. Billings

CEO • TGI Fridays and Sugarloaf Holdings

Ray Blanchette

CEO • TGI Fridays and Sugarloaf Holdings

Robin Blanchette

Founder & CEO • Norton Creative

Elizabeth Brasch

EVP of Marketing • Mellow Mushroom

Kathleen Bush

John Christen

Founder/CEO • Himes Breakfast House

Stephen DeSousa

CEO • Tavern in the Square (Broadway Hospitality Group)

Jeremy Edmonds

EVP of People and Culture • Snooze, an A.M. Eatery

James Frank

Manager of Learning & Development • Dine Brands Global

Melissa Fry

CMO • Twin Peaks

Taylor Glode

VP of Venue Operations • Popstroke

John Haggai

President & CEO • Burtons Grill & Bar, Red Heat American Tavern

Kamal Hakim

Senior Business Developer • Group FiftyOne

Srishti Handa

VP, Marketing - Brand and Growth • Dave’s Hot Chicken

Mina Haque

CEO • Tony Roma's

Ed Harris

Chef/Founder • KnifeNSpoon

Graham Humphreys

CEO • The Culinary Edge

John Iannucci

CEO • Agave & Stone Hospitality

Ahsan Jiva

EVP of Strategy and Transformation • Mellow Mushroom

Betty Kaufman

Strategy Director • The Culinary Edge

Jen Kaufmann

Chief of Staff • Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants

Josh Kern

CEO • Snooze, an AM Eatery

Peter Kiley

Co-Owner/Brewmaster • Monday Night Brewing

Kenneth Knief

Managing Director • Hospitality Resource Group

Clayton Krueger

Chief Marketing Officer • Farrelli's Pizza

Erin Levzow

Chief Marketing, Growth and Commercial Officer

Christine Lorusso

Vice President of Digital Marketing • Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

Paul Mangiamele

Founder/Chairman and CEO • Legendary Restaurant Brands

Jason Mayoral

CEO • Swipe Savvy

Sarah Meriam

COO • Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar

Autumn Nessibou

Director of Operations • Farrelli’s Pizza

Ian O’Neil

Director of Consumer Intelligence • Rubix Foods

Steve Palmer

Founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Vision Officer • Indigo Road Hospitality Group

Cai Palmiter

Head of Marketing • JW Concepts

Rachel Richal

VP, Restaurant Experience & Training • Buffalo Wild Wings (Inspire Brands)

Anne Rollings

Exec. Director Communications & Business Development • Watershed Hospitality Concepts

Toni Ronayne

Founder/Fractional CEO • The C Society

Joshua Rossmeisl

Founder, Chief Vision Officer • AMP Up1 Hospitality

Ryan Russell

Chief of Staff • SPB Hospitality

Liz Seelye

Founder • StarryEyed Strategy

Lauren Selman

VP Operations • IFBTA

Randy Sharpe

CEO • Wahlburgers

Michael Sien

Founder • faSHOW

Monte Silva

CEO • Ten Tables Hospitality; Managing Partner • Comida

Chris Simms

CEO/Founder • Lazy Dog Restaurants

Yasaman Stewart

Sr. Director of Marketing • BRIX Holdings

Mira Stsiapanau

VP of Operations and Training • Eggs Up Grill

Marita Swift

VP of Strategic Growth • The Big Biscuit

Jonathan Weathington

CEO • Shuckin Shack Oyster Bar