2025 Speakers

Dustin Portillo is a bestselling author, culture coach, and one of the most dynamic voices shaping the future of hospitality and leadership. His career spans the circus ring, the drive-thru window, and the corporate boardroom—an unconventional path that gives his […]

My mindset has not wavered over the years whether founding and operating restaurant chains or supporting operators, manufacturers, and others in the foodservice industry. Different is better than better. You are only as good as what you do next and […]

Rachel Richal is the Vice President of Restaurant Experience and Training for Buffalo Wild Wings, part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants. Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 32,000 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, […]

Mandy is a multi-unit franchisee with over 30 years experience. Currently overseeing 7 brands throughout Detroit and Lansing, Michigan, and Toledo, and Cleveland, Ohio. She is actively involved in the Dunkin Joy in Childhood program, Dunkin Franchisee advisory committee, Dunkin’ […]

Toni Ronayne joined Perkins American Food Co. in 2024 as the Brand President and led Perkins through a brand transformation from Perkins Restaurant & Bakery to Perkins American Food Co., which included a new brand message, new restaurant prototypes, and […]

Caitlin has 15+ years of market research experience in both custom and syndicated research methodologies. For the last ten years she has partnered with food and beverage manufacturers and foodservice operators to deliver impactful, data-driven insights about the foodservice landscape […]

Liz Seelye is a go-for-broke globetrotter and brand wayfinder who creates and activates brands big (Stanley 1913, Starbucks, Cinnabon, Chick-fil-A) and small (The Post, Pancho & Lefty’s, Legacy Pie Co., Bonfire Burrito), including a few of her own (StarryEyed Strategy, […]

Monte Silva started in the restaurant industry as a dishwasher when he was 15 years old. He spent the next 15 years working every back of house and front of house hourly position. After that, Monte spent 25 years as […]

Great food and great people have been the hallmark of Caroline Skinner’s career. A passionate champion of high-growth, employee-centric workplaces, Caroline serves as Chief Operating Officer of Tupelo Honey Hospitality Corporation. She joined the company as part of the initial […]

Talia Solomon recently left her role as head of marketing calendar & strategy for Pizza Hut to launch her own brand advisory. Since she started her career, she’s always had an itch to embed herself across multiple brands to solve […]