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Restaurant Directions

April 14 - 17, 2024 | Phoenix, AZ

Restaurant Directions 2020 is Canceled

It is with great regret that we announce the unavoidable cancellation of this year’s Restaurant Directions in Austin, TX, which we had planned to hold July 12-14.

Statement

An impressive roster of the industry's top thinkers will lead Restaurant Directions' agenda. Covering topics created especially for growing brands, you are sure to leave with key takeaways to optimize your business.

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Network with attendees

Savvy, influential restaurant professionals hungry for insights specific to growing concepts attend Restaurant Directions. Connect with your peers and build meaningful business relationships while gathering insights to take your menu and operations to the next level.

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100+Speakers
1700+Attendees

Speakers

Jeremy
Theisen

Chief Growth and Development Officer
Craveworthy Brands

Joe
Pawlak

Managing Principal
Technomic, Inc

SG
Ellison

CEO & President
Diversified Restaurant Group

Troy
Hooper

CEO
Hot Palette America

James
O'Reilly

CEO
Ascent Hospitality Management

Mike
Javaherian

Senior Vice President of Restaurant & Corporate Technology
Wingstop

Dale
Schwartz

Founder and CEO
Pinstripes

Bob
Anderson

President
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill

Pat
Cobe

Senior Editor
Restaurant Business, FoodService Director

Jason
Valentine

Chief Strategy Officer
Botrista Beverages

Jessica
Bryant

Vice President of Marketing & Inside Sales
NCR Voyix

Denise
McCarthy

Patron and Operator Insights, Away From Home
KraftHeinz

Scott
Gladstone

Chief Development Officer & President, International
Dine Brands Global

Josh
Halpern

Chief Executive Officer
Big Chicken

Jose
Armario

CEO
Bojangles

Josh
Kern

Chief Executive Officer
SPB Hospitality

Kim
Redstall

Vice President, International Sales and Operations
DTiQ

Stacey
Pool

Chief Marketing Officer
Noodles & Company

Scott
Gladstone

Chief Development Officer & President, International
Dine Brands Global

Dan
Jones

Chief Operations Officer
First Watch

Kendall
Ware

Chief Operating Officer
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux

Sarah
Lockyer

President
Elliot Leadership Institute

Christine
Barone

CEO & President
Dutch Bros Coffee

Joe
Guszkowski

Senior Editor
Restaurant Business

Scott
Mezvinsky

President, North America & International
Taco Bell

Pamela
Nedwetzky

Director of Marketing
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

Kelly
Costanza

Chief People Officer
CAVA

Ryles
Dodd

Chief Information Officer
Chicken Salad Chick

Dane
Mathews

Chief Digital and Technology Officer
Taco Bell

Kacie
González

Senior Director of Partnerships
Olo

James
Byrne

Enterprise Director
Crunchtime

Jason
McGowan

Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Crumbl

Nelson
Cade III

Recording Artist, The Voice Contestant

Alicia
Kelso

Executive Editor
Nation's Restaurant News

Sara
Jamshidi

Sr. Director, Corporate Partnerships
Share Our Strength | No Kid Hungry

Martha
Stewart

Food and Lifestyle Icon

Michael
Schatzberg

Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Branded Hospitality Ventures

Kerri
Harper-Howie

Franchisee
WEH Management

Paul
Rubin

Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President of Product
PAR Technology

Cindy
Syracuse

Chief Marketing Officer
BurgerFi

Cindy
Syracuse

Chief Marketing Officer
BurgerFi

Vishwa
Chandra

Vice President of Enterprise Restaurant Partnerships
DoorDash

Robert
Thompson

CEO
Camp Pickle | Jaguar Bolera

Aaron
Marshall

VP, Strategic Planning
McLane Company

David
McKillips

Chief Executive Officer and President
CEC Entertainment

Laura
Rueckel

Chief Marketing Officer
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Nandu
Gandhi

Chief Technology and Data Officer
GoTo Foods

Phil
McGahey

Vice President of Loyalty Sales
Mastercard Data & Services

Joe
Donnelly

President, Media and Events
Informa Connect Foodservice

Jason
Noorian

Senior Director Operations Finance
Brinker International

Michael
Halen

Senior Restaurant Analyst
Bloomberg Intelligence

Julien
Rouanet

VP Sales, KHC Away From Home
Kraft Heinz Away From Home

Lisa
Jennings

Executive Editor
Restaurant Business

Rich
Shank

Senior Principal and VP of Innovation
Technomic, Inc

Mark
Hatch

Vice President, Trade Relations
Informa Connect Foodservice

Andy
Rosenbloom

Vice President of Marketing
Buyers Edge Platform

Carissa
De Santis

Chief Technology Officer
BRIX Holdings

Hugh
Roth

Senior Vice President, Chief Customer and Business Development Officer
PepsiCo Global Foodservice Division

Marc
Mathies

Senior Vice President, Marketing Technology
Vericast

Nancy
Kruse

President
The Kruse Company

Sergio
Pérez

Senior Director of Omnichannel
Bojangles

Chris
Patton

Head of Product
VirtuousAI

Andy
Rebhun

Chief Experience Officer
CAVA

Azita
Martin

Vice President and General Manager Artificial Intelligence for Retail & CPG
NVIDIA

Scott
Mezvinsky

President, North America & International
Taco Bell

Matt
Smith

Chief Data Officer, West & Midwest Enterprise Operating Unit
Microsoft

Josh
Halpern

Chief Executive Officer
Big Chicken

Tom
Boland

Chief Marketing Officer
Bojangles

Dan
Morrisroe

Principal, AI & Management Consulting
WWT Digital

Paul
Hebert

Director, Enterprise Strategist
Marigold

Kendra
Bruton

Senior Manager, Global Digital Engagement
McDonald's

Nabeel
Alamgir

CEO & Co-Founder
Lunchbox

Kevin
Kruft

Chief Financial Officer
Someburros

Ross
Groeneweg

Chief People & Strategy Officer
Pizza Ranch

Doug
Cook

Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
Jack in the Box

Lisa
Jennings

Executive Editor
Restaurant Business

Dave
Harris

Chief Information Officer
Shake Shack

Benny
Tadele

Executive Vice President and President, Restaurants
NCR Voyix

Jim
Norberg

CEO
Krispy Krunchy Chicken

Barry
McGowan

Chief Executive Officer
Fogo de Chão

Ann
Marvin

Director, IT Digital Solutions & Services
Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.

Hope
Neiman

Chief Marketing Officer
Tillster

Liz
Geavaras Bunker

Fractional CMO
Wahlburgers + Flecha Cantina

Amir
Hudda

Chief Executive Officer
Qu

Kelly
MacPherson

Chief Technology and Supply Chain Officer
Union Square Hospitality Group

Todd
Kaufman

Vice President of Information Technology
SSP America

Paul
Fabre

Senior Vice President, Culinary & Innovation
Subway

Peter
Cancro

Founder & CEO
Jersey Mike's

Annica
Conrad

Chief Brand Officer
City Barbeque, LLC

Randy
Sharpe

CEO
Wahlburgers

Elisia
Flores

Chief Executive Officer
L&L Hawaiian BBQ

Chris
Schefler

Director of Brand Management
Mr. Pickles Sandwich Shops

Betsy
Hamm

Chief Executive Officer
Duck Donuts

Shannon
Hennessy

CEO
The Habit Burger

Danisa
Tumbusch

Chief Technology Officer
Alamo Drafthouse

Jim
Bitticks

President and COO
Dave's Hot Chicken

Beto
Guajardo

Chief Executive Officer
Blaze Pizza

Christine
Barone

CEO & President
Dutch Bros Coffee

Pern
Lundell

Senior Director, Client Services
Entegra

Dave
Harris

Chief Information Officer
Shake Shack

Jim
Norberg

CEO
Krispy Krunchy Chicken

Joe
Reinstein

Executive Director
Digital Restaurant Association

Michael
Alberici

Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing
Smalls Sliders

Geoff
Alexander

President and CEO
Wow Bao

André
Vener

Founding Partner
Dog Haus Worldwide

Clinton
Anderson

Chief Executive Officer
Fourth

Robin
Robison

Chief Operating Officer
Modern Market Eatery

Nick
Patrick

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Radar

David
Chang

Head of Digital Strategy & Product Management
WWT Digital

Paul
Fabre

Senior Vice President, Culinary & Innovation
Subway

Joe
Vrankin

CEO
Puttshack

Joe
Guszkowski

Senior Editor
Restaurant Business

Jeff
Caplan

Chief Information Officer
Hooter’s of America

Kelly
Costanza

Chief People Officer
CAVA

Anne
Fink

President, Global Foodservice
PepsiCo, Inc.

Laura
Rueckel

Chief Marketing Officer
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Ryles
Dodd

Chief Information Officer
Chicken Salad Chick

Rich
Shank

Senior Principal and VP of Innovation
Technomic, Inc

Chris
Keating

EVP, Conferences
Informa Connect Foodservice

Charles
Gray

Chief Revenue Officer
Paytronix

Jose
Armario

CEO
Bojangles

Matt
Stewart

Senior Director of Strategic Consulting
Epsilon

Brian
Farris

Chief Development Officer
WOWorks

Brandi
Villarreal

Head of Online Food Delivery, Uber Direct
Uber

Peter
Romeo

Editor-at-Large and Vice President of Content Innovation
Restaurant Business

Sara
Bittorf

Chief Experience Officer
Red Lobster

Liza
Maschi

Head of Sales Away From Home Chain Restaurants
Kraft Heinz Away From Home

Beth
Brewer

Executive Vice President
Burgerville

David
McKillips

Chief Executive Officer and President
CEC Entertainment

Jamie
Harrison

Chief People Officer
Pizza Hut

Marisa
Carona

Chief US Franchise Operations Officer
Wingstop

Jennifer
Schuler

CEO
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream

Emily
Nordee-Rogers

Vice President, Content
Informa Connect Foodservice

Jonathan
Maze

Editor-in-Chief
Restaurant Business

Kevin
Bentley

Head of Technology, NA
Jollibee Foods Corporation

Sara
Bittorf

Chief Experience Officer
Red Lobster

Matt
Lukosavich

Sales Team Lead, Restaurant
Vericast

Morgan
Harris

Co-Founder and Chief Community Officer
Restaurant365

Deric
Rosenbaum

President
Groucho's Deli

Sam
Oches

Editor-in-Chief
Nation's Restaurant News

Gregg
Majewski

Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Craveworthy Brands

Pat
Cobe

Senior Editor
Restaurant Business, FoodService Director

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