March 11-13, 2025 | Myrtle Beach, SC — Price increases by $150 after December 13. Register Now
BREAKOUT SESSION / WEDNESDAY / AUGUST 11, 2021 / 11:00 AM
Using Technology to Acquire NEW Customers
We’ve all heard the stats about how it costs more to attract new customers than to keep old ones, but that doesn’t mean you should forget about introducing your brand to newcomers.
This session will offer tech-savvy tips and tricks to help you not only entice first-timers to give your brand a chance but also how to make the most out of that first impression.
PANELISTS
Liz Bazner | Director of Digital | A&W Restaurants
Liz Bazner is a self-proclaimed foodie who currently serves as Director of Digital for A&W Restaurants, the nation’s oldest franchised restaurant chain. Liz leads the development of digital & social campaigns to increase brand awareness & drive measurable traffic to A&W locations across the country, as well as overseeing the consumer-facing website & email marketing program. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in political science & public policy, Liz worked for a variety of public officials doing PR & campaign management work before joining the A&W team.
Ben Calleja | CEO | Livit Design
Ben Calleja is CEO at Livit Design in Madrid, Spain, the world’s leading F&B Strategic Brand Consultants and Restaurant Concept Design Company and also founder of Livit’s very own test-lab restaurants 1889, Fast-Fine Pizza (Stockholm, Sweden) & V (Los Angeles, CA and Malmö, Sweden), part of the Fast Fine Restaurant Group. Livit helps make brands more relevant, through trends, design, technology and much more, combining the best possible guest experience with operational efficiency and profitability. Livit has developed over 13,000 projects in the last 20 years. A new Livit designed restaurant opens every 8 hours somewhere in the world.
Kim Jensen-Pitts | CMO | Cowboy Chicken
As CMO of Cowboy Chicken since 2015, Kim Jensen-Pitts is responsible for all brand development and marketing activities, including positioning, creative development, media buying, digital marketing, field implementation, public relations, pricing and analysis. Kim has enjoyed a highly successful career in all segments of the restaurant industry for over 25 years, working with several successful restaurant brands such as Cracker Barrel, Atlanta Bread Company, Ted’s Montana Grill and more. Kim attended Illinois State University where she studied Communications and Marketing.
Desi Saran | Founder & CEO | Sweetberry Bowls
Sweetberry Bowls was founded in 2017 by restaurant veteran, Desi Saran. He is a serial entrepreneur with an MBA in Finance & BA in Economics from Rutgers University. Desi has extensive experience in developing fast-casual chains and tech start-ups. He created Sweetberry Bowls to provide quality and affordable healthy food options to consumers. The healthy, fast-casual concept specializes in Acai bowls, Poke Bowls, Smoothies, Wraps, & Salads with a focus on product, atmosphere and extraordinary customer service. Under Desi’s leadership, the company opened 20 units across 7 states in 2 years.
Paul Webster | VP Business Development | Livit Design & Fast Fine Restaurant Group (1889/V)
Paul Webster is VP Business Development at Livit Design in Madrid, Spain, the world’s leading F&B Strategic Brand Consultants and Restaurant Concept Design Company and also VP Business Development of Livit’s very own test-lab restaurants 1889, Fast-Fine Pizza (Stockholm, Sweden) & V (Los Angeles, CA and Malmö, Sweden), part of the Fast Fine Restaurant Group. Livit helps make brands more relevant, through trends, design, technology and much more, combining the best possible guest experience with operational efficiency and profitability. Livit has developed over 13,000 projects in the last 20 years. A new Livit designed restaurant opens every 8 hours somewhere in the world.
MODERATOR
Matt Drewes | SVP, Group Head – Restaurant | Cardlytics
Matt Drewes is Senior Vice President and Group Head of Restaurant Industry at Cardlytics, a company that drive incremental sales using purchase intelligence from 160M+ monthly active bank accounts on its native advertising platform. Before joining Cardlytics, Matt held various positions at Darden Restaurants, including SVP of Marketing for Red Lobster and Director of Marketing at Olive Garden. Prior to Darden, Matt worked in various CPG Brand Management positions at Campbell Soup Company and M&M/Mars including a year developing business in Russia. Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Auburn University and an MBA from the Columbia Business School at Columbia University.
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