Speakers

Since arriving in Hawaii as a sixteen-year-old immigrant, Eddie Flores, Jr. has distinguished himself as both a successful entrepreneur and a dedicated community activist. Two years after graduating from the University of Hawaii, he founded Sun Pacific Realty and built it into Hawaii’s #1 business brokerage firm. In 1976, Eddie purchased L&L Drive-Inn as a gift for his mother. Under his leadership, L&L expanded into a nationwide franchise with more than 235 restaurants across the United States. As an author, Eddie has written five books and published numerous articles locally and internationally on topics such as franchising, real estate, investments, and business appraisal. Eddie has also served on many boards and commissions, including the Honolulu Police Commission, the Chaminade University Board of Regents, and as Chair of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply.

Jon Asher is the Chief Technology Officer at Nékter Juice Bar, leading AI, automation, and digital transformation across more than 200 locations. He has spearheaded the modernization of Nékter’s tech stack including POS upgrades, loyalty and payment integrations, mobile app development, and third-party ordering platforms to deliver a seamless, scalable guest experience. Under Jon’s leadership, Nékter transitioned from a legacy punch-card system to a dynamic, data-driven mobile rewards program used by over 3 million guests, anchoring initiatives like predictive prep and integrated third-party ordering to better manage peak traffic. By combining this rewards ecosystem with AI-driven demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and labor modeling, Jon's systems cut waste, improve consistency, and protect margins. Before joining Nékter, he held leadership roles in biotech and retail and is passionate about using technology to power healthier lifestyles and next-gen QSR growth.

Brian Bailey is the Founder and CEO of Old Carolina Barbecue Company, an award-winning fast-casual BBQ chain with eight locations across Ohio and Pennsylvania, including both corporate-owned and franchise-operated restaurants. Since launching the concept in 2003, Brian has grown Old Carolina into one of the most respected barbecue brands in the country, earning more than 150 competition awards along the way. Under Brian’s leadership, the brand has become a leader in off-premises dining, with catering accounting for nearly 40% of total revenue. Old Carolina offers robust catering solutions including pickup, delivery and full-service formats, serving everything from office lunches to nearly 200 staffed weddings each year. Brian is passionate about helping other restaurant operators build scalable, high-performing catering programs. He frequently shares proven strategies for operational efficiency, off-premises growth and maximizing catering revenue in fast-casual concepts.

Chris Bremer has a diverse history of driving profitable growth within multi-unit franchise organizations, spending nearly six years with TGI Friday’s as the Development Director in Asia Pacific, leading rapid expansion across the region. From 2006 through 2017, Bremer was the Vice President of Global Franchise Development at Brinker International, implementing strategies to help the brand expand its presence from 90 locations to almost 400 in over 38 countries.

Cherryh Cansler is VP of Events for Networld Media Group and publisher of FastCasual.com. She has been covering the restaurant industry since 2012. Her byline has appeared in Forbes, The Kansas City Star and American Fitness magazine, among many others.

Caleb Clark is a Co-Founder at Hook + Ladder Digital, where he works with multi-location restaurant and franchise brands to build scalable marketing systems that drive traffic, repeat visits, and sustainable franchise growth. He spends most of his time alongside marketing leaders navigating the realities of national brand strategy, local store execution, lean teams, and executive-level accountability. He brings a practical, in-the-trenches perspective to restaurant growth, focused on connecting strategy to measurable outcomes. He also hosts The Growth League podcast, where he stays close to the real challenges and decisions restaurant marketing leaders face every day

Chris Demery joined Blaze Pizza as Chief Technology Officer in 2021, focusing on enhancing the company’s digital capabilities and aligning all customer channels with a cohesive brand-relevant experience. Since joining the executive team, Demery has been instrumental in the rollout of Blaze Pizza’s new mobile app and improving its operations to make the customer ordering experience seamless and visually appealing. Demery has been in the foodservice industry for over 20 years, working in leadership roles at nationally recognized food brands, including PF Chang’s Bistro, CKE, Bloomin’ Brands and Domino’s Pizza. With a proven track record that speaks for itself, he has improved organizational effectiveness and efficiency while building high-performance teams to complete, troubleshoot, and implement key technology projects.

Alicia DiStefano is InMarket’s VP, Practice Leader for the QSR and Dining verticals. Alicia has worked in media and advertising for over 15 years, with experience in location marketing, data as a service (DaaS), programmatic, and self-service media. She previously worked in the restaurant vertical for 10 years, and has shared conference stages with brands like Panera, Subway, KFC, McDonald’s, DoorDash, and more. In 2018, Alicia oversaw the team, campaign, and submission to win the I-COM Data Creativity Award for a cost per visit campaign for Outback Steakhouse. Alicia is based in Atlanta, GA.

Craig Dunaway was President of Penn Station East Coast Subs since August 1999 and a member of the Board of Directors since September 2001 and became Chief Operating Officer in 2022. In addition to being President of Penn Station, he had previously owned interests in Coastal Cheesesteaks, LLC and Louisville Cheesesteaks, LLC, both of which are Penn Station franchises, and served as Secretary/Treasurer of both. From January 1993 until August 1999, Mr. Dunaway was a partner at the regional accounting firm of McCauley, Nicolas & Company, LLC in Louisville, Kentucky. He served in various staff and managerial accounting positions at the firm from December 1982 through December 1992. Mr. Dunaway formerly had ownership interests in a Papa John’s® franchise which owned eleven stores, and he served as the Secretary/Treasurer of that Papa John’s® franchise. Mr. Dunaway received a B.S. in accounting from Indiana University in May 1983.

Doug Gabbard is Head of Growth at Delightree, where leading franchise brands manage franchisee performance, compliance, and engagement across every location. He helps operations and development leaders bring structure and visibility to the operational challenges of scale, making Delightree the single source of truth for training, tasks, coaching, and operational communication so standards translate into consistent execution. Doug grew up in franchising and brings more than a decade of experience at the intersection of franchising, restaurants, and technology. He supported international development initiatives for brands including Denny’s and Dairy Queen at Edwards Global Services, and later led growth and restaurant partnerships at Nextbite, working with 10,000 restaurants across the U.S. Today, he partners with Delightree customers including L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, PizzaExpress, Clean Eatz, Rusty Taco, and Dunn Brothers.

Stacey Gelber is the Vice President of Human Resources at Blaze Pizza, leading people strategy, culture, and franchise training initiatives. With a strong background in talent development and workforce optimization, Stacey has played a key role in leveraging technology to enhance recruitment, hiring, training, and compensation strategies. Passionate about the intersection of people and technology, Stacey brings a forward-thinking approach to addressing industry challenges, including labor shortages and rising operational costs.

Kenny Hom is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of experience in the casual dining and fast-casual restaurant sectors, specializing in team building and operational excellence. He currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Operations and Development at Bushfire Kitchen, where he also oversees Supply Chain and Research & Development. Under his leadership, the brand is poised for significant expansion, with plans to double in size over the next two years. Before joining Bushfire Kitchen, Kenny held senior leadership roles, including President and Chief Operating Officer at Slapfish Restaurant Group, and Vice President of Company and Franchise Operations at Farmer Boys Restaurant. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in driving growth, maximizing profitability and optimizing operations across diverse restaurant brands. He believes in leading through his team and providing opportunities to those that perform and execute at the highest level.

Troy Hooper joined Pepper Lunch as one of the three global business unit CEO’s for the brand, and oversees Pepper Lunch’s parent company in North America, Hot Palette America. Troy brings 30 years of unparalleled experience in hospitality, operations management and executive leadership to this role, which has fueled Pepper Lunch’s infrastructure development, growth efforts, and brand deliverables, creating a fruitful franchise model for the North American market. Throughout his career, Troy has successfully built new concepts, rebranded existing restaurants, and improved well-established venues for iconic brands. Troy’s decades of experience and business acumen brings a breadth of knowledge to the rapidly growing global brand, Pepper Lunch.

Marc Howland is the Founder and CEO of Breadless, the Detroit born fast casual brand reinventing the sandwich by wrapping bold, chef crafted ingredients in nutrient rich leafy greens instead of bread, alongside hearty bowls, vibrant salads, and smoothies. Since launching in 2022, Breadless has expanded to multiple locations across Detroit and beyond and is now preparing to scale nationally as a franchisor. Marc is a graduate of Brown University, where he was a two sport varsity athlete, and Harvard Business School. He began his career at Goldman Sachs and The Carlyle Group before pivoting into food, working as a sandwich maker at Jimmy John’s to learn the business from the ground up. He lives in Detroit with his wife and co founder LC, and their two young children.

After service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Amanda Kahalehoe integrated the values of adaptability and determination into her professional journey. From Long Island, NY, she melds her disciplined nature with exceptional communication skills and sharp critical thinking. Amanda's career embarked on its trajectory at a New York security firm, where she rose from the position of a data communication specialist to Chief Operating Officer of Business Operations. Throughout her profession, Amanda consistently led the charge in pioneering innovation across sales, operations, accounting, HR, and IT domains. Following her relocation to Charleston, she collaborated with George McLaughlin, becoming a pivotal member of the Vicious Biscuit team and contributing to its growth through the implementation of innovative strategies and practices.

Stacey Kane has more than 25 years of experience working with multi-unit restaurant chains as a Head of Marketing and Marketing Consultant. She has worked with such brands as California Tortilla, ThinkFood Group (now Jose Andres Group), Subway and East Coast Wings. Known for her incredible creativity and obsession with data she was one of the pioneers of using social media in the restaurant space and has been named a Top 20 Movers and Shakers by Fast Casual Magazine six times. Her passion is leading emerging brands as they scale for growth and mentoring small teams. Currently, Stacey is a fractional CMO for several fast casual brands including Fresh Baguette, Garden Catering, Mahana Fresh, Mamoun's Falafel and Ziggi's Coffee. Kane is passionate about the industry. She has been a National Pro-Start Judge for 5 years and after serving as a consultant, she was asked to sit on the board of CORE is a national non-profit that is dedicated to providing support to the food & beverage service industry in times of crisis.

Basil Kazepis brings more than 25 years of experience in franchising, real estate, and new store development to his role as Vice President of Real Estate and Construction at Little Caesars. With a proven track record of driving large-scale growth, Basil leads strategic initiatives to expand the Little Caesars footprint across North America. His deep knowledge of market planning, site selection, and deal negotiations ensures the brand’s continued success in diverse markets, from bustling metropolitan areas to suburban and non-traditional locations. In his role at Little Caesars, Basil continues to leverage his expertise to drive innovation and growth, ensuring the brand remains a leader in the global quick-service restaurant industry. Prior to joining Little Caesars, Basil played a pivotal role in the rapid expansion of prominent brands like Dunkin’ Donuts, where he led the team that made Dunkin’ the first retail concept to surpass 500 locations in New York City. He also spearheaded the rollout of Taco Bell Cantina in major urban centers, demonstrating his expertise in high-growth development strategies.

Eric Knott is a restaurant executive with a proven track record built upon operational excellence, driving revenues with favorable returns, and a passion for developing best in class teams. Currently leading the fast casual brand People Dedicated to Quality (PDQ) as the Chief Operating Office, Eric has committed over a decade to driving strategic growth across the business. Understanding the importance of a holistic vision, Eric is directly responsible for producing results through a vast array of incentives. Innovation across Operations, Technology, Real-Estate, and Marketing campaigns are a few examples of how Eric has created superior value to the organization.

Mike LaRue is a 16+ year franchise veteran and has since the beginning maintained a focus on emerging brands. Mike is currently the VP of Franchise Development for Angry Chickz, a renowned Nashville hot chicken brand. Helping launch over 15 brands resulting in 1000+ units in development and several million dollars in fees has provided an advanced understanding of the franchise sales and new store development process. When it comes to developing a brand, Mike has a 3 question approach that serves as the major pillars in developing a brand. Is it good for the brand? Is it good for the franchisee? Is it good for the market?

Kerry Leo is a Georgia native with more than 25 years of technology and operational leadership experience dating back to 1999, bringing a proven track record of building innovative technology solutions and capabilities to Shipley Donuts. He joined the company as Vice President of Technology in June 2021, where he provides visionary leadership to the IT department and partners. His responsibilities include overseeing information systems, restaurant technology, digital strategy, systems integration, communication technologies, infrastructure, enterprise applications, support, business intelligence/reporting, telecom and mobile devices, and network and security infrastructure. Prior to Shipley, Kerry served as Senior Director of Information Technology at Church's Chicken/Texas Chicken in Atlanta, where he developed digital strategies for POS and Restaurant Management systems and modernized the company's technology infrastructure. His restaurant technology experience overtime includes leadership roles at FOCUS Brands, Chick-fil-A Corporate, RSG, Inc., and NCR (Radiant Systems, Inc.)

Erin Levzow is a 20 year veteran and dynamic motivational speaker having worked in multiple industries. Most recently she was the Chief Marketing Officer for Musuem of Ice Cream. Prior to her MOIC role, she was the Vice President of Marketing Technology for Del Taco Restaurants. Recently Erin was awarded Top 25 Future is Female Award by Advertising Week New York as well as in 2023 CMO of the Year, 2023 MarComms Most Influential and Global MarTech Leader of the Year Awards. Prior to Del Taco, Erin was the CMO for Marcus Hotels & Resorts. Levzow has served as vice president of customer relationship marketing (CRM), loyalty and marketing for Hathway in Austin, Texas, a customer service experience company specializing in helping billion-dollar brands develop mobile-first strategies. Levzow’s extensive marketing and digital experience also includes serving as senior director of digital, social, CRM and e-commerce for Wingstop Restaurants in Dallas, Texas.

John Lucas is an industry veteran with over 35 years of hospitality and restaurant experience. In his role, John ensures Farmer Boys upholds our consistent operational standards and delivers a high-quality, reliable guest experience in every restaurant. Additionally, Lucas oversees all the system’s franchised locations and is responsible for building upon Farmer Boys’ high service standards at those locations. Lucas joined the Farmer Boys team in 2017 as a franchise business consultant and now serves as the Vice President of Brand and Franchise Development.

Don McCoole is a proven B2B sales leader with 20+ years of experience driving growth and building high-performing teams. A former U.S. Air Force officer with an MBA from Regis University, he combines strategic discipline with technical expertise to bridge the gap between complex solutions and real business outcomes. As VP of Sales, Don focuses on scaling enterprise revenue through repeatable processes, strong partnerships, and a customer-first approach.

Craig Miller, co-author of Bricks and Clicks: How We Drove Sonic Into the Digital Age, has more than four decades of experience as a technology executive and business strategist. Miller specializes in the development and execution of bold business strategies that harness the power of digital, data, and artificial intelligence to drive top-line growth and bottom-line efficiencies. He has worked with dozens of top-tier brands, including Sonic, PepsiCo, Bank of America, and Planet Fitness. His work with Sonic played a pivotal role in modernizing operations, customer engagement innovation, and setting the foundation for future growth. Today, Miller is involved in consulting, public service, and board advisement.

Chris Noffze is an accomplished franchise operations leader with extensive experience guiding high-performing teams and driving operational excellence across leading global and regional brands. He joined Gong cha in 2024 as Director of Direct Franchising, Operations for the Americas, a newly created role designed to support franchisees from onboarding through ongoing operations. Drawing on a hands-on approach and deep understanding of franchise dynamics, Chris partners directly with owners and operators to ensure smooth openings, sustained profitability, and consistent brand standards across Gong cha’s rapidly expanding U.S. market. Before joining Gong cha, Chris held operations leadership roles at Burger King and Domino’s, where he led initiatives that strengthened franchise systems and optimized store performance. His hands-on approach and leadership perspective enable him to develop people-centric strategies and forge genuine relationships with franchisees, aligning operational success with long-term business growth.

Zack Oates is an author, husband, father, entrepreneur, and hot tub aficionado (but not in that order, necessarily). He grew up in restaurants before getting into startups. He was voted Top 100 Entrepreneurs, rang the NASDAQ bell, won the world’s biggest business competition, has been to 50 countries, and started 3 companies. He went on over 1,000 dates before he got married and wrote a book, “Dating Never Works…Until it Does.” He currently is Founder and CEO of Ovation, the no. 1 restaurant feedback platform in America, voted Top 50 Most Influential Supplier by Nation’s Restaurant News, and host of “Give an Ovation: A Podcast for Restaurants.”

Joseph Ortiz is a dynamic business leader piloting our brand growth. Ortiz is heavily involved in validating new franchise candidates and fostering great talent, ensuring they are successful operators for our long-term development strategy. Ortiz previously served as vice president of finance & accounting for Farmer Boys, where he was responsible for leading the finance and accounting teams and creating new growth strategies. With more than 17 years of operations and financial experience in the restaurant and food service industry, Ortiz has held various leadership roles with notable brands including BakeMark and CKE Restaurant Holdings.

Jeffrey Perera isn’t just the name behind Jeff’s Bagel Run — he’s the heart and soul of the brand. As Co-Founder and Vice President, Jeff has been leading the charge since day one, turning a home kitchen passion project into a fast-growing bagel sensation. Since opening the first official Jeff’s Bagel Run location in Ocoee, Florida in 2021, Jeff has stayed committed to what makes the brand special: kettle-boiled bagels made fresh every morning. Before taking on the bagel world, Jeff built a career in leadership, serving as Regional Vice President at Atria Senior Living, where he managed operations and nurtured high-performing teams. His people-first approach continues to shape the culture at Jeff’s Bagel Run — where great bagels and great hospitality go hand in hand.

Justin Riat is the Chief Growth Officer at Parlor Doughnuts, where he leads franchising strategy, expansion, and long-term growth for the fast-growing premium doughnut brand, which now has just over 100 shop locations across over 30 states. At Parlor, Justin focuses on building scalable systems, aligning franchise partners, and creating the operational clarity needed to support sustainable, high-quality growth across markets.

Robin Robison brings more than 16 years of restaurant experience to her role as vice president of operations at Modern Market Eatery based in Denver, Colo. With past leadership roles at Red Robin, Bob Evans and Chili's, Robin's extensive experience has uniquely prepared her for creating and executing winning operations strategies across Modern Market Eatery's 30+ units. During her time with Brinker, Robin served as the project leader for the Leadership Principles for Women Task Force, which she formed to help create “best in class” women’s leadership and mentorship programs. This collaborative effort earned Robin the Women’s Foodservice Forum Leadership Award, which is given each year to a woman executive in the foodservice industry who shows exceptional leadership qualities within her company and the industry at large, and whose professional growth and achievements are recognized through career advancement. Robin believes in doing things the hard way such as building people, not restaurants and serving vibrant dishes passionately crafted from scratch.

Sohel Roopani is the CEO of Exponent, a financial platform built specifically for franchise operators, Exponent offers loans and credit products, and is building AI solutions to reduce accounting and bookkeeping costs for franchise operators. He previously held leadership roles at Visa, Stripe, and PIMCO. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Jessica Serrano, Chief Marketing Officer, joined Bagel Brands in August 2025 and leads the brand, digital, and guest experience strategy across all bagel concepts. She is responsible for driving brand relevance, innovation, and growth through integrated marketing efforts that connect with guests across all channels. Jessica brings over 18 years of experience in food and beverage marketing, brand strategy, and digital transformation. Prior to joining Bagel Brands, she served as Chief Marketing Officer of Dig Inn and held marketing and sales roles at Taco Bell, Burger King, Dole, and Kraft Foods. She is known for building culturally resonant brands, launching breakthrough campaigns, and leading high-performing teams in fast-paced, consumer-driven environments. She holds both a MBA and a BS from the University of Southern California.

Samuel Stanovich is part of the leadership team of Big Chicken. Prior to joining Big Chicken, Samuel worked with Firehouse Subs brand as an Area Representative and Franchisee. Samuel’s past experiences include: Director Partner Product Development & Industry Relations, National Restaurant Association, President & CEO of the Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau, in addition, he is a 12-year veteran of Marriott International. In 2020 Samuel co-authored the top catering book “Catering Domination” and is co-host of the Takeout, Delivery and Catering podcast. Samuel is an alum Johnson and Wales University and adjunct faculty at the College of DuPage.

Marita Swift is a seasoned professional with nearly 20 years of experience in the culinary and marketing industries. She possesses a robust operations and marketing mindset, having held influential positions such as Vice President of Brand Strategy, Culinary Director, Executive Chef, and Brand & Marketing Manager. Currently serving as the Vice President of Strategic Growth at The Big Biscuit, Marita has made a significant impact over her three years with the company. She is known for her holistic approach to addressing industry challenges, combining her expertise in franchise development, branding, marketing, culinary innovation, and restaurant operations.

Shak Turner, MBA, CFE, is the Director of Franchise Expansion at Galardi Group, where she leads growth initiatives across traditional and non-traditional markets. She brings deep experience in franchise development, sales, and strategic expansion. Previously, Shak managed multi-unit franchise sales at Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and Wing Zone, overseeing legal documentation and securing deals nationwide. Her franchise development expertise also includes roles at Dunkin’ Brands, Front Burner Brands, Valpak, and Checkers & Rally’s. Shak holds an MBA from Purdue University and is a Certified Franchise Executive, reflecting her commitment to excellence in franchising.

A highly successful restaurant and retail industry veteran with 25+ years of experience, Carlo Verdugo joined Juice It Up! in 2020 as Director of Franchise Operations and was promoted to VP of Operations and Franchise Development of the brand in 2022. In the five years following Verdugo’s arrival, Juice It Up! has achieved record sales, generated impressive franchise momentum and significantly ramped up expansion efforts, with sights set on doubling unit count in the next four years.

Matthew Walls is a seasoned business leader with over 25 years of experience in the franchise and retail sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Kentucky and an MBA from Bellarmine University. Throughout his career, Walls has held significant leadership positions at global franchise brands, where he has showcased his exceptional expertise in both store development and franchise growth. Currently, Walls serves as President and Chief Stores Officer at Edible Brands, where he oversees corporate and franchise operations. His key responsibilities include managing store development, focusing on real estate and construction, and driving franchise development to expand the brand domestically and internationally. Walls' extensive background and commitment to excellence make him a valuable asset to the Edible Brands team as they continue to innovate and grow.

Born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco, Mehdi Zarhloul immigrated to the United States at the age of 16 to live the American dream and pursue his culinary passion. After graduating from Sanz School with a computer science degree in Washington DC, Zarhloul spent over 35 years in the hospitality industry where he managed many casual and fine dining restaurants throughout the globe including ten years as the Assistant Food and Beverage Director of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. In 2006, Zarhloul moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where he opened “Crazy Pita Rotisserie & Grill”. Crazy Pita has been rocketed to popularity and cemented as Las Vegas’s favorite eatery for over 17 years due to its amazing fresh-casual Mediterranean cuisine, friendly service, and welcoming atmosphere. In 2022, Mehdi Zarhloul decided to expand his vision by developing a national franchise program. Currently the company operates 3 corporate in Las Vegas and 10 stores under development in the Houston Texas area.