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.

Jennifer Pecoraro-Striepling is the Chief Development Officer at Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. A high-performing global development leader renowned for her diverse expertise in design, construction, facilities, real estate, and franchising, Jennifer brings robust experience from her previous leadership roles in restaurant franchising. Jennifer has established an impressive track record of driving growth, fostering collaborative teams, and implementing robust processes for world-class brands like Papa Johns, Bloomin’ Brands, and Darden Restaurants. A trailblazer and thought leader who strives for innovation in the constant evolution of restaurant development, Pecoraro-Striepling oversees Walk-On's development initiatives as the brand continues its nationwide expansion.

Jonathan Trapesonian leads franchising and real estate strategies for Habit Burger & Grill, driving the brand's growth through strategic equity development and franchise partnerships. As a member of the YUM! Brands family, he brings over 15 years of expertise in real estate development, market planning, and franchise management, previously serving in key roles at Taco Bell.

R.J. Hottovy, CFA is Head of Analytical Research for Placer.ai. He has covered the restaurant, retail, and e-commerce sectors for nearly 20 years. He has held several analyst positions in the past, including Global Consumer Equity Strategist at Morningstar and equity analyst roles at William Blair & Co. and Deutsche Bank. Hottovy also brings a wealth of experience with early-stage investments as an investor and member of the investment committee for the IrishAngels Venture Capital group. He has worked with more than 100 early-stage consumer and technology companies, advising on more than $200 million in capital raises and other buy- and sell-side M&A transactions. Hottovy is also a member of the Chicago Seed Co. network, a group of Chicago-area investors focused on early-stage food & beverage companies. Hottovy's efforts have been recognized by several financial and trade publications, including CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Investors Business Daily, Barron's, BusinessWeek, and Forbes.