John Berberich, currently the Vice President of EMEA and North America at Shake Shack, is a distinguished executive with an impressive track record in global development and leadership. Under his strategic guidance, Shake Shack has rapidly expanded to over 18 countries across Asia, Europe and Latin America, and has become one of the fastest growing global quick-casual brands. John and his teams are defined by their hunger and curiosity for innovation and growth. While leading multiple functions, John has been able to coordinate and accelerate the digital customer journey for Shake Shack, focusing on omni-channel solutions for a diverse franchised environment. He has also championed new operating formats that push the frontier of the brand’s expression while balancing local market needs with inventive innovation. Previous to Shake Shack, John built and led Burger King’s first global procurement team. In an ever-evolving global business landscape, John stands as a visionary leader.

Darden Coors is the Head of Lettuce (CEO) of Salad Collective, LLC, LLC, a Golden, CO-based fast casual restaurant group comprised of three health- conscious brands, MAD Greens, Snappy Salads, and Tokyo Joe’s and a total of 61 locations. Coors joined the company in December 2013 when the Coors family enterprises purchased a majority stake in MAD Greens which had 12 restaurants. She led the concepts’ rapid growth and market expansion, its merger with Snappy Salads in 2019, and its acquisition of Tokyo Joe’s in 2022. In addition, Coors serves in various leadership roles with other family enterprises. Prior to Salad Collective, Coors held a variety of in-house legal counsel positions with public and privately held Coors-family enterprises, including ACX Technologies, Inc., Graphic Packaging International, and CoorsTek, Inc. in Colorado, New Hampshire, and Ottawa, Canada. After Graphic Packaging merged with Riverwood in 2003, Coors worked outside of the family business for four years as Assistant General Counsel for Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc. which sparked her interest in the fast casual restaurant world. Coors started her career as a real estate attorney in Denver.

Janet Monroe's leadership at ClusterTruck is underscored by a strategic approach that combines legal acumen with business savvy, honing the company's competitive edge. As CEO, Monroe has steered the company's strategic direction towards innovation in the food delivery industry. Her tenure is marked by a commitment to driving efficiency, fostering strategic growth, boosting community presence, and tackling new challenges head-on. Under Monroe's guidance, ClusterTruck has taken its first steps into franchising. A reflection of her calculated and thoughtful leadership style, this endeavor is aimed at amplifying ClusterTruck’s innovative model across new markets while maintaining the company's core values of efficiency and superior service. Monroe's dedication to scaling the business thoughtfully ensures that each new franchise upholds the high standards that have become synonymous with the ClusterTruck brand, reinforcing its role in shaping the future of food delivery.

No stranger to the restaurant industry, Max Sheets got his start as a teenager scraping cheese off pans in a Pizza Hut kitchen. In the early 2000s – after having already spent 23 years in real estate and development for such brands as Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Smashburger and Ted’s Montana Grill – he began mulling over the idea of a franchise concept that would accommodate the ever growing movement towards red meat alternatives. In 2017, he founded Chick N Max, a next generation fast casual franchise specializing in almond wood smoked chicken and wings, chef-crafted sandwiches and golden fried tenders.

David Wentworth is Vice President, Learning & Talent Development Platform Evangelist at Schoox. In his role, David develops and implements the company’s strategy to promote the strategic value of learning and development for organizations. David has more than a decade of knowledge of the HCM market, including a deep understanding of the workplace technology industry, with an emphasis on learning and development. David is a regular speaker at talent management and HR industry events and has authored numerous articles in learning publications.