SPEAKERS

As McDonald’s USA Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Tabassum Zalotrawala leads the US Restaurant Development team, focused on accelerating the pace of McDonald’s restaurant openings, including the real estate, construction, facilities, architecture, and strategy/analytics teams. In this role, Tabassum oversees the expansion of McDonald’s in the US and manages the 13,000 US McDonald’s restaurant portfolio. Tabassum joined McDonald’s in 2023 after four and a half years as Chief Development Officer at Chipotle Mexican Grill where she led a holistic restaurant turnaround strategy and all aspects of real estate development for the US, Canada, and Europe. At Chipotle, she also oversaw the Center of Excellence for Design and Construction to ensure restaurants reflected the appropriate brand image and provided a convenient and welcoming customer experience. Prior to Chipotle, Tabassum served as Chief Development Officer for four years at Panda Restaurant Group where she championed a fundamental shift around innovation and development to drive growth for the organization.

Bob Andersen is highly regarded as a restaurant industry leader with a successful track record in growing emerging restaurant brands. He has developed a unique and diverse perspective in all aspects of the restaurant business. His experience spans C-level and senior executive positions; to launching a restaurant start-up; to owning, developing, and operating restaurants as a multi-brand franchisee; and serving as an area developer/representative. Brands he has worked with include: Jimboy's Tacos, Sunny Street Cafe, Cowboy Chicken, Twin Peaks, MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, and Boston Pizza. At The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, Bob is helping the brand carve out a niche in the "fine fast casual" space. The concept currently has over 45 locations in 17 states with 280+ units in its development pipeline.

Robby got his start in franchising with Craveworthy Brands’ stir-fry concept, Genghis Grill, where he worked his way up to Director of Operations. A former grocery store manager, Robby’s love of cooking and food service arose from conversations with customers about healthful recipes that he then learned to cook at home. While he would eventually oversee five restaurants across three different brands, Robby is still most frequently seen greeting guests at his beloved Genghis Grill in Tempe, Arizona.

Joel Bulger is the Chief Marketing Officer of WOWorks, the platform brand home to 6 healthy dining fast-casual restaurants. With an impressive 25-year tenure in marketing and brand development within the restaurant industry, Joel brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of fostering growth and innovation. Having previously held the role of Chief Marketing Officer at esteemed brands such as On The Border, Zaxby's, Johnny Rockets, and Focus Brands, Joel has earned a stellar reputation for his ability to drive guest traffic and enhance menu profitability.

Chef Daniel Camp has been the driving force behind culinary innovation at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop since joining as Director of Culinary in April 2023. With a deep understanding of the brand's distinct identity, Daniel focuses on creating recipes that embody Fuzzy’s scratch-made spirit while being practical for the brand's expanding footprint. His work is characterized by a balance of creativity and operational know-how, making his contributions valuable as Fuzzy’s continues to grow. Shortly after joining Fuzzy’s, Daniel led the development of the Baja Fish Taco, which quickly became a fan favorite, and introduced Quesabirria Tacos and a Birria Bowl to the menu. These offerings showcase Daniel’s commitment to delivering fresh, bold flavors that resonate with guests. Beyond recipe creation, Daniel introduced the brand's first Culinary Workgroup, bringing together franchisees and operators to align on menu development and innovation.

Before joining Networld Media Group as Vice President of Events, Cherryh Cansler spent several years as VP of Editorial managing the Networld’s nine B2B publications. Throughout her 20-year career as a journalist, she’s written about a variety of topics, ranging from the restaurant industry and technology to health and fitness news. Her byline has appeared in a plethora of newspapers, magazines and websites, including Forbes, The Kansas City Star and American Fitness magazine. She also serves as the managing editor for FastCasual.com.

Jon Canter is an accomplished leader and the Vice President of Franchising at ClusterTruck, driving the brand’s franchise strategy and building the foundation for a high-performing franchise network. Jon is responsible for developing scalable systems and cultivating a culture of operational excellence, focusing on delivering the exceptional customer experiences that define ClusterTruck. With extensive expertise in customer service, operations, and food technology, Jon has advanced through key roles at ClusterTruck, including Director of Customer Experience and Operations Manager, giving him unique insights into nurturing customer loyalty and brand advocacy. A dedicated advocate of data-driven strategy, Jon utilizes analytics to enhance customer satisfaction, refine marketing approaches, and accelerate growth for ClusterTruck’s expanding footprint.

Rev is a New York City restaurant owner and knows exactly how hard it is to operate and brand a hospitality business. He is a hospitality marketing consultant, customer and technology evangelist at Branded Strategic Hospitality, with more than 20 years experience in B2B digital marketing and business development, specializing in hospitality marketing, content, local SEO, reputation management and demand generation. He helps technology companies, brands and restaurants to acquire and retain more customers. Rev is known as an “expert burger taster,” pens hospitality and marketing tips on his Instagram @revciancio, as well as his LinkedIn Profile and hosts the Restaurant Marketing Podcast. He believes that Pizza is a religion.

As Director of Marketing at Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, a leading coffee franchise renowned for its premium sourcing of Hawaiian coffees and memorable cafés, Ivy Hanks leads the franchise brand’s marketing strategy, overseeing local store initiatives and the execution of innovative promotions. Previously, Ivy played a pivotal role at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, where she successfully launched limited-time offerings, developed strategic brand marketing plans, and orchestrated impactful grand openings. With a solid foundation in event planning, Ivy excels at creating meaningful community connections and driving customer loyalty, helping franchisees differentiate themselves in the competitive coffee market.

Mohaimina (“Mina”) Haque is a trailblazing CEO, attorney, and educator, breaking barriers as the first woman CEO of Tony Roma's in its five-decade history. As she spearheads the global restaurant chain, Mina is also actively engaged in the legal sphere, serving as the founder of the Law Office of Mohaimina Haque, PLLC, based in Washington DC, and as an Adjunct Professor of Law Practice Management at American University Washington College of Law. In her legal practice, Mina's expertise spans various areas, including corporate law, immigration law, and litigation. Mina's commitment to innovation extends to her tenure at Tony Roma's, where she is always at the forefront of testing innovative solutions for an agile and adaptable workforce. Her leadership and vision drive the chain's expansion and innovation, while her ongoing legal practice keeps her abreast of legal developments.

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.

Shelby Kier is a seasoned Director of Digital Marketing with a proven ability to craft digital strategies that not only drive growth but also build lasting customer loyalty. With a strong background in data-driven insights, she specializes in creating targeted campaigns that engage audiences and foster long-term relationships. Shelby is skilled in SEO, content strategy, social media management, and paid advertising, using these tools to enhance brand presence while driving measurable results. Throughout her career, Shelby has successfully worked across multiple industries, showcasing her adaptability and a deep commitment to evolving digital trends. She is especially passionate about leveraging innovative approaches to boost customer retention and loyalty, focusing on strategies that resonate with audiences and keep them coming back.

Diana Krankl is the Senior Franchise Sales Manager at Wetzel’s Pretzels, where she drives growth across all franchise formats in expanding new markets. Since joining Wetzel’s in 2021, Diana has focused on expanding the company’s presence through mobile franchise opportunities, helping franchisees bring fresh pretzels to communities nationwide. With over 15 years of experience in business management and sales, Diana is passionate about helping franchise partners succeed and driving growth for the brand.

Shawn Lalehzarian is the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of The Red Chickz, a Nashville Hot Chicken restaurant located in Los Angeles, California. After immigrating to the United States from Iran, Lalehzarian found his first job working at a local restaurant in San Diego washing dishes. As he progressed through his career, he was promoted to higher-up positions and eventually landed a senior management role. In his senior management position, Shawn oversaw multi-unit /multi -brand F&B operations with more than $30 Million dollars in revenue and 400 employees. He also played a key role in opening over 50 different restaurants around the nation and Canada working with brands such as Starbucks, CPK, Chili’s, Wolfgang Puck, Pei-Wei, Pinkberry, Bombay Sapphire and Ruby’s Diner just to name a few. In 2018, Shawn founded The Red Chickz, an authentic Nashville Hot Chicken restaurant. In 2022, Lalehzarian launched the franchise program for the Nashville hot chicken brand.

Pedro “Pete” Mora, founder and CEO of the fajita delivery chain Fajita Pete’s, is an entrepreneur who has grown his restaurant concept to 31 locations in four states with more than 50 additional locations planned in the coming years. Originally from Colombia, Mora moved to Houston with his family as a child. In 2003, Pete graduated from the University of Houston Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship and opened his first restaurant, Poblano’s, a 6,500 square-foot, full-service location with 60 tables.

Joining Blaze Pizza with an impressive portfolio of over two decades in financial planning and accounting, Kevin Moran has a history of steering development teams towards outstanding performance through the alignment of fiscal goals with comprehensive strategies. Prior to his current role, Moran held the position of Vice President of Strategic Development at Focus Brands International, where he excelled in driving strategic development for the global franchisor and operator of over 6,600 restaurants. As CDO at Blaze, Moran will apply his seasoned expertise to nurture strategic alliances and accelerate the brand's global growth trajectory.

James O’Reilly is the CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management, the parent company of Perkins Restaurant & Bakery and Huddle House. James is embarking on an aggressive growth plan, investing in people, technology, and restaurant development. Prior to Ascent Hospitality Management, James served as the President & CEO of Smokey Bones after four years as the President and CEO of Long John Silver’s, America’s leading seafood QSR brand. While at LJS James led significant business and cultural improvements, being named “Turnaround Man” by the Louisville Courier Journal and earning three consecutive “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” awards from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining LJS as CEO, James held brand leadership positions in some of America’s leading restaurant brands, including Sonic Drive-in (Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Brand Officer), and KFC US (Chief Marketing Officer). James spent many years as a marketing leader outside the U.S., as CMO of KFC Canada, Pizza Hut United Kingdom, and KFC/Pizza Hut Caribbean & Latin America.

Jake Philpotts is a leading executive with over 10 years of experience in various development and operations roles for restaurant and business management brands, including Aldi, Chick-Fil-A, and Techtronic Industries. As Vice President of Business Development & Franchise Relations at Surcheros, a growing fast casual Tex-Mex restaurant based in Alpharetta, GA, Jake is responsible for all company and franchise development activities. Jake manages the evaluation and recruitment of new franchisees, real estate selection for franchise business, franchisee construction oversight, and franchise relationship management. Jake started his role with Surcheros in 2019 as the Director of Strategy and Business Development. By October 2020, he quickly took over as VP of Business Development and Franchise Relations. Jake is an integral part of Surcheros and is passionate about helping others make the right decisions when starting a franchise.

David Schmidt is the President of Keke’s Breakfast Cafe. He joined Denny’s Corporation in September 2022 and is a 30-year veteran who brings to Keke’s a proven track record of operations, marketing, finance, training, and HR leadership. Prior to Keke’s, David worked as CFO of Red Lobster. He also worked for Bloomin’ Brands where he held various leadership roles throughout his tenure, including Group Vice President and CFO of Bloomin’ Brand’s Casual Dining. He also served as President of Bonefish Grill, during which time he was responsible for developing and implementing the long-term growth strategy of a 200-unit polished casual concept. David holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN.

Devin Schneider has served as the Director of Brand Development for Jeremiah’s Italian Ice since 2008, joining the brand at the foundational stages of its expansion. Through his years of growth with the company, Devin has worn a number of different hats, constantly evolving with the Brand and the position as it developed and grew, providing services in various business disciplines as needed, always focused on the effective curation and communication of the brand. In his role, Devin oversees the development, presentation, and implementation of all elements of the Jeremiah’s Brand. This includes the management of all brand touch points, encompassing advertising strategy and execution, visual brand design, public relations management, marketing promotions, social media communications, technology implementation strategies, and general brand communications.

Yasaman Stewart, CFE, is an accomplished marketing and operations expert with over 20 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality sectors, including ten years in franchising. Known for her leadership in driving brand growth and profitability, she has successfully developed and executed innovative marketing strategies for major brands, from private labeling to large-scale partnerships and pop-up events. Yasaman’s expertise spans brand strategy, product development, and design, having led projects for Friendly’s Restaurants, Radiance Holdings, and Nothing Bundt Cakes, among others. She holds a BFA from the University of North Texas and certifications in franchise management and retail design.

Jeff Todd is the Chief Development Officer at Launch Entertainment, where he spearheads the company's nationwide growth strategy, expanding its family entertainment centers across the U.S. Before joining Launch in 2022, Jeff served as Vice President of Development at Driven Brands, driving expansion for Meineke, Maaco, and Merlin. With a strong background in investment banking and a wealth of experience in franchise development, Jeff is committed to supporting franchise partners and advancing Launch’s mission to create premier family entertainment destinations.

Denise Tran, a former attorney, is the founder and CEO of Bun Mee Vietnamese Sandwich Eatery, a gourmet fast casual restaurant concept with five locations in San Francisco—Pacific Heights, Financial District, SFO Terminals 1 & 3, and the Marina—and a plan to franchise nationwide. Bun Mee has been nationally recognized as a pioneer in the Asian sandwich niche making delicious banh mi sandwiches with wide crossover appeal. Launched in 2011, Bun Mee blends the street food concepts of Vietnam with Denise’s flavorful modern interpretations using fresh, local ingredients. Within months of opening Bun Mee was critically reviewed with many of their menu items landing on San Francisco’s “best” lists. In 2013, Bun Mee was named on Fast Casual Magazine’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers in the country at #28 between Panera Bread and Five Guys Burgers. Denise has also been recognized by Quick Service Magazine as one of the country’s top Wonder Women founders who are changing the game in the fast casual industry.

Clean Eatz co-founder Evonne Varady launched the business alongside her husband, Don, in 2013 with a mission to “Change Livez” through clean, balanced food, thought-provoking education and motivational support that inspires results. As a personal trainer who wondered why her clients in her kickboxing group were working so hard and not losing weight the idea of creating Clean Eatz was born. She began prepping and packaging healthy meals for them, and six weeks later, they had all lost weight. The prepared meals were wildly successful and before long, she was making hundreds of meals in her home kitchen. She soon realized she needed to rent space to keep up with the demand, and that was the beginning of Clean Eatz. Today, Clean Eatz is a health-focused cafe and meal prep service offering a range of options including dine-in, takeout and meal plans with customizable menus catering to various dietary needs. With 100+ restaurants open in 23 states, Clean Eatz is now one of the fastest-growing franchises on the East Coast.

Ryan Weaver is the Chief Executive Officer of Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, a fast-casual dining franchise specializing in chicken, homestyle side dishes, and freshly made biscuits, based in Shalimar, Florida. Weaver's experience spans diverse sectors, including tech and consulting, and has demonstrated an ability to navigate complex challenges and steer companies toward growth. Weaver was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken in June 2021. Since taking over the role, his visionary approach has transformed the brand, including the launch of a complete brand refresh in 2023. Under his stewardship, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken has been named the Best Fast Food Fried Chicken by USA Today, reconnected with its original franchisee base and expanded its market presence. Weaver began his journey in the corporate world as a consultant with international business firm FTI Consulting, where he consulted for the Telecom, Media, & Technology (TMT) Group, specializing in Corporate Finance and Restructuring.