2023 Accelerators

Prosper Forum

2023 Prosper Accelerators celebrating the benefits of diversity in creating positive energy and growth in the industry.

The Prosper Accelerator Program is the signature initiative of Prosper Company that unites leaders in the foodservice and hospitality industry to elevate diverse talent by intentionally creating authentic relationships and opportunities for advancement. Transformational leaders in foodservice and hospitality select exceptional next-generation diverse talent to participate in the year-long program, which launched at Prosper Forum in August 2023. The first group of Accelerators will be a powerful cohort for increasing diversity, equity and greater inclusion in their companies and across the industry. Additional cohorts will be selected each year toward Prosper Company’s goal of advancing 1,000 Accelerators over 10 years.

Norma Jean

Abbattista

Sr. Director of Marketing, Food Service

J&J Snack Foods Corp.

Nominating Company

J&J Snack Foods Corp.

Joi

Alexander

Director of Catering and Events

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

Nominating Company

Slutty Vegan, Inc.

Kirsten

Allen

Division Vice President, Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings

Nominating Company

Inspire Brands

Nancy

Amenero

Vice President West Zone

Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc.

Nominating Company

Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc.

Bryce

Anderson

Sr Director of Category Management

Foodbuy

Nominating Company

Foodbuy

Amaia

Arruabarrena

Director of Business Operations

ezCater

Nominating Company

ezCater

Trona

Balkissoon

Chief Financial Officer & Strategy Lead

Nestlé Professional

Nominating Company

Nestlé Professional

Michael

Barbier

Sr. Director Client Solutions

Foodbuy

Nominating Company

Foodbuy

Michelle

Barnes

Director, Commercial Strategy

Kellanova

Nominating Company

Kellogg’s Away From Hom

Christina

Briggs

Director of Training and Development

Shipley Do-Nuts

Nominating Company

Shipley Do-Nuts

Kathleen

Bush

Vice President of Marketing and Brand Development

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.

Nominating Company

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.

Andre

Butler

Area Director

Tocaya

Nominating Company

Tocaya

Tiffany

Cameron

VP, Integrated Marketing Communications at Arby’s

Inspire Brands

Nominating Company

Inspire Brands

Alonso

Castañeda

VP, Brand Development & Strategy

Savory Fund

Nominating Company

Savory Fund

Jonathan

Chavarria

Regional Manager

Sizzling Platter, LLC

Nominating Company

CapitalSpring (Sizzling Platter)

Sabrina

Clergè

Vice President-Associate General Counsel

Breakthru Beverage Group

Nominating Company

Breakthru Beverage Group

Ben

Coarde III

Regional Vice President

MOD Pizza

Nominating Company

MOD Pizza

Billy

Colemire

Director of Marketing

Stinker Stores

Nominating Company

Stinker Stores

Lori

Cominsky

Vice President of Operations & Training

Craveworthy Brands

Nominating Company

Craveworthy Brands

Jake

Corday

Founder & CEO

Waev Technologies, Inc

Nominating Company

Waev Technologies, Inc

Ashley E.

Cummings

Manager of Restaurants & Bars U.S. & Canada

Marriott International

Nominating Company

Marriot-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership

Deena

DePhilips

Vice President of Technology

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.

Nominating Company

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.

Antoine J.

Destin

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Hormel Foods

Nominating Company

Hormel Foods

Gurminder

Dhamija

Vice President, Customer Operations

Altametrics

Nominating Company

Altametrics

Joe

Donnelly

President, Media and Events – Informa Foodservice Vertical

Informa Connect

Nominating Company

Nation’s Restaurant News

Melissa

Doolin-Koehne

Vice President of Business Development

GuestXM by Black Box Intelligence

Nominating Company

GuestXM by Black Box Intelligence

Kate

Fountain

Chief of Staff

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.

Nominating Company

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.

Laura

Fink

Client Liaison/Business Development

Herman/Stewart Construction

Nominating Company

Herman/Stewart Construction

Kelly

Fish

VP, Franchise Operations

Inspire Brands

Nominating Company

Inspire Brands

Angela

Flenoy

Vice President National Accounts

Sysco Corporation

Nominating Company

Sysco Corporation

Mara

Francis

Vice President National Account Sales & Business Development

PepsiCo Foodservice

Nominating Company

PepsiCo Foodservice

Vaishali

Gala

Director, Strategy Implementation

Burger King

Nominating Company

Gala Capital Partners, LLC

Ericka

Garza

Chairwoman, IFA Hispanic Council – Board Member and Advisor

IFA

Nominating Company

IFA

Rae

George

Senior Manager of Distribution

ARCOP

Nominating Company

ARCOP

Wynn

Giles

CEO

Chester’s International

Nominating Company

Gala Capital Partners, LLC

Jon

Gill

Vice President, Strategic Initiatives & Operations

Inspire Brands

Nominating Company

Inspire Brands

Careem

Gladney

Franchise Business Partner

Pizza Hut

Nominating Company

Yum! Brands, Inc.

Karan

Gogri

Franchisee – Jack in the Box, Black Bear Diner, Qdoba

Gogris Corporation

Nominating Company

Gala Capital Partners, LLC

Jessika

Gomez-Duarte

Strategy Director

Collider Lab

Nominating Company

Yum! Brands, Inc.

Jairo

Gualdron

Vice President of Finance

Geaux Eat Restaurants

Nominating Company

Walk-Ons Sport’s Bistreaux

Korkia

Hampton

Regional Manager, Southeast

Nordstrom

Nominating Company

Nordstrom

Sara

Harding Lou

Chief Client Officer

Norton Creative

Nominating Company

Norton Creative

Saydi

Harris

Marketing Manager

Wildflower

Nominating Company

Wildflower

Eda

Henries

Founder and Managing Principal

Henries & Co.

Nominating Company

Cornbread Farm to Soul

Tonya

Heron

VP, Division General Counsel

Red Lobster Seafood Company

Nominating Company

Red Lobster Seafood Company

Katie

Hindman

Sr. Director, Foodservice National Accounts

Georgia-Pacific

Nominating Company

Georgia-Pacific

Thomas

Hung

EVP & Head of Restaurant Finance

First Horizon Bank

Nominating Company

First Horizon Bank

Sara

Jamshidi

Director of Partnership Development

Share Our Strength | No Kid Hungry

Nominating Company

Share Our Strength | No Kid Hungry

Natalie

Jin

Head of Business Development

Workstream

Nominating Company

Workstream

Alexander C.

Johnson

CEO and Managing Partner

Pretzel Power Inc & Johnson Java LLC

Nominating Company

IFA

Chaun

Johnson

Sr. Director, Revenue and OTC Accounting

Inspire Brands

Nominating Company

Inspire Brands

Shivani

Joshi

Senior Executive Director, Global Philanthropy & Partnerships

Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Mgt. – FIU

Nominating Company

Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Mgt. – FIU

April

Kelly-Drummond

Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Denny’s Corporation

Nominating Company

Denny’s Corporation

Brian

Kiester

Sr Account Manager

Foodbuy

Nominating Company

Foodbuy

Taeyun

Kim

VP of Business Development

Wow Bao

Nominating Company

Wow Bao

Joseph

Knight

Operations and Finance Executive

Cornbread Farm to Soul

Nominating Company

Cornbread Farm to Soul

Rikin

Lakhani

Practice Lead, Emerging Brands

The Elliot Group

Nominating Company

The Elliot Group

Dominic

Lopes

Director of Operations

Sub Valley Corp DBA Jersey Mike’s Subs

Nominating Company

Sub Valley Corp DBA Jersey Mike’s Subs

Juan

Lopez

VP – Operations & Training

Dave’s Hot Chicken Franchise Co., LLC

Nominating Company

Dave’s Hot Chicken Franchise Co., LLC

Victor

Lopstain

Executive General Manager

FLIX Brewhouse

Nominating Company

Flix Entertainment LLC

Meaghan

Luffman

Director, Revenue Management

Inspire Brands

Nominating Company

Inspire Brands

Kristin

Lynch

Strategy & Analytics Sr. Director

Paytronix

Nominating Company

Paytronix

Shiba

Malik

Supply Chain Project Manager

Henny Penny

Nominating Company

Henny Penny

Steve

Mallard

Regional Vice President

First Watch Restaurants, Inc.

Nominating Company

First Watch Restaurants, Inc.

Carol

Manick

Regional Operations Director

Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants

Nominating Company

Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants

Kristi

Martin

President & COO

Ted’s Montana Grill

Nominating Company

Ted’s Montana Grill

Jamin

McGinnis

Business Manager

Breakthru Beverage Group

Nominating Company

Breakthru Beverage Group

Mark

Meckstroth

Director of Sales – Eastern US & Canada

Cargill

Nominating Company

Cargill Foodservice

Sterling

Melville

Foodservice Sales Strategy Director

PepsiCo

Nominating Company

PepsiCo

Susanne

Mills

Vice President Strategic Accounts On-Premise

Breakthru Beverage Group

Nominating Company

Breakthru Beverage Group

Prabs

Moodley

Head of Business Development, Americas

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Nominating Company

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Darterian

Moore

Director of Trade Marketing and Events

Breakthru Beverage Group

Nominating Company

Breakthru Beverage Group

Jennifer

Moore

Senior Vice President of R&D, Quality and Regulatory

DYMA Brands

Nominating Company

DYMA Brands

André

Moraes

Sr Director, PepsiCo Digital Lab

PepsiCo Foodservice

Nominating Company

PepsiCo Foodservice

Jessica

Moyer

VP, Learning & Development

Savory Fund

Nominating Company

Savory Fund

Saul

Muniz

Vice President, Franchise Operations

Panchero’s Mexican Grill

Nominating Company

Panchero’s Mexican Grill

Spencer

Myers

Financial Analyst/Project Manager

PDQ Restaurants

Nominating Company

PDQ Restaurants

Sam

Oches

Group Editorial Director, The Restaurant & Food Group

Nation’s Restaurant News

Nominating Company

Nation’s Restaurant News

Shideh

Ovaysikia

Senior Manager

CohnReznick LLP

Nominating Company

CohnReznick LLP

Juan

Perez

Area Director

Shake Shack

Nominating Company

Shake Shack

Nia

Price

Senior Coordinator, Service & Hospitality

Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Nominating Company

Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Courtney

Radke

Vice President, Innovation

SageNet

Nominating Company

Fortinet

Wajih

Rahman

Director of Product Strategy

Revel Systems

Nominating Company

Revel Systems

Jamie

Ralston

Sr. Director, Foodservice National Accounts

Georgia-Pacific

Nominating Company

Georgia-Pacific

Julio

Ramirez

Vice President, Finance

J&J Snack Foods Corp.

Nominating Company

J&J Snack Foods Corp.

Jamal

Rasoully

Founder/CEO

The Halal Shack

Nominating Company

The Halal Shack

Frank

Rodriguez

Vice President of Operations

Noodles & Company

Nominating Company

Noodles & Company

Randall

Rodriguez

Team Leader National Accounts

Mars Wrigley

Nominating Company

Mars Wrigley

Jason

Rusk

Senior Vice President Operations

Wonder

Nominating Company

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.

Jyoti

Sarolia

Co-Founder and Principal

Ellis Hospitality Group

Nominating Company

IFA

Matthew

Schweitzer

Vice President of Finance

Hopdoddy Burger Bar

Nominating Company

Hopdoddy Burger Bar

Ashley

Scoughton

Sr. Account Manager

DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS

Nominating Company

DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS

Stephanie

Sentell

SVP Arby’s Company Operations

Inspire Brands

Nominating Company

Inspire Brands

Arti

Shah

Vice President of Real Estate and Investments

Gala Capital Partners, LLC

Nominating Company

Gala Capital Partners, LLC

Sam

Short

Chief Strategy Officer

BYOD™

Nominating Company

BYOD™

Derrel

Simmons

Assistant Category Manager/Merchandise Coordinator

Yesway

Nominating Company

Yesway

Smith

VP of Experience

Freebirds World Burrito

Nominating Company

Freebirds World Burrito

Shelbie

Sticca

District Manager

Valley Subs of Arizona, LLC DBA Jersey Mike’s Subs

Nominating Company

Jersey Mike’s

Michael

Thompson

Corporate Counsel – Employment

ABL Space System

Nominating Company

Zaller Law Group

Sandra

Thum

Director of Marketing

Burrito Beach

Nominating Company

Native Foods

Clement

Troutman

Franchise Owner

Tropical Smoothie Café

Nominating Company

IFA

Fleur

Veldhoven

Vice President of Marketing – Food

Nestlé Professional

Nominating Company

Nestlé Professional

Thomas

Wright

VP of Operations

BURGERFI International, Inc.

Nominating Company

BURGERFI International, Inc.

We welcome you to nominate who you think is a diverse next-generation leadership talent in the foodservice and hospitality industry. If you have someone in mind who you would like to put forward.

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