Prosper Forum
August 16-19, 2026
August 16, Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:15 PM
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
For those joining Prosper Forum for the first time, this reception is designed to create an immediate sense of connection, clarity, and belonging. Before the conference fully begins, new attendees are invited to step into a relaxed, welcoming environment where relationships can form naturally and the experience ahead comes into focus.
This gathering offers an inside look at how to navigate Prosper Forum, from understanding the flow of sessions to making the most of the conversations and connections that define the event. More importantly, it creates space to meet fellow first-time attendees, engage with returning leaders, and begin building the relationships that make Prosper meaningful.
With a mix of guidance, conversation, and energy, this reception is about more than orientation, it is about helping new voices feel confident, prepared, and excited to fully step into the days ahead.
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
The Accelerator experience does not end when the program concludes, it evolves. This reception brings together alumni from across cohorts to reconnect, reflect, and continue building the relationships that have been formed through shared growth and leadership development.
As the industry continues to shift, this gathering creates space for alumni to exchange insights, revisit key learnings, and support one another in the next phase of their leadership journey. It is an opportunity to strengthen an already connected community while welcoming new perspectives and experiences into the conversation.
Grounded in shared experience and forward momentum, this reception reinforces the idea that leadership is not a moment, but a continuum shaped by the people you grow alongside.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
1:30 PM - 1:45 PM
1:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Moderated by:
David Jobe, Co-Founder & CEO at Prosper Company
Presenters:
James Fripp, Chief Culture, Opportunity, and Belonging Officer, YUM! Brands, Inc.
Hattie Hill, CEO, Hattie Hill Enterprises & Prosper Company Board Member
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
This high-energy session brings together a series of concise, thought-provoking leadership perspectives designed to spark new thinking in a short amount of time. Each speaker will deliver a focused five-minute talk centered on a specific idea, challenge, or insight shaping today’s foodservice and hospitality landscape.
From operational excellence and team development to innovation, culture, and decision-making, these rapid presentations are designed to cut through complexity and deliver clear, actionable takeaways. Each talk offers a unique lens into how leaders are navigating change, driving performance, and building organizations that can sustain growth.
By bringing together diverse voices and perspectives in a dynamic format, this session creates momentum, encourages fresh ideas, and gives leaders immediate insights they can carry into their own organizations.
Presented by:
Eggs Up Grill
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM
Presented by: Eggs Up Grill
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Presented by:
The Cheesecake Factory Bakery®
4:00 PM - 6:15 PM
4:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Presenters:
Hattie Hill, CEO, Hattie Hill Enterprises & Prosper Company Board Member
David Jobe, Co-Founder & CEO, Prosper Company
4:15 PM - 4:30 PM
Panelists:
James Fripp, Chief Culture, Opportunity, and Belonging Officer, YUM! Brands, Inc.
Hattie Hill, CEO, Hattie Hill Enterprises & Prosper Company Board Member
David Jobe, Co-Founder & CEO, Prosper Company
Luke Kircher, Co-Founder & President, Prosper Company
Neil Sudaisar, AVP, Commercial National Accounts, DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS®
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
This intentionally designed dialogue creates space for leaders to reflect together on the unseen cost of leadership.
In small, facilitated table conversations, executives will engage in an honest exchange around the decisions that moved their organizations forward and the personal, relational, or cultural weight that came with them. This is not a problem-solving exercise, but a moment of shared reflection among peers who understand the responsibility of leadership at scale.
Guided by a moderator, each table will discuss three questions:
1. The Decision
What is a major decision you made that significantly advanced the business, but required a personal or relational sacrifice? What did that decision cost you beyond the balance sheet?
2. The Weight
Was there a moment when a decision you made led to unintended consequences, either at home or within the organization, regardless of the business outcome? How did that weight show up for you?
3. The Wisdom
Looking back, what do you wish someone had told you in that season? What perspective would you offer another executive facing a similar decision today?
This dialogue sets the emotional and intellectual foundation for the session that follows, reinforcing Prosper’s belief that leadership is not meant to be carried alone and that the most meaningful growth happens in proximity, trust, and shared experience.
5:00 PM - 5:45 PM
In a time where technology is accelerating, roles are evolving, and the pace of business continues to intensify, one thing remains constant, relationships are still the foundation of meaningful leadership. This session with Riaz Meghji explores how intentional, human-centered conversations shape trust, influence, and long-term impact inside organizations and across the industry.
Drawing from his work and perspective on connection, presence, and storytelling, Riaz will challenge leaders to rethink how they show up in everyday interactions, from high-stakes decisions to simple, often overlooked moments. As the world of work continues to shift, the ability to build authentic relationships, create belonging, and lead with empathy becomes not just a soft skill, but a strategic advantage.
This conversation will invite leaders to reflect on the quality of their relationships, the consistency of their presence, and the role they play in creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and inspired to grow.
Moderated by:
Riaz Meghji, Keynote Speaker & Author
Presented by:
DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS®
5:45 PM - 6:15 PM
In a time where technology is accelerating, roles are evolving, and the pace of business continues to intensify, one thing remains constant, relationships are still the foundation of meaningful leadership. This session with Riaz Meghji explores how intentional, human-centered conversations shape trust, influence, and long-term impact inside organizations and across the industry.
Drawing from his work and perspective on connection, presence, and storytelling, Riaz will challenge leaders to rethink how they show up in everyday interactions, from high-stakes decisions to simple, often overlooked moments. As the world of work continues to shift, the ability to build authentic relationships, create belonging, and lead with empathy becomes not just a soft skill, but a strategic advantage.
This conversation will invite leaders to reflect on the quality of their relationships, the consistency of their presence, and the role they play in creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and inspired to grow.
Moderated by:
Riaz Meghji, Keynote Speaker & Author
Panelists:
GJ Hart, Chairman & CEO, SPB Hospitality LLC
Presented by:
DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS®
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM
Riaz Meghji
Presented by:
DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS®
6:15 PM - 8:00 PM
Presented by:
Sysco Corporation
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Presented by:
PepsiCo
August 17, Monday
6:30 AM - 7:45 AM
Presented by:
First Watch Restaurants, Inc. & Hormel Foodservice
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
8:00 AM - 9:45 PM
8:00 AM - 8:20 AM
Michiel Bakker, President, The Culinary Institute of America
James Fripp, Chief Culture, Opportunity, and Belonging Officer, YUM! Brands, Inc.
Hattie Hill, CEO, Hattie Hill Enterprises and Prosper Company Board Member
David Jobe, Co-Founder & CEO, Prosper Company
8:20 AM - 9:00 AM
The strongest organizations do not simply hire talent. They intentionally develop it. In an industry shaped by labor pressure, turnover, and rapid expansion, leadership development has become a strategic priority for companies seeking consistency, performance, and long-term growth. This session explores how executives design systems that identify potential early, invest in capability building, and promote from within to strengthen culture and execution. Leaders will examine how structured development programs, mentorship, and clear career pathways improve retention, reduce turnover, and create alignment across complex organizations. The conversation will also highlight how cultivating leaders at every level, from frontline operators to senior executives, reinforces accountability, trust, and operational discipline. At its core, this session reframes leadership development as stewardship, building organizations that scale with strength, continuity, and a shared commitment to growth.
Panelists:
Jim Bitticks, CEO, Dave’s Hot Chicken
Jeffrey Kiesel, CEO, Restaurant Technologies, Inc.
Presented by:
Restaurant Technologies, Inc.
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Moderated by:
Anne Fink, President, Global Away From Home, PepsiCo
Presented by:
PepsiCo
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM
Presented by:Main Squeeze Juice Co. and KNOW
10:15 AM - 12:15 PM
10:15 AM - 11:05 AM
Join industry expert John Barone as he unpacks the critical macro-economic forces, geopolitical dynamics, and big-commodity shifts shaping the road ahead. Gain a strategic vantage point on what to watch, when to act, and how to stay prepared for the mile markers that matter most.
Speaker:
John Barone, President, Market Vision, Inc.
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Technology decisions are leadership decisions that shape culture, trust, and performance. This session explores how executives navigate automation, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in ways that strengthen human connection rather than weaken it. Instead of focusing on tools, the conversation centers on leadership intent and the responsibility to deploy technology in ways that elevate people, improve experiences, and reinforce organizational purpose. Leaders will examine where efficiency supports engagement and where it may unintentionally erode confidence or clarity. The discussion also considers how to balance speed with stewardship, ensuring innovation enhances team capability, guest satisfaction, and operational focus while protecting the values that sustain trust.
Panelists:
Shanna Prevé, Chief Revenue Officer, Doordash
Presented by:
DoorDash
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
In a world driven by growth metrics, quarterly targets, and operational scale, leaders are often asked what they are building, but rarely why. This session challenges executives to rethink success not as accumulation, but as contribution. It explores how generosity, purpose, and service can strengthen culture, deepen engagement, and build lasting trust with teams and communities. Rather than focusing on charity alone, the conversation reframes giving back as a leadership discipline that shapes decision-making, clarifies priorities, and defines legacy. Participants will examine how aligning personal conviction with professional responsibility influences how leaders show up under pressure and creates organizations that endure beyond individual tenure.
Speaker:
Billy Shore, Founder & Executive Chair, No Kid Hungry
Presented by:
Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Presented by: FranShares and TipHaus Inc.
1:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Welcome back to General Session
Presented by:
Paradox
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM
Every leader carries experiences that are not visible on a résumé. Behind titles and accomplishments are moments that shaped resilience, perspective, and decision-making. This session creates space for a candid conversation about how unseen challenges, personal adversity, and cultural transitions influence leadership style, empathy, and executive judgment. Rather than framing difference as an initiative, the discussion explores how lived experience can become a strategic asset in complex environments. Leaders will examine how hardship can strengthen clarity, discipline, and long-term thinking when processed intentionally. The focus is forward-looking: how executives translate experience into wiser decisions, stronger cultures, and more grounded leadership in uncertain times.
Speakers:
TBA
Presented by:
Paradox
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM
Restaurants increasingly play a role far beyond the dining room—quietly powering how work gets done across offices, campuses, healthcare, and distributed teams.
In this Prosper Forum–style conversation, ezCater convenes an incredible panel of C-suite leaders to explore how food, technology, and operational systems intersect to support the modern employee experience while unlocking new paths to growth. The discussion examines how restaurants—across formats and scales—are becoming embedded in workplace infrastructure, influencing labor strategy, inclusion outcomes, and economic opportunity.
Through the lenses of economic development, the future of labor, inclusive business models, executive performance, and technology-enabled scale, this session reframes food not as a channel, but as infrastructure—a practical, scalable way restaurants participate in omnichannel growth while meeting evolving workforce needs.
This conversation is about systems that work, not just services offered.
Panelists:
Jason Kidd, Chief Operating Officer, Chipotle Mexican Grill
Nihad Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, ezCater, Inc.
Presented by:
ezCater, Inc.
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Across convenience, QSR, hospitality, and hotel organizations, leaders are navigating sustained disruption driven by political and regulatory shifts, private equity investment, economic volatility, rising operating costs, and the long tail of post-Covid workforce and consumer behavior changes. These forces are reshaping where companies locate headquarters, how brands grow, how capital is deployed, and how teams experience stability inside the organization.
This session explores how executives build and maintain trust when uncertainty becomes the operating environment. Leaders will examine how ownership transitions influence culture and decision-making, how policy changes affect strategic direction, and how external instability can create internal fear if not addressed with clarity and conviction.
The conversation focuses on practical leadership behaviors that sustain performance: transparent communication, disciplined execution, cultural consistency during change, and visible leadership presence. Participants will gain perspective on how trust helps organizations retain talent, protect brand integrity, and continue moving forward despite ongoing disruption.
Panelists:
Derek Gaskins, Head of Guest Experience, BP Plc
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM
The guest experience is no longer shaped by hospitality alone. It is shaped by intelligent systems. This session explores how artificial intelligence and advanced digital platforms are transforming how brands anticipate needs, personalize interactions, and remove friction across the customer journey. Leaders will examine the role of predictive analytics, smart ordering, dynamic staffing models, and real-time feedback in elevating front-of-house performance. When deployed strategically, technology does more than improve efficiency. It empowers teams with clarity, reduces cognitive load, and creates space for meaningful human connection. The conversation focuses on measurable outcomes, including stronger loyalty, improved satisfaction, streamlined labor deployment, and healthier margins in an increasingly technology-driven service environment.
Speakers:
TBA
Presented by:
QU Pos
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
3:45 PM - 5:30 PM
3:45 PM - 4:15 PM
This would be a proprietary executive brief, updated annually, that synthesizes consumer signals, operator data, and macroeconomic forecasting to predict the decisions CEOs will need to make before market forces dictate them. Unlike typical quarterly trend reports, this model would focus on a 2-5 year horizon. Utilizing Datassential’s data science and a bespoke Prosper CEO survey panel, it would provide insights such as business model shifts CEOs are planning, alignment gaps between CEOs and consumers, and what keeps CEOs up at night versus what the data suggests will actually happen. This would become a Prosper’s original piece of intelligence—exclusive, differentiated, and future-facing.
Keynote Speaker:
Megan Lynberg, SVP, Sales, Datassential
Presented by:
Datassential
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM
In today’s marketplace, value is no longer defined by cost alone. It is defined by trust. As competition intensifies and expectations rise, leaders recognize that price may drive transactions, but trust drives long-term preference. This session explores how executive teams establish a clear, enterprise-wide definition of value that extends beyond promotions to include consistency, reliability, transparency, and experience. Rather than treating value as a pricing lever, the conversation reframes it as a leadership discipline built through operational integrity and follow-through at every touchpoint. When organizations deliver on their promises, trust compounds, strengthening loyalty, frequency, and brand resilience. In crowded markets, confidence in delivery becomes the most durable competitive advantage.
Moderated by:
Megan Lynberg, SVP, Sales, Datassential
Panelists:
Lawrence Kim, President, IHOP Restaurants, LLC
Presented by:
Dine Brands Global
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Presenters:
Ted Balestreri, Chairman and CEO, Cannery Row
James Fripp, Chief Culture, Opportunity, and Belonging Officer, YUM! Brands, Inc.
Neil Sudaisar, AVP, Commercial National Accounts, DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS®
Hattie Hill, CEO, Hattie Hill Enterprises and Prosper Company Board Member
David Jobe, Co-Founder & CEO, Prosper Company
Luke Kircher, Co-Founder & President, Prosper Company
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
In a time of constant change, uncertainty, and shifting expectations, leadership is no longer defined by authority or vision alone, it is defined by the ability to create a future that others believe in and choose to be part of. This session with Simon Bailey explores how leaders inspire commitment, not through direction, but through clarity, consistency, and connection.
Drawing on his perspective around purpose, energy, and intentional leadership, Simon will challenge leaders to examine how they communicate vision, engage their teams, and create environments where people feel motivated to contribute to something greater than themselves. When leaders are able to align purpose with action, they don’t just drive performance, they build momentum that people want to follow.
This conversation will focus on the mindset and behaviors required to lead forward, how to cultivate belief inside teams, and how to build a future that attracts, retains, and elevates the people responsible for bringing it to life.
Speaker:
Simon T. Bailey, Executive Advisor, Researcher, Keynote Speaker
Presented by:
Kraft Heinz Company
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Simon T. Bailey, Executive Advisor, Researcher, Keynote Speaker
Presented by:
Kraft Heinz Company
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Presented by:
Restaurants Connect – Presented By: California, Florida, and Texas Restaurant Associations
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Presented by:
Kraft Heinz Company
Restaurants Connect – Presented By: California, Florida, and Texas Restaurant Associations
August 18, Tuesday
6:30 AM - 7:45 AM
Presented By: Altametrics and Georgia-Pacific LLC
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
This presentation will equip the audience to develop leaders with intention and in response to current workforce realities. Grounded in the “Building a Future-Ready Workforce” imperative, it seeks to take a tactical/operational tone toward the industry’s workforce challenges and present realistic solutions through the lens of National Restaurant Association thought leadership and solutions.
Questions This Presentation Will Answer:
What core skills will tomorrow’s restaurant leaders need?
How can the leaders in the room foster them in their own organizations?
How is the National Restaurant Association the indispensable leadership partner to the industry?
Call to Action
Invest intentionally in leadership development of restaurant managers as a core business and workforce strategy.
Presenters:
Michael Axiotis, President & CEO, Lehigh Valley Restaurant Brands/Red Robin & Wingstop Franchisee
Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO, National Restaurant Association
Presented by:
National Restaurant Association
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Global growth offers opportunity, but it demands discipline. This session explores what it truly takes to scale internationally in today’s complex environment. Leaders will examine how to identify the right markets, structure partnerships, navigate geopolitical volatility, and adapt supply chains while protecting brand standards. The conversation also addresses how organizations balance speed with sustainability, assess readiness, and avoid overextension in pursuit of expansion. Beyond operational mechanics, the session highlights the human dimension of global leadership, including building local trust, respecting cultural nuance, and maintaining enterprise alignment. Participants will gain perspective on how global growth can diversify risk, unlock revenue, and strengthen long-term brand resilience.
Moderated by:
Ray Blanchette, Founder & CEO at Sugarloaf Holdings, LLC
Speakers:
Christian Gurria, Director General, Alsea, Alsea
Presented by:
Alsea & Sugarloaf Holdings, LLC
9:00 AM -9:30 AM
Leadership is often measured by results. The cost behind those results is rarely discussed.
This session explores the role of care as a defining leadership discipline — care for self, care for teams and communities, and care for the broader industry. In environments shaped by pressure, health challenges, and constant disruption, leaders are often required to make decisions that protect the organization while carrying personal and relational cost.
The conversation examines how executives sustain organizations through adversity while maintaining commitment to values, culture, and brand identity. Leaders will reflect on how they earn trust and buy-in from their teams and communities, even when decisions are difficult and outcomes uncertain.
At its core, this session asks a deeper question: what is the true cost of leadership, and is the sacrifice worth it? Participants will explore how purpose, resilience, and service shape decisions, and what it means to lead in a way that endures beyond the moment.
Moderated by:
Sarah Lockyer, Chief Brand Officer, The Elliot Group
Presented by:
Elliot Group
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Guests do not just remember what they ate. They remember how a place made them feel. This session explores the science of sensory experience and how foodservice and hospitality leaders intentionally design ambiance to influence behavior, emotion, and loyalty. Executives will examine how sound, scent, lighting, temperature, and spatial design shape perception, dwell time, spending, and repeat visits, often more powerfully than menu or price. The conversation reframes ambiance as a strategic system that communicates brand identity and supports operational goals. Drawing on neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and real-world execution, leaders will gain insight into how intentional sensory design can strengthen trust, differentiate experiences, and drive long-term performance.
Moderated by:
Stephani K. A. Robson, Senior Lecturer & Director of Undergraduate Studies, School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University
Panelists:
Brad Newberger, VP of Growth, Ambiance IQ
Presented by:
Ambiance iQ
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Hosted by: Ambiance iQ
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
High-performing organizations do not stumble into off-premise success. They recognize early signals and act with intention. This session explores the behavioral, operational, and leadership indicators that distinguish brands that scale catering and off-premise channels effectively before results appear in revenue. Executives will examine how demand patterns, team alignment, execution consistency, and customer experience reveal momentum or risk. The conversation highlights how disciplined prioritization, cross-functional collaboration, and clear fulfillment standards enable profitable growth without eroding brand trust or culture. Leaders will gain insight into treating off-premise not as a side channel, but as a strategic growth engine built through awareness, accountability, and consistent execution that supports long-term performance.
Speakers:
TBA
Presented by:
Buyers Edge Platform & Olo Inc
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
“Top-performing restaurant brands are not succeeding by chance. They are leveraging operational intelligence, labor optimization, marketing and experience design in ways that consistently outperform the market.
In this session, Victor Fernandez of Black Box Intelligence will present a rigorous analysis of five macro-level trends shaping performance across workforce, guest experience, and financial outcomes. Backed by proprietary data direct from restaurant brands, this session will expose the structural and behavioral differences between the top and bottom quartiles of the industry.
The discussion will explore how seemingly incremental improvements, such as targeted onboarding adjustments or slight shifts in operational focus—can generate meaningful financial returns. More importantly, it will unpack how high-performing brands build systems that link employee engagement, guest loyalty, and unit economics into a sustainable performance model.
This session is designed for executives seeking to pressure test their current assumptions, benchmark against best-in-class operators, and identify performance levers that are often overlooked but critical to long-term growth.”
Presenter:
Victor Fernandez, Chief Insights Officer, Black Box Intelligence
Presented by:
Black Box Intelligence
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
As foodservice becomes increasingly shaped by global supply dynamics, technology, regulatory shifts, and evolving operator expectations, leaders must think beyond local execution and plan with enterprise-level clarity. In this executive conversation, Sysco will share a strategic perspective on how distribution, sourcing, logistics, and data-driven forecasting are transforming the way organizations manage risk, drive consistency, and position for growth. The session offers a forward-looking view on navigating complexity at scale while maintaining operational resilience and competitive advantage in a rapidly changing global marketplace.
Speakers
TBA
Presented by:
Sysco Corporation
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presented by: DataDelivers, LLC
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Every restaurant organization ultimately competes on one essential outcome: delivering great food in a way that creates lasting preference. In today’s environment, growth is shaped by how leaders define value, evolve the guest experience, and expand strategically across markets. In this proprietary perspective, Bain & Company explores the high-level decisions influencing brand momentum and long-term competitiveness.
The session examines how leadership teams are anchoring growth in the fundamentals of the food business — delivering compelling quality, consistent execution, and clear value that resonates with today’s customer. It explores how brands are using menu strategy, limited-time offers, and targeted personalization to create relevance, stimulate demand, and strengthen guest loyalty. The conversation also addresses how the definition of experience is evolving and what organizations must do to remain meaningful as expectations shift.
Finally, leaders will gain insight into what it takes to win internationally, how development strategies must evolve, and how organizations can grow share while expanding the overall market opportunity.
Moderated by:
Lisa Koetter, Partner, Bain & Company
Presented by:
Bain & Company
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept. It is becoming core infrastructure for how foodservice and hospitality organizations operate. This session explores the development of a large-scale AI-driven enterprise platform designed to integrate data, automate insights, and elevate decision-making across complex operations. Leaders will examine how connected intelligence can enhance food safety, compliance, sustainability, energy optimization, and workforce efficiency. The conversation focuses on impact, including how predictive systems and real-time analytics can reduce risk, improve performance, and increase transparency across thousands of locations. As costs rise and complexity grows, enterprise-scale AI may become a foundational driver of operational discipline, agility, and long-term competitive advantage.
Panelists:
Scott Salstrand, VP & GM, Ecolab
Vik Viniak, SVP & GM, Ecolab
Presented by:
Ecolab
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented by:
Morgan Stanely
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Titles change. Cultures remain. This conversation explores how executives build organizations that thrive beyond their tenure by investing in people, trust, and shared belief systems rather than relying on individual authority. The dialogue examines how leadership decisions today shape succession, cultural continuity, and long-term resilience. Instead of viewing legacy as personal reputation, the session reframes it as organizational strength that endures through transitions. Leaders will reflect on whether their systems empower others to lead with clarity once they step aside. This forward-looking discussion challenges executives to consider what will remain because they led and what will be tested when they are no longer in the room.
Speakers:
Steve Kislow, CEO, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
Steve Sturm, COO, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Presented by: Sattem Solutions
4:00 PM - 5:45 PM
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Artificial intelligence is not simply a technology upgrade. It is redefining how organizations operate, scale, and create value.
This session explores the strategic shift required to move from fragmented systems and incremental adoption to treating AI as a foundational operating platform. As cost structures evolve and productivity expectations increase, leaders are being challenged to rethink how work gets done, how decisions are made, and how organizations grow.
The conversation centers on the two forces that will define success: imagination and inertia. The ability to envision new possibilities for the business, and the discipline to overcome resistance to change. Leaders will examine how to align systems, clarify ownership, and build the infrastructure needed to unlock value at scale.
At its core, this session is about leadership responsibility. Organizations that act with clarity and urgency will shape the next phase of the industry, while those that hesitate risk falling behind.
Moderated by:
Carl Orsbourn, SVP GTM Enterprise, Invisible Technologies
Panelists:
Rich Faltot, Vice President, Restaurants & Hospitality at Point B
Presented by:
Invisible Technologies and Point B
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
The distribution landscape in the United States is rapidly transforming as consolidation, rising costs, supply chain volatility, and evolving operator expectations reshape how food moves from producer to restaurant. This session explores the strategic forces redefining distribution across the foodservice ecosystem. Leaders will examine how distributors are adapting through technology integration, logistics optimization, and more collaborative partnerships with operators and manufacturers. The conversation highlights the shift from transactional relationships to data-driven, strategically aligned planning that improves transparency, speed, and resilience. Participants will gain perspective on how forward-looking distribution strategies can strengthen supply stability, support innovation, and create a competitive advantage in an increasingly complex operating environment.
Moderated by:
TBA
Panelists:
Tom Bené, President & CEO, Breakthru Beverage Group
Presented by:
Breakthru Beverage Group
5:00 PM - 5:45 PM
Influence is not granted by title. It is earned through clarity, conviction, and credibility. In this keynote, Stephanie Chung shares lessons from her rise to the highest levels of leadership and what it takes to be heard when decisions carry real consequence. The session focuses on communicating with authority while maintaining authenticity, building rapport across diverse stakeholders, and establishing executive presence in high-stakes environments. Leaders will explore how to earn trust, align teams, and turn opportunity into measurable growth. BE HEARD challenges executives to examine how they show up under pressure and how developing a strong leadership voice can drive impact, strengthen relationships, and shape outcomes.
Speaker:
Stephanie Chung, Author, Keynote Speaker, Former Aviation Executive
5:45 PM - 6:45 PM
Presented By: Buyers Edge Platform
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Presented By: Kraft Heinz Company
August 19, Wednesday
6:30 AM - 7:45 AM
Hosted By: Savi Solution
7:30 AM - 10:30 AM
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
Everything feels slow when priorities multiply and urgency fades. In this high-energy session, Andrew Davis introduces a leadership framework built on the power of constraints to accelerate execution and drive meaningful results. Leaders will explore how focused outcomes, intentional limitations, and aligned accountability can eliminate noise, speed decision-making, and unlock performance that exceeds expectations. Through compelling case studies and practical insights, the session demonstrates how organizations can transform perceived limitations into strategic advantage. Participants will leave with a repeatable approach to creating urgency, sharpening focus, and mobilizing teams to act with clarity and confidence. The message is simple: winning does not require more resources. It requires stronger leadership discipline.
Speaker:
Andrew Davis, Keynote Speaker & Author, Monumental Shift
Presented by:
Henny Penny
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM
As artificial intelligence evolves from tools to autonomous, agent-driven systems, leaders face a fundamental strategic question: who truly owns the relationship between brands, locations, and people? This session provides a grounded, realistic assessment of agentic architecture and what it means for how organizations operate, engage customers, and structure work.
Rather than focusing on technical features or distant predictions, the conversation demystifies agentic capabilities through practical use cases already emerging across restaurant and retail environments. Leaders will explore where agentic AI is most impactful today, particularly in backend operations, data utilization, forecasting, and decision support, and why novelty-driven customer applications may be premature for many organizations.
The session also examines how non-deterministic systems reshape accountability, workforce inclusion, operational models, and competitive dynamics. Executives will be challenged to assess readiness across data governance, security posture, system integration, and risk management. Participants will leave with clarity on how to prioritize adoption pathways, identify trusted implementation partners, and compete in a landscape where intelligent systems increasingly influence performance, experience, and enterprise value.
Moderated by:
Adam Dumey, Global VP – Retail, World Wide Technology
Panelists:
TBA
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM
The defining moments of leadership are not when decisions are easy. They are when courage is required.
At the executive level, strategy is not just about analysis. It is about the willingness to act with conviction when outcomes are uncertain and stakes are high. This session explores how leaders develop the courage to make bold decisions, challenge conventional thinking, and move organizations forward despite incomplete information and competing pressures.
The conversation examines how executives build disciplined decision-making frameworks that balance data, intuition, and long-term vision. Leaders will discuss how they navigate risk, align teams around difficult choices, and maintain clarity when external forces create noise and hesitation.
This session also addresses consequence. Courageous decisions do not always produce immediate success, but strong leaders understand how to measure impact over time, learn quickly, and adapt without losing momentum.
At its core, this conversation is about the intersection of courage and strategy — and what it takes to lead decisively when it matters most.
10:00 AM
10:30 AM
9:00 AM - 6:15 PM
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
For those joining Prosper Forum for the first time, this reception is designed to create an immediate sense of connection, clarity, and belonging. Before the conference fully begins, new attendees are invited to step into a relaxed, welcoming environment where relationships can form naturally and the experience ahead comes into focus.
This gathering offers an inside look at how to navigate Prosper Forum, from understanding the flow of sessions to making the most of the conversations and connections that define the event. More importantly, it creates space to meet fellow first-time attendees, engage with returning leaders, and begin building the relationships that make Prosper meaningful.
With a mix of guidance, conversation, and energy, this reception is about more than orientation, it is about helping new voices feel confident, prepared, and excited to fully step into the days ahead.
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
The Accelerator experience does not end when the program concludes, it evolves. This reception brings together alumni from across cohorts to reconnect, reflect, and continue building the relationships that have been formed through shared growth and leadership development.
As the industry continues to shift, this gathering creates space for alumni to exchange insights, revisit key learnings, and support one another in the next phase of their leadership journey. It is an opportunity to strengthen an already connected community while welcoming new perspectives and experiences into the conversation.
Grounded in shared experience and forward momentum, this reception reinforces the idea that leadership is not a moment, but a continuum shaped by the people you grow alongside.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
1:30 PM - 1:45 PM
1:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Moderated by:
David Jobe, Co-Founder & CEO at Prosper Company
Presenters:
James Fripp, Chief Culture, Opportunity, and Belonging Officer, YUM! Brands, Inc.
Hattie Hill, CEO, Hattie Hill Enterprises & Prosper Company Board Member
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM
This high-energy session brings together a series of concise, thought-provoking leadership perspectives designed to spark new thinking in a short amount of time. Each speaker will deliver a focused five-minute talk centered on a specific idea, challenge, or insight shaping today’s foodservice and hospitality landscape.
From operational excellence and team development to innovation, culture, and decision-making, these rapid presentations are designed to cut through complexity and deliver clear, actionable takeaways. Each talk offers a unique lens into how leaders are navigating change, driving performance, and building organizations that can sustain growth.
By bringing together diverse voices and perspectives in a dynamic format, this session creates momentum, encourages fresh ideas, and gives leaders immediate insights they can carry into their own organizations.
Presented by:
Eggs Up Grill
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM
Presented by: Eggs Up Grill
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Presented by:
The Cheesecake Factory Bakery®
4:00 PM - 6:15 PM
4:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Presenters:
Hattie Hill, CEO, Hattie Hill Enterprises & Prosper Company Board Member
David Jobe, Co-Founder & CEO, Prosper Company
4:15 PM - 4:30 PM
Panelists:
James Fripp, Chief Culture, Opportunity, and Belonging Officer, YUM! Brands, Inc.
Hattie Hill, CEO, Hattie Hill Enterprises & Prosper Company Board Member
David Jobe, Co-Founder & CEO, Prosper Company
Luke Kircher, Co-Founder & President, Prosper Company
Neil Sudaisar, AVP, Commercial National Accounts, DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS®
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
This intentionally designed dialogue creates space for leaders to reflect together on the unseen cost of leadership.
In small, facilitated table conversations, executives will engage in an honest exchange around the decisions that moved their organizations forward and the personal, relational, or cultural weight that came with them. This is not a problem-solving exercise, but a moment of shared reflection among peers who understand the responsibility of leadership at scale.
Guided by a moderator, each table will discuss three questions:
1. The Decision
What is a major decision you made that significantly advanced the business, but required a personal or relational sacrifice? What did that decision cost you beyond the balance sheet?
2. The Weight
Was there a moment when a decision you made led to unintended consequences, either at home or within the organization, regardless of the business outcome? How did that weight show up for you?
3. The Wisdom
Looking back, what do you wish someone had told you in that season? What perspective would you offer another executive facing a similar decision today?
This dialogue sets the emotional and intellectual foundation for the session that follows, reinforcing Prosper’s belief that leadership is not meant to be carried alone and that the most meaningful growth happens in proximity, trust, and shared experience.
5:00 PM - 5:45 PM
In a time where technology is accelerating, roles are evolving, and the pace of business continues to intensify, one thing remains constant, relationships are still the foundation of meaningful leadership. This session with Riaz Meghji explores how intentional, human-centered conversations shape trust, influence, and long-term impact inside organizations and across the industry.
Drawing from his work and perspective on connection, presence, and storytelling, Riaz will challenge leaders to rethink how they show up in everyday interactions, from high-stakes decisions to simple, often overlooked moments. As the world of work continues to shift, the ability to build authentic relationships, create belonging, and lead with empathy becomes not just a soft skill, but a strategic advantage.
This conversation will invite leaders to reflect on the quality of their relationships, the consistency of their presence, and the role they play in creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and inspired to grow.
Moderated by:
Riaz Meghji, Keynote Speaker & Author
Presented by:
DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS®
5:45 PM - 6:15 PM
In a time where technology is accelerating, roles are evolving, and the pace of business continues to intensify, one thing remains constant, relationships are still the foundation of meaningful leadership. This session with Riaz Meghji explores how intentional, human-centered conversations shape trust, influence, and long-term impact inside organizations and across the industry.
Drawing from his work and perspective on connection, presence, and storytelling, Riaz will challenge leaders to rethink how they show up in everyday interactions, from high-stakes decisions to simple, often overlooked moments. As the world of work continues to shift, the ability to build authentic relationships, create belonging, and lead with empathy becomes not just a soft skill, but a strategic advantage.
This conversation will invite leaders to reflect on the quality of their relationships, the consistency of their presence, and the role they play in creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and inspired to grow.
Moderated by:
Riaz Meghji, Keynote Speaker & Author
Panelists:
GJ Hart, Chairman & CEO, SPB Hospitality LLC
Presented by:
DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS®
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM
Riaz Meghji
Presented by:
DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS®
6:15 PM - 8:00 PM
Presented by:
Sysco Corporation
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Presented by:
PepsiCo
6:30 AM - 7:45 AM
Presented by:
First Watch Restaurants, Inc. & Hormel Foodservice
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
8:00 AM - 9:45 PM
8:00 AM - 8:20 AM
Michiel Bakker, President, The Culinary Institute of America
James Fripp, Chief Culture, Opportunity, and Belonging Officer, YUM! Brands, Inc.
Hattie Hill, CEO, Hattie Hill Enterprises and Prosper Company Board Member
David Jobe, Co-Founder & CEO, Prosper Company
8:20 AM - 9:00 AM
The strongest organizations do not simply hire talent. They intentionally develop it. In an industry shaped by labor pressure, turnover, and rapid expansion, leadership development has become a strategic priority for companies seeking consistency, performance, and long-term growth. This session explores how executives design systems that identify potential early, invest in capability building, and promote from within to strengthen culture and execution. Leaders will examine how structured development programs, mentorship, and clear career pathways improve retention, reduce turnover, and create alignment across complex organizations. The conversation will also highlight how cultivating leaders at every level, from frontline operators to senior executives, reinforces accountability, trust, and operational discipline. At its core, this session reframes leadership development as stewardship, building organizations that scale with strength, continuity, and a shared commitment to growth.
Panelists:
Jim Bitticks, CEO, Dave’s Hot Chicken
Jeffrey Kiesel, CEO, Restaurant Technologies, Inc.
Presented by:
Restaurant Technologies, Inc.
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
Moderated by:
Anne Fink, President, Global Away From Home, PepsiCo
Presented by:
PepsiCo
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM
Presented by:Main Squeeze Juice Co. and KNOW
10:15 AM - 12:15 PM
10:15 AM - 11:05 AM
Join industry expert John Barone as he unpacks the critical macro-economic forces, geopolitical dynamics, and big-commodity shifts shaping the road ahead. Gain a strategic vantage point on what to watch, when to act, and how to stay prepared for the mile markers that matter most.
Speaker:
John Barone, President, Market Vision, Inc.
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Technology decisions are leadership decisions that shape culture, trust, and performance. This session explores how executives navigate automation, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in ways that strengthen human connection rather than weaken it. Instead of focusing on tools, the conversation centers on leadership intent and the responsibility to deploy technology in ways that elevate people, improve experiences, and reinforce organizational purpose. Leaders will examine where efficiency supports engagement and where it may unintentionally erode confidence or clarity. The discussion also considers how to balance speed with stewardship, ensuring innovation enhances team capability, guest satisfaction, and operational focus while protecting the values that sustain trust.
Panelists:
Shanna Prevé, Chief Revenue Officer, Doordash
Presented by:
DoorDash
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
In a world driven by growth metrics, quarterly targets, and operational scale, leaders are often asked what they are building, but rarely why. This session challenges executives to rethink success not as accumulation, but as contribution. It explores how generosity, purpose, and service can strengthen culture, deepen engagement, and build lasting trust with teams and communities. Rather than focusing on charity alone, the conversation reframes giving back as a leadership discipline that shapes decision-making, clarifies priorities, and defines legacy. Participants will examine how aligning personal conviction with professional responsibility influences how leaders show up under pressure and creates organizations that endure beyond individual tenure.
Speaker:
Billy Shore, Founder & Executive Chair, No Kid Hungry
Presented by:
Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Presented by: FranShares and TipHaus Inc.
1:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Welcome back to General Session
Presented by:
Paradox
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM
Every leader carries experiences that are not visible on a résumé. Behind titles and accomplishments are moments that shaped resilience, perspective, and decision-making. This session creates space for a candid conversation about how unseen challenges, personal adversity, and cultural transitions influence leadership style, empathy, and executive judgment. Rather than framing difference as an initiative, the discussion explores how lived experience can become a strategic asset in complex environments. Leaders will examine how hardship can strengthen clarity, discipline, and long-term thinking when processed intentionally. The focus is forward-looking: how executives translate experience into wiser decisions, stronger cultures, and more grounded leadership in uncertain times.
Speakers:
TBA
Presented by:
Paradox
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM
Restaurants increasingly play a role far beyond the dining room—quietly powering how work gets done across offices, campuses, healthcare, and distributed teams.
In this Prosper Forum–style conversation, ezCater convenes an incredible panel of C-suite leaders to explore how food, technology, and operational systems intersect to support the modern employee experience while unlocking new paths to growth. The discussion examines how restaurants—across formats and scales—are becoming embedded in workplace infrastructure, influencing labor strategy, inclusion outcomes, and economic opportunity.
Through the lenses of economic development, the future of labor, inclusive business models, executive performance, and technology-enabled scale, this session reframes food not as a channel, but as infrastructure—a practical, scalable way restaurants participate in omnichannel growth while meeting evolving workforce needs.
This conversation is about systems that work, not just services offered.
Panelists:
Jason Kidd, Chief Operating Officer, Chipotle Mexican Grill
Nihad Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, ezCater, Inc.
Presented by:
ezCater, Inc.
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Across convenience, QSR, hospitality, and hotel organizations, leaders are navigating sustained disruption driven by political and regulatory shifts, private equity investment, economic volatility, rising operating costs, and the long tail of post-Covid workforce and consumer behavior changes. These forces are reshaping where companies locate headquarters, how brands grow, how capital is deployed, and how teams experience stability inside the organization.
This session explores how executives build and maintain trust when uncertainty becomes the operating environment. Leaders will examine how ownership transitions influence culture and decision-making, how policy changes affect strategic direction, and how external instability can create internal fear if not addressed with clarity and conviction.
The conversation focuses on practical leadership behaviors that sustain performance: transparent communication, disciplined execution, cultural consistency during change, and visible leadership presence. Participants will gain perspective on how trust helps organizations retain talent, protect brand integrity, and continue moving forward despite ongoing disruption.
Panelists:
Derek Gaskins, Head of Guest Experience, BP Plc
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM
The guest experience is no longer shaped by hospitality alone. It is shaped by intelligent systems. This session explores how artificial intelligence and advanced digital platforms are transforming how brands anticipate needs, personalize interactions, and remove friction across the customer journey. Leaders will examine the role of predictive analytics, smart ordering, dynamic staffing models, and real-time feedback in elevating front-of-house performance. When deployed strategically, technology does more than improve efficiency. It empowers teams with clarity, reduces cognitive load, and creates space for meaningful human connection. The conversation focuses on measurable outcomes, including stronger loyalty, improved satisfaction, streamlined labor deployment, and healthier margins in an increasingly technology-driven service environment.
Speakers:
TBA
Presented by:
QU Pos
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
3:45 PM - 5:30 PM
3:45 PM - 4:15 PM
This would be a proprietary executive brief, updated annually, that synthesizes consumer signals, operator data, and macroeconomic forecasting to predict the decisions CEOs will need to make before market forces dictate them. Unlike typical quarterly trend reports, this model would focus on a 2-5 year horizon. Utilizing Datassential’s data science and a bespoke Prosper CEO survey panel, it would provide insights such as business model shifts CEOs are planning, alignment gaps between CEOs and consumers, and what keeps CEOs up at night versus what the data suggests will actually happen. This would become a Prosper’s original piece of intelligence—exclusive, differentiated, and future-facing.
Keynote Speaker:
Megan Lynberg, SVP, Sales, Datassential
Presented by:
Datassential
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM
In today’s marketplace, value is no longer defined by cost alone. It is defined by trust. As competition intensifies and expectations rise, leaders recognize that price may drive transactions, but trust drives long-term preference. This session explores how executive teams establish a clear, enterprise-wide definition of value that extends beyond promotions to include consistency, reliability, transparency, and experience. Rather than treating value as a pricing lever, the conversation reframes it as a leadership discipline built through operational integrity and follow-through at every touchpoint. When organizations deliver on their promises, trust compounds, strengthening loyalty, frequency, and brand resilience. In crowded markets, confidence in delivery becomes the most durable competitive advantage.
Moderated by:
Megan Lynberg, SVP, Sales, Datassential
Panelists:
Lawrence Kim, President, IHOP Restaurants, LLC
Presented by:
Dine Brands Global
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Presenters:
Ted Balestreri, Chairman and CEO, Cannery Row
James Fripp, Chief Culture, Opportunity, and Belonging Officer, YUM! Brands, Inc.
Neil Sudaisar, AVP, Commercial National Accounts, DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS®
Hattie Hill, CEO, Hattie Hill Enterprises and Prosper Company Board Member
David Jobe, Co-Founder & CEO, Prosper Company
Luke Kircher, Co-Founder & President, Prosper Company
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
In a time of constant change, uncertainty, and shifting expectations, leadership is no longer defined by authority or vision alone, it is defined by the ability to create a future that others believe in and choose to be part of. This session with Simon Bailey explores how leaders inspire commitment, not through direction, but through clarity, consistency, and connection.
Drawing on his perspective around purpose, energy, and intentional leadership, Simon will challenge leaders to examine how they communicate vision, engage their teams, and create environments where people feel motivated to contribute to something greater than themselves. When leaders are able to align purpose with action, they don’t just drive performance, they build momentum that people want to follow.
This conversation will focus on the mindset and behaviors required to lead forward, how to cultivate belief inside teams, and how to build a future that attracts, retains, and elevates the people responsible for bringing it to life.
Speaker:
Simon T. Bailey, Executive Advisor, Researcher, Keynote Speaker
Presented by:
Kraft Heinz Company
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Simon T. Bailey, Executive Advisor, Researcher, Keynote Speaker
Presented by:
Kraft Heinz Company
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Presented by:
Restaurants Connect – Presented By: California, Florida, and Texas Restaurant Associations
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Presented by:
Kraft Heinz Company
Restaurants Connect – Presented By: California, Florida, and Texas Restaurant Associations
6:30 AM - 7:45 AM
Presented By: Altametrics and Georgia-Pacific LLC
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
This presentation will equip the audience to develop leaders with intention and in response to current workforce realities. Grounded in the “Building a Future-Ready Workforce” imperative, it seeks to take a tactical/operational tone toward the industry’s workforce challenges and present realistic solutions through the lens of National Restaurant Association thought leadership and solutions.
Questions This Presentation Will Answer:
What core skills will tomorrow’s restaurant leaders need?
How can the leaders in the room foster them in their own organizations?
How is the National Restaurant Association the indispensable leadership partner to the industry?
Call to Action
Invest intentionally in leadership development of restaurant managers as a core business and workforce strategy.
Presenters:
Michael Axiotis, President & CEO, Lehigh Valley Restaurant Brands/Red Robin & Wingstop Franchisee
Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO, National Restaurant Association
Presented by:
National Restaurant Association
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Global growth offers opportunity, but it demands discipline. This session explores what it truly takes to scale internationally in today’s complex environment. Leaders will examine how to identify the right markets, structure partnerships, navigate geopolitical volatility, and adapt supply chains while protecting brand standards. The conversation also addresses how organizations balance speed with sustainability, assess readiness, and avoid overextension in pursuit of expansion. Beyond operational mechanics, the session highlights the human dimension of global leadership, including building local trust, respecting cultural nuance, and maintaining enterprise alignment. Participants will gain perspective on how global growth can diversify risk, unlock revenue, and strengthen long-term brand resilience.
Moderated by:
Ray Blanchette, Founder & CEO at Sugarloaf Holdings, LLC
Speakers:
Christian Gurria, Director General, Alsea, Alsea
Presented by:
Alsea & Sugarloaf Holdings, LLC
9:00 AM -9:30 AM
Leadership is often measured by results. The cost behind those results is rarely discussed.
This session explores the role of care as a defining leadership discipline — care for self, care for teams and communities, and care for the broader industry. In environments shaped by pressure, health challenges, and constant disruption, leaders are often required to make decisions that protect the organization while carrying personal and relational cost.
The conversation examines how executives sustain organizations through adversity while maintaining commitment to values, culture, and brand identity. Leaders will reflect on how they earn trust and buy-in from their teams and communities, even when decisions are difficult and outcomes uncertain.
At its core, this session asks a deeper question: what is the true cost of leadership, and is the sacrifice worth it? Participants will explore how purpose, resilience, and service shape decisions, and what it means to lead in a way that endures beyond the moment.
Moderated by:
Sarah Lockyer, Chief Brand Officer, The Elliot Group
Presented by:
Elliot Group
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Guests do not just remember what they ate. They remember how a place made them feel. This session explores the science of sensory experience and how foodservice and hospitality leaders intentionally design ambiance to influence behavior, emotion, and loyalty. Executives will examine how sound, scent, lighting, temperature, and spatial design shape perception, dwell time, spending, and repeat visits, often more powerfully than menu or price. The conversation reframes ambiance as a strategic system that communicates brand identity and supports operational goals. Drawing on neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and real-world execution, leaders will gain insight into how intentional sensory design can strengthen trust, differentiate experiences, and drive long-term performance.
Moderated by:
Stephani K. A. Robson, Senior Lecturer & Director of Undergraduate Studies, School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University
Panelists:
Brad Newberger, VP of Growth, Ambiance IQ
Presented by:
Ambiance iQ
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Hosted by: Ambiance iQ
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
High-performing organizations do not stumble into off-premise success. They recognize early signals and act with intention. This session explores the behavioral, operational, and leadership indicators that distinguish brands that scale catering and off-premise channels effectively before results appear in revenue. Executives will examine how demand patterns, team alignment, execution consistency, and customer experience reveal momentum or risk. The conversation highlights how disciplined prioritization, cross-functional collaboration, and clear fulfillment standards enable profitable growth without eroding brand trust or culture. Leaders will gain insight into treating off-premise not as a side channel, but as a strategic growth engine built through awareness, accountability, and consistent execution that supports long-term performance.
Speakers:
TBA
Presented by:
Buyers Edge Platform & Olo Inc
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
“Top-performing restaurant brands are not succeeding by chance. They are leveraging operational intelligence, labor optimization, marketing and experience design in ways that consistently outperform the market.
In this session, Victor Fernandez of Black Box Intelligence will present a rigorous analysis of five macro-level trends shaping performance across workforce, guest experience, and financial outcomes. Backed by proprietary data direct from restaurant brands, this session will expose the structural and behavioral differences between the top and bottom quartiles of the industry.
The discussion will explore how seemingly incremental improvements, such as targeted onboarding adjustments or slight shifts in operational focus—can generate meaningful financial returns. More importantly, it will unpack how high-performing brands build systems that link employee engagement, guest loyalty, and unit economics into a sustainable performance model.
This session is designed for executives seeking to pressure test their current assumptions, benchmark against best-in-class operators, and identify performance levers that are often overlooked but critical to long-term growth.”
Presenter:
Victor Fernandez, Chief Insights Officer, Black Box Intelligence
Presented by:
Black Box Intelligence
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
As foodservice becomes increasingly shaped by global supply dynamics, technology, regulatory shifts, and evolving operator expectations, leaders must think beyond local execution and plan with enterprise-level clarity. In this executive conversation, Sysco will share a strategic perspective on how distribution, sourcing, logistics, and data-driven forecasting are transforming the way organizations manage risk, drive consistency, and position for growth. The session offers a forward-looking view on navigating complexity at scale while maintaining operational resilience and competitive advantage in a rapidly changing global marketplace.
Speakers
TBA
Presented by:
Sysco Corporation
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presented by: DataDelivers, LLC
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Every restaurant organization ultimately competes on one essential outcome: delivering great food in a way that creates lasting preference. In today’s environment, growth is shaped by how leaders define value, evolve the guest experience, and expand strategically across markets. In this proprietary perspective, Bain & Company explores the high-level decisions influencing brand momentum and long-term competitiveness.
The session examines how leadership teams are anchoring growth in the fundamentals of the food business — delivering compelling quality, consistent execution, and clear value that resonates with today’s customer. It explores how brands are using menu strategy, limited-time offers, and targeted personalization to create relevance, stimulate demand, and strengthen guest loyalty. The conversation also addresses how the definition of experience is evolving and what organizations must do to remain meaningful as expectations shift.
Finally, leaders will gain insight into what it takes to win internationally, how development strategies must evolve, and how organizations can grow share while expanding the overall market opportunity.
Moderated by:
Lisa Koetter, Partner, Bain & Company
Presented by:
Bain & Company
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept. It is becoming core infrastructure for how foodservice and hospitality organizations operate. This session explores the development of a large-scale AI-driven enterprise platform designed to integrate data, automate insights, and elevate decision-making across complex operations. Leaders will examine how connected intelligence can enhance food safety, compliance, sustainability, energy optimization, and workforce efficiency. The conversation focuses on impact, including how predictive systems and real-time analytics can reduce risk, improve performance, and increase transparency across thousands of locations. As costs rise and complexity grows, enterprise-scale AI may become a foundational driver of operational discipline, agility, and long-term competitive advantage.
Panelists:
Scott Salstrand, VP & GM, Ecolab
Vik Viniak, SVP & GM, Ecolab
Presented by:
Ecolab
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented by:
Morgan Stanely
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Titles change. Cultures remain. This conversation explores how executives build organizations that thrive beyond their tenure by investing in people, trust, and shared belief systems rather than relying on individual authority. The dialogue examines how leadership decisions today shape succession, cultural continuity, and long-term resilience. Instead of viewing legacy as personal reputation, the session reframes it as organizational strength that endures through transitions. Leaders will reflect on whether their systems empower others to lead with clarity once they step aside. This forward-looking discussion challenges executives to consider what will remain because they led and what will be tested when they are no longer in the room.
Speakers:
Steve Kislow, CEO, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
Steve Sturm, COO, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Presented by: Sattem Solutions
4:00 PM - 5:45 PM
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Artificial intelligence is not simply a technology upgrade. It is redefining how organizations operate, scale, and create value.
This session explores the strategic shift required to move from fragmented systems and incremental adoption to treating AI as a foundational operating platform. As cost structures evolve and productivity expectations increase, leaders are being challenged to rethink how work gets done, how decisions are made, and how organizations grow.
The conversation centers on the two forces that will define success: imagination and inertia. The ability to envision new possibilities for the business, and the discipline to overcome resistance to change. Leaders will examine how to align systems, clarify ownership, and build the infrastructure needed to unlock value at scale.
At its core, this session is about leadership responsibility. Organizations that act with clarity and urgency will shape the next phase of the industry, while those that hesitate risk falling behind.
Moderated by:
Carl Orsbourn, SVP GTM Enterprise, Invisible Technologies
Panelists:
Rich Faltot, Vice President, Restaurants & Hospitality at Point B
Presented by:
Invisible Technologies and Point B
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
The distribution landscape in the United States is rapidly transforming as consolidation, rising costs, supply chain volatility, and evolving operator expectations reshape how food moves from producer to restaurant. This session explores the strategic forces redefining distribution across the foodservice ecosystem. Leaders will examine how distributors are adapting through technology integration, logistics optimization, and more collaborative partnerships with operators and manufacturers. The conversation highlights the shift from transactional relationships to data-driven, strategically aligned planning that improves transparency, speed, and resilience. Participants will gain perspective on how forward-looking distribution strategies can strengthen supply stability, support innovation, and create a competitive advantage in an increasingly complex operating environment.
Moderated by:
TBA
Panelists:
Tom Bené, President & CEO, Breakthru Beverage Group
Presented by:
Breakthru Beverage Group
5:00 PM - 5:45 PM
Influence is not granted by title. It is earned through clarity, conviction, and credibility. In this keynote, Stephanie Chung shares lessons from her rise to the highest levels of leadership and what it takes to be heard when decisions carry real consequence. The session focuses on communicating with authority while maintaining authenticity, building rapport across diverse stakeholders, and establishing executive presence in high-stakes environments. Leaders will explore how to earn trust, align teams, and turn opportunity into measurable growth. BE HEARD challenges executives to examine how they show up under pressure and how developing a strong leadership voice can drive impact, strengthen relationships, and shape outcomes.
Speaker:
Stephanie Chung, Author, Keynote Speaker, Former Aviation Executive
5:45 PM - 6:45 PM
Presented By: Buyers Edge Platform
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Presented By: Kraft Heinz Company
6:30 AM - 7:45 AM
Hosted By: Savi Solution
7:30 AM - 10:30 AM
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
Everything feels slow when priorities multiply and urgency fades. In this high-energy session, Andrew Davis introduces a leadership framework built on the power of constraints to accelerate execution and drive meaningful results. Leaders will explore how focused outcomes, intentional limitations, and aligned accountability can eliminate noise, speed decision-making, and unlock performance that exceeds expectations. Through compelling case studies and practical insights, the session demonstrates how organizations can transform perceived limitations into strategic advantage. Participants will leave with a repeatable approach to creating urgency, sharpening focus, and mobilizing teams to act with clarity and confidence. The message is simple: winning does not require more resources. It requires stronger leadership discipline.
Speaker:
Andrew Davis, Keynote Speaker & Author, Monumental Shift
Presented by:
Henny Penny
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM
As artificial intelligence evolves from tools to autonomous, agent-driven systems, leaders face a fundamental strategic question: who truly owns the relationship between brands, locations, and people? This session provides a grounded, realistic assessment of agentic architecture and what it means for how organizations operate, engage customers, and structure work.
Rather than focusing on technical features or distant predictions, the conversation demystifies agentic capabilities through practical use cases already emerging across restaurant and retail environments. Leaders will explore where agentic AI is most impactful today, particularly in backend operations, data utilization, forecasting, and decision support, and why novelty-driven customer applications may be premature for many organizations.
The session also examines how non-deterministic systems reshape accountability, workforce inclusion, operational models, and competitive dynamics. Executives will be challenged to assess readiness across data governance, security posture, system integration, and risk management. Participants will leave with clarity on how to prioritize adoption pathways, identify trusted implementation partners, and compete in a landscape where intelligent systems increasingly influence performance, experience, and enterprise value.
Moderated by:
Adam Dumey, Global VP – Retail, World Wide Technology
Panelists:
TBA
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM
The defining moments of leadership are not when decisions are easy. They are when courage is required.
At the executive level, strategy is not just about analysis. It is about the willingness to act with conviction when outcomes are uncertain and stakes are high. This session explores how leaders develop the courage to make bold decisions, challenge conventional thinking, and move organizations forward despite incomplete information and competing pressures.
The conversation examines how executives build disciplined decision-making frameworks that balance data, intuition, and long-term vision. Leaders will discuss how they navigate risk, align teams around difficult choices, and maintain clarity when external forces create noise and hesitation.
This session also addresses consequence. Courageous decisions do not always produce immediate success, but strong leaders understand how to measure impact over time, learn quickly, and adapt without losing momentum.
At its core, this conversation is about the intersection of courage and strategy — and what it takes to lead decisively when it matters most.
10:00 AM
10:30 AM
Prosper Forum 2026
Attend the forum
Four days of networking & education with a community fueling the future of foodservice & hospitality.
Please let us know if you’d like to attend.
