2024 General Session Speakers

Prosper Forum

The Prosper Forum General Session Speakers

A select group of leaders from a cross section of the foodservice and hospitality industry.

Geoff
Alexander
President & CEO
Wow Bao
MIke
Axiotis
President and CEO
Lehigh Valley Restaurant Brands
John D.
Barker
President & CEO
Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance
John
Barone
President
Market Vision, Inc.
Paul
Barron
Founder & CEO
Rever Networks, LLC
Allison Walker
Beacham
3-time Emmy Award Winning Television Host and Anchor
Spectrum News 13
Louis
Basile
Founder & President
Wildflower
Michael
Beacham
Chief Operating Officer
California Pizza Kitchen
Carlos
Bernal
CEO
Areas USA, Inc.
Megan
Bloomer, PhD
Vice President of Sustainability & CSR
The Cheesecake Factory
Elena
Bradley
Student, Pamplin College of Business, Howard Feiertag Department of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Virginia Tech
Mac
Brand
Founding Partner
Bellwether Food Group, Inc.
Lindsay
Broome
Director of Supplier Diversity
Foodbuy USA
Kevin
Brown
CEO
Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants
Aiden
Buckner
Student Pamplin College of Business, Howard Feiertag Department of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Virginia Tech
Paul
Carolan
Principal, Paul Carolan Consulting & Adjunct Professor, Pamplin College of Business, Howard Feiertag Department of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Virginia Tech
John
Chidsey
CEO
Subway
Christie
Cook
Vice President, Head of Human Resources
Dine Brands Global
Greg
Creed
Global Marketer, Author, and Retired CEO
Creed UnCo
Matthew
Daniel
Managing Director
Citi
David
Deno
CEO
Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.
Carol
Dover
President & CEO
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
Alex
Eagle
CEO
Freebirds World Burrito
Anne
Filipic
Chief Executive Officer
Share Our Strength / No Kid Hungry
Anne
Fink
President, Global Foodservice
PepsiCo
James
Fripp
Chief Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Officer
Yum! Brands, Inc.
Mitesh
Gala
Founder and CEO
Altametrics
Derek
Gaskins
Chief Marketing Officer
Yesway
Elliott
Gaskins
SVP and Acting Chief Revenue Officer
Share Our Strength / No Kid Hungry
Michael
Gottlieb
Managing Director, National Hospitality Advisory
CohnReznick LLP
Darnell
Greene
Director, Supplier Diversity
Sysco Corporation
Matthew
Haller
President & CEO
International Franchise Association
Josh
Halpern
CEO
Big Chicken
Stan
Harris
President & CEO
Louisiana Restaurant Association
Katie
Hearns
Student Pamplin College of Business, Howard Feiertag Department of Hospitality & Tourism Management
Virginia Tech
Hattie
Hill
CEO
Hattie Hill Enterprises and Prosper Company Board Member
Kevin
Hourican
CEO
Sysco Corporation
David
Jobe
Co-Founder & CEO
Prosper Forum
Ray
Johnson
President / COO / Executive Partner Calico Cactus & Founder ReCee’s Executive Operations Consultant
ReCee’s Restaurant Leadership Consulting & Calico Cactus
Kevin
Johnson
CEO of Fixins Restaurant Group, Founder and General Partner
Black Capital
Jeffrey
Kiesel
President & CEO
Restaurant Technologies, Inc.
Luke
Kircher
Co-Founder & President
Prosper Forum
Emily Williams
Knight
President & CEO
Texas Restaurant Association
Sanjay
Kotte
Head of Strategic Partnerships
DoorDash
Ryan
Leak
Motivational Speaker & Author
The Ryan Leak Group, LLC.
Fred
LeFranc
Chaos Strategist & CEO
Results Thru Strategy, Inc.
Sarah
Lockyer
Chief Brand Officer
The Elliot Group
April
Love
VP & Chief Inclusion Officer
Sysco Corporation
Gregg
Majewski
Founder & CEO
Craveworthy Brands
Lynwood
Mallard
SVP & CMO
J&J Snack Foods Corp.
Mike
Manzo
Chief Operating Officer
Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems Inc.
Cynthia “Cynt”
Marshall
CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and President & CEO, Marshalling Resources ConsultingRetired AT&T Executive and Author
Chastity
McLeod
Vice President of Sustainability
Nestlè – Zone North America
Aleshia
McMath
VP, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Compass Group North America
Kirsten
Michulka
President and Chief Executive Officer
Independent Purchasing Cooperative
Perry
Miele
Board Member / Advisor, Former President & CEO of Nestlè Professional Solutions
Wonder
Joe
Monastero
Chief Revenue Officer
Texas Restaurant Association
Johann
Moonesinghe
CEO and Co-founder
inKind
Liz
Moskow
Futurist, Founder of Saase, and Principal, Bread & Circus Future Food Advisory
Heather
Neary
President & CEO
Taco John’s International
Shara
Orem
Sr. Director of Community Engagement
Datassential
James H.
Pogue, Ph.D
Chief Executive Officer
JP Enterprises
Aaron
Powell
Global CEO
Pizza Hut
Michelle
Rhee
Venture Partner
EO Ventures
Donna
Richardson
CEO
Mama LaVerne’s Foods Inc
Ricky
Richardson
CEO
Eggs Up Grill
Robin
Schweitzer
Sr. Director of Sales Enablement & Strategy
Paytronix
Tracy
Skeans
Chief Operating Officer and Chief People Officer
Yum! Brands, Inc.
Kimberly
Smith
CEO
Copia
Reginald “Reggie”
Stover
Chief People Officer
Henny Penny
Chris
Tomasso
President & CEO
First Watch Restaurants, Inc.
Teri
Trullinger
Group Vice President, Field Sales
Cargill Foodservice
Andrè
Vener
Founding Partner
Dog Haus
Telesa
Via
Head of Sales
IHG Hotels & Resorts
Chip
Wade
CEO
Union Square Hospitality Group
Jessica
Waller
General Manager of Away From Home
Kellanova
Nicole
Ward
Storyteller/Data Journalist Research & Innovation
Dallas Regional Chamber
Charles
Watson
Chief Executive Officer
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Hillary
Wirtz
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Breakthru Beverage Group
TJ
Wommack
Partner
AlixPartners
Derrick
Yarbrough
Director
AlixPartners

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