QSR Evolution 2026 Speakers

Tom Curtis

President · Burger King U.S. & Canada

Susannah Frost

President · Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Scott Greenberg

Author & Keynote Speaker

Lisa Ingram

CEO · White Castle Systems, Inc.

Rob Lynch

CEO · Shake Shack

Jerry Morgan

CEO · Texas Roadhouse

Bob Andersen

President · The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill

Mindy Armstrong

VP of Menu Innovation · Tropical Smoothie Cafe; NextGen Council Leader

Chris Artinian

Founder and CEO · Artinian Holdings Inc

Jim Balis

Partner and Head of Strategic Operations · CapitalSpring

Sarah Beckett

VP Sales and Marketing · Intouch Insight

David Bloom

Chief Development & Growth Officer · Capriotti's and Wing Zone

Jonathan Bowyer

Director of Business Development · C3

Donny Bradley

Founder and CEO · Lola Beans

Jenna Bromberg

CMO · Papa Johns

Jason Brooks

Founder and CEO · Leadership Simplicity

Jason E. Brooks

Restaurant Coach · HospiVation

Lawrence Brown

CDO · Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard

Joel Bulger

CMO · WOWorks

Tony Capuano

VP of Franchise Operations · Donatos

Matthew Caric

Senior Manager, International Operations Excellence · WingStop

Shawn Caric

VP, Franchise Development · Smoothie King

Graham Chapman

Franchise Coach · FranCoach

Josh Charlesworth

President & Chief Executive Officer · Krispy Kreme

Chris Cheek

Chief Development Officer · Newk's Eatery

Miguel Chilleron

Director of AI & Design · Livit

Luke Christian

CEO · Surcheros

David 'Rev' Ciancio

Restaurant Owner, Marketing Consultant and CMO · Salad House

Joey Cioffi

Founder and CEO · Salad House

Nancy Combs

SVP, Growth · Shake Shack

Alex Cone

VP of Talent Acquisition · Jason's Deli

Taylor Crookston-Grace

Director, Brand Standard · Burger King US&C, Operations

Devon Croom

Senior Team Leader, Networking · Chick-fil-A Corporate

Alice Crowder

Chief Marketing Officer

Jennifer Dodd

CEO · Main Squeeze Juice Co.

Melissa Doolin-Koehne

Founder and Principal · Elevate 4

Dan Doulen, CFE

Senior Director of Franchise Business Development · Golden Corral

Chris Dull

CEO · Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Dana Edwards Manatos

Founder and CEO · Milkshake Factory

Berry Epley

President and Chief Administrative Officer · Nobles Restaurants, LLC

Michel Falcon

CEO and Founder · Brasa Peruvian

Somia Farid Silber

CEO · Edible Brands

Kelley Fechner

Senior Vice President · Datassential

Imaan Ferdowsi

Chief Executive Officer · MRCO

Victor Fernandez

Chief Insights Officer · Black Box Intelligence

Matt Forbush

Franchisee · Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon, Jamba, Häagen-Dazs

Jeff Galletly

Chairman & CEO · Brooklyn Dumpling Shop

Eleni Gates

Founder & Principal · Gates Hospitality Group

Kyle Gordon

Cofounder and CEO · Dillas Quesadillas

Kelly Gray

President and CEO · Hot Head Burritos

Christopher Gumprecht

VP of IT · Craveworthy Brands

Josh Halpern

Chief Brand Officer · Craveworthy Brands

Ryan Hanawalt

SVP, U.S. Franchise and Operations Service · Church's Chicken

Damian Hanft

VP, Human Resources · Taco John's

Allie Haskell

Vice President of Marketing · NorthStar

Geoff Henry

President · Gong cha

Trish Heusel

Vice President of Innovation · Little Caesars Pizza

Cody Hicks

Chief of Staff · gusto!

Troy Hooper

CEO · Hot Palette America

Tricia Houston

Vice President of Discovery & Design · KS&R

Ed Howie

Founder & CEO · Lifelong Customers

Clifford Hudson

Former CEO · Sonic Corp

Carmela Hughley

Vice President of Marketing Strategy & Insight · Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard

Nate Hybl

CEO and Founder · gusto!

Sunny Ilyas

Founder and CEO · Vale Healthy Kitchen

Van Ingram

Chief Development Officer · Jack in the Box

Angela Johnson

Chief Marketing Officer · Edible Brands

Stacey Kane

CMO · California Tortilla

Jenifer Kern

CMO · Qu

Eric Knott

CEO · Tiki Taco

Brandon Knudsen

Co-Founder and CEO · Ziggi's Coffee

Mike LaRue

VP of Franchise Development · Angry Chickz

Jodi Latuszek

VP of Legal and Human Resources · BIGGBY COFFEE

Katherine LeBlanc

Fractional CMO · Apollo CMO

Shawn Lalehzarian

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer · The Red Chickz

Tony Lamb

Founder and CEO · Kona Ice, Travelin' Tom's Coffee, and Beverly Ann's Cookies

Jason Levinson

VP, Marketing Technology · WOWorks

Kim Lewis

Chief Marketing Officer · Capriotti's

Claudia Lezcano

CEO · Fuku

Ben Linero

CMO · Vicky Bakery

Laura Livers

Chief Revenue Officer · Intouch Insight

Paul Macaluso

Chief Executive Officer · Torchy's Tacos

Michael MacLennan

Cofounder and Co-CEO · Tryarc

Tonya McCoy

VP, Marketing · Angry Chickz

Kelly McCutcheon

Group Director of Training & Development · Whataburger Restaurants LLC.

Craig Miller

Former CIO · Sonic Corp

Lisa Miller

President · Lisa W. Miller & Associates, LLC

Trace Miller

Founder & CEO · Konala

Paul Miramontes, CHT

Manager of Learning and Development · Galardi Group – Wienerschnitzel

Adam Modzel

Chief Operating Officer · Einstein Bros. Bagels

Jason Morgan

CEO · Original ChopShop

Lacey Navarrete

Vice President of Human Resources · Scooter's Coffee

Heather Neary

CEO · Taco John's

Corban Nichols

Vice President of Restaurant Excellence · Piada Italian Street Food

Michael Nilevsky

Head of Franchising · Yum! Brands

James Nusbaum

CEO · Barry Bagels

Ryan O'Malley

Franchisee · Wendy's of Bowling Green, Inc.

James O'Reilly

Former CEO · Ascent Hospitality, Smokey Bones

Kelly O'Rourke

Director of Marketing · FiiZ Drinks

Carl Orsbourn

SVP, Consumer Enterprise · Invisible

Jessica Osborne

VP of Marketing · McAlister's Deli

Sara Ozege Loughry

Director of Operations & Training · Kettlemans Bagel

Jessa Parette

Head of Design · Yum! Brands

Kajal Patel

CEO · Hena Group (Buffalo Wild Wings and Dunkin' franchisee)

Dave Pelletier

Chief Operating Officer · Checkers and Rally's

Mike Perry

Founder & Chief Creative Officer · Tavern Agency

Jake Philpotts

VP of Business Development & Franchise Relations · Surcheros

Kartik Pillai

Director of Data Platform Engineering, Master Data Management, and Data Governance · Yum! Brands

Philip Pinkerman

Learning, Development & Recruiting Manager · Bristol Farms, Lazy Acres Natural Market, & New Leaf Community Markets

Kevin Planovsky

VP Marketing & Sales · Sparkfly

David Portalatin

Senior Vice President and Industry Advisor, Food and Foodservice · Circana

Jessicah Pounds

VP of Training and Leadership Development · GoTo Foods

Kevin Purcer

VP, Customer Technology & Insights · Chick-fil-A

Garrett Reed

CEO · Layne's Chicken Fingers

Mandy Ristic

Franchisee, Operating Partner · OM Group (Dunkin', Baskin-Robbins, QDOBA, Smoothie King, Jimmy John's, Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon)

Thibault Roux

Chief Digital Officer · Burger King U.S. and Canada

Michael Schatzberg

Co-Founder and Managing Partner · Branded Hospitality Ventures

Anne Schultheis

Director of Loyalty and CRM · Scooter's Coffee

Jay Scherger

Founder and CEO · Jukebox

Kevin Paul Scott

Cofounder · ADDO

Jackie Secor

COO · Taco John's

Jessica Serrano

CMO · Einstein Bros. Bagels

Natalie Sharpe

CEO · Oliver's Real Food

Tim Sharpe

COO · Oliver's Real Food

Marissa Sharpless

VP of Marketing · Carvel

Ike Shehadeh

Founder · Ike's Love and Sandwiches

Dannon Shiff

Senior Vice President of Real Estate · Dave's Hot Chicken

Maryna Shuliakouskaya

Franchisee · Aroma Joes

Erin Snyder

Vice President of Franchise Development · Handel's Ice Cream

Dan Sokolik

Vice President · Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken

Atul Sood

Fractional Chief Business Officer

Darren Spicer

Founder · 110 Ventures

Tamara Stanley

Vice President Marketing · Capriotti's Sandwich Shop

Sam Stanovich

SVP of Franchise Leadership · Craveworthy Brands

Matthew Steele

Director of Training and Innovation · Galardi Group

Ryan Stein

Senior Director of Marketing · gusto!

Bethany Strong

Chief Operating Officer · NAYA

Joseph Szala

Vice President of Digital Experience · 3 Owl

Susan Taylor

President and CEO · Juice it Up!

Andrew Thengvall

Chief Development Officer & Chief Legal Officer · Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Chris Thomas

Senior Principal Team Leader · Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Mary Pillow Thompson

Co-founder · The Franchise Profit Playbook

Paul Tran

Franchise Advisor + Franchisee

Maria Valero

Director, International Architecture & Design · Papa Johns

Christina Vaughan

President and COO · Slim Chickens

Amer Wahab

President · Kettlemans Bagel

Matthew Walls

President, Chief Stores Officer · Edible Brands

Kendall Ware

Fractional Chief Growth Officer · Smokey Mo's BBQ

Luke Watson

CEO and Owner · Timber Pizza

Ryan Weaver

Chief Executive Officer · Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken

Dr. Felicia White, Ed.D

Director of Operations · Askar Management Group

Brian Witte

Founder · Ready Aim Consulting

Kimberly Bean

VP, Brand Experience · Arby's

Tammy K. Billings

CEO · TGI Fridays and Sugarloaf Holdings

Ray Blanchette

CEO · TGI Fridays and Sugarloaf Holdings

Robin Blanchette

Founder & CEO · Norton Creative

Elizabeth Brasch

EVP of Marketing · Mellow Mushroom

Kathleen Bush

CMO · Ford's Garage

John Christen

Founder/CEO · Himes Breakfast House

Stephen DeSousa

CEO · Tavern in the Square (Broadway Hospitality Group)

Jeremy Edmonds

EVP of People and Culture · Snooze, an A.M. Eatery

James Frank

Manager of Learning & Development · Dine Brands Global

Melissa Fry

CMO · Twin Peaks

Taylor Glode

VP of Venue Operations · Popstroke

John Haggai

President & CEO · Burtons Grill & Bar, Red Heat American Tavern

Kamal Hakim

Senior Business Developer · Group FiftyOne

Srishti Handa

VP, Marketing - Brand and Growth · Dave's Hot Chicken

Mina Haque

CEO · Tony Roma's

Ed Harris

Chef/Founder · KnifeNSpoon

Graham Humphreys

CEO · The Culinary Edge

John Iannucci

CEO · Agave & Stone Hospitality

Ahsan Jiva

EVP of Strategy and Transformation · Mellow Mushroom

Betty Kaufman

Strategy Director · The Culinary Edge

Jen Kaufmann

Chief of Staff · Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants

Josh Kern

CEO · Snooze, an AM Eatery

Peter Kiley

Co-Owner/Brewmaster · Monday Night Brewing

Kenneth Knief

Managing Director · Hospitality Resource Group

Clayton Krueger

Chief Marketing Officer · Farrelli's Pizza

Erin Levzow

Chief Marketing, Growth and Commercial Officer

Christine Lorusso

Vice President of Digital Marketing · Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

Paul Mangiamele

Founder/Chairman and CEO · Legendary Restaurant Brands

Jason Mayoral

CEO · Swipe Savvy

Sarah Meriam

COO · Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar

Autumn Nessibou

Director of Operations · Farrelli's Pizza

Ian O'Neil

Director of Consumer Intelligence · Rubix Foods

Steve Palmer

Founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Vision Officer · Indigo Road Hospitality Group

Cai Palmiter

Head of Marketing · JW Concepts

Rachel Richal

VP, Restaurant Experience & Training · Buffalo Wild Wings (Inspire Brands)

Anne Rollings

Exec. Director Communications & Business Development · Watershed Hospitality Concepts

Toni Ronayne

Founder/Fractional CEO · The C Society

Joshua Rossmeisl

Founder, Chief Vision Officer · AMP Up1 Hospitality

Ryan Russell

Chief of Staff · SPB Hospitality

Liz Seelye

Founder · StarryEyed Strategy

Lauren Selman

VP Operations · IFBTA

Randy Sharpe

CEO · Wahlburgers

Michael Sien

Founder · faSHOW

Monte Silva

CEO · Ten Tables Hospitality; Managing Partner · Comida

Chris Simms

CEO/Founder · Lazy Dog Restaurants

Yasaman Stewart

Sr. Director of Marketing · BRIX Holdings

Mira Stsiapanau

VP of Operations and Training · Eggs Up Grill

Marita Swift

VP of Strategic Growth · The Big Biscuit

Jonathan Weathington

CEO · Shuckin Shack Oyster Bar