Agenda
March 22-23 2026
Time and Participants are Subject to Change
Day 1: March 22, 2026
8:30 - 9:30am
Breakfast and Registration
Sponsored by:
9:30 - 9:45am
Opening Remarks
9:45 - 10:30am
Operating Outside Major Markets
Moderator: Tim Carman
Panelists: Callen Buckles, Johnny Curiel, Kyle Knall, and Karyn Tomlinson
10:45 - 11:30am
Tech Time
Moderator: Kristen Hawley
Panelists: Kelly MacPherson and Wesley Sohn
11:45 - 12:30am
Critics
Moderator: Jamila Robinson
Panelists: Bill Addison, Raphael Brion, Joshua David Stein, Lyndsay Green, and Elazar Sontag
Reception
Sponsored by…
Day 2: March 23, 2026
8 - 9:15am
Breakfast and Registration
9 - 9:15am
Opening Remarks
9:20 - 10am
The Modern Day Bakery
Moderator: Jamila Robinson
Panelists: Joshua David Stein, Michael Jordan, Lyndsay Green, Raphael Brion, Bill Addison, Kayla Stewart, Elazar Sontag
10:20 - 11am
Constructing a Beverage Program in 2026
Moderator: Brett Martin
Panelists: Lou Bernard, Chompon “Boong” Boonnak, Colleen Hughes
11:20 - 12:20pm
Next Generation Chefs
Moderator: Mel Hansche
Panelists: Damarr Brown, India Doris, Aretah Ettarh, EJ Lagasse, Phila Lorn, and Serigne Mbaye
12:20 - 1:20pm
Lunch
1:20 - 2pm
Trailblazer Talk
Moderator: Jeff Gordinier
Panelist: Martin Yan
2:20 - 3pm
Leveraging Your Brand: Partnership Development:
Moderator: Steph Wu
Panelists: Hillary Dixler Canavan, David Helbraun, Gail Simmons
3:20 - 4:20pm
Hot Topics
Moderator: Abena Anim-Somuah
Panelists: Brett Anderson, Helen Rosner, Tom Siemesta, Yia Vang, and Erick Williams
Dessert Reception
Sponsored by…
3:45 - 4pm