MUFSO Conference Proceedings Agenda

Concurrent Workshop Sessions

• Developing & Managing a Successful Franchise Advisory Council
  Choosing the right franchise partners and building a solid relationship with them is crucial to the success of your brand. This session will cover best-in-class franchise discovery day programs as well as how to develop a mutually beneficial franchise advisory council.
  Moderator: Phil Keiser, President, Culvers Franchising
  Panelists:
  -Cameron Cummins, VP Franchising, Marco's Pizza
  -Paul Mangiamele, President & CEO, Bennigan's Franchising Co.
  -Antonio Swad, CEO, Pizza Patron
  

• Developing Tomorrow's Leaders Today
  Having the right people in the right positions is paramount to a brand’s growth potential. This session will mine the expertise of some of the restaurant industry’s notable human resources leaders on such topics as recruitment, development and retention, and also delve into the results of a compensation survey undertaken by HVS and Nation’s Restaurant News.
  Moderator: Doug Rosen, Partner, HVS Executive Search
  Panelists:
  -Bill Steitberger, Vice President Human Resources, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
  -Rodney Morris, Chief People Officer, Romano's Macaroni Grill
  -James Houran, Ph.D., Partner, HVS Executive Search
  -Tom Solomon, Former VP HR, Lone Star Steakhouse
  

• GPS: Guest Preference Study - based upon NRN study includes results and analysis
  Future growth depends on being a consumer favorite. In this session, we’ll dissect the results of a new customer preference survey undertaken by Nation’s Restaurant News and WD Partners, offering an unbiased look at which brands are best meeting consumers’ needs and how they are doing it.
  Moderator: Robin Lee Allen, Executive Editor, Nation's Restaurant News
  Panelists:
  -Dennis Lombardi, Executive VP Foodservice Strategies, WD Partners
  -Jennifer Anhorn, Cheif Marketing Officer, Papa Murphy's International
  

Keynote Address - Bill Taylor, Co-Founder, Fast Company Magazine
Practically Radical: Not-So-Crazy Ways to Transform Your Company, Shake Up Your Industry, and Challenge Yourself
In an era of hyper-competition, the only way to stand out from the crowd is to stand for something special. The most successful companies don’t just out-compete their rivals. They redefine the terms of competition by embracing one-of-a-kind ideas in a world filled with me-too thinking. That’s the defining spirit of Practically Radical, the new book from award-winning entrepreneur and bestselling author William C. Taylor. As the cofounder and founding editor of Fast Company, using lessons drawn from a wide variety of fields, Bill Taylor will deliver big ideas, proven techniques, and insightful case studies to inspire foodservice operators to transform their company, shake up the industry and recharge themselves.

Sponsored by SIB Development & Consulting

General Session Executive Panel: "Where Do We Grow From Here?"
This panel of thought-leaders will share their ideas and strategies during this highly interactive, no-holds barred panel discussion on new opportunities for growth in the foodservice industry.
Moderator: Bill Taylor, Co-Founder, Fast Company Magazine
Panelists:
-Scott Bergren, CEO, Pizza Hut
-Kerry Kramp, CEO, Sizzler USA
-Kevin Reddy, CEO, Noodles & Company
-Sally Smith, CEO, Buffalo Wild Wings

Sponsored by Service Management Group

Keynote: David Pogue, Technology Columnist, New York Times & Emmy Winning Correspondent for CBS News
Web 2.0: Social Media and Other Tools to Help Business Reach Customers
In this head spinning talk, David Pogue, The New York Times most popular blogger (and first video blogger), helps to make sense of the explosively expanding realm of Web 2.0. He will advise MUFSO attendees how to exploit these live-wire tools, supply some real-world stories and hint at the future, the pitfalls, and the rewards of these revolutionary social media tools that have changed the way you communicate with your customers forever.

Sponsored by e*Restaurant from Altametrics

Concurrent Workshop Sessions

• Operational Excellence
  Find out what it takes to become “tops in ops” from restaurant operators who have “been there, done that.” These Malcolm Baldridge Award recipients will share their best practices and insights into how to achieve this level of success.
  Moderator: Don Fox, CEO, Firehouse of America
  Panelists:
  -Thom Crosby, President & CEO, Pal's Sudden Service
  -Marlis Oliver, Executive Director, K&N Management
  
  
• Measuring Social Media ROI With Today's Social Savvy Customer
  Understanding the consumer is paramount for your brand or business. Everything you do online has an attachment of revenue to it but the truth in Social Media is how consumers interact with you. We will showcase the NRN Restaurant Social Media Index as part of this powerful presentation on top brands in social, connecting with new age consumers and making it all hit the bottom line.
  Speaker: Paul Barron, Founder, Digital Coco, & Author, The Chipotle Effect: The Changing Landscape of the American Food Consumer
  
  
• Creating a Better “To Go” Strategy
  Find out how you can grow sales through optimizing drive-thru efficiency, curbside “to go,” and off-premise catering opportunities.
  Moderator: Phil Costner, COO, la Madeleine
  Panelists:
  -Andy Howard, Chief Marketing Officer, Wingstop
  -Sherri Kimes, Singapore Tourism Board Distinguished Professor of Asian Hospitality Management, Cornell University School of Hotel Administration
  -Jeff Sinelli, CEO, Which Wich
  
  
• Customer Loyalty Programs
  Say goodbye to freebies, BOGO’s and deep discounts as a tool to drive customer frequency. Find out how to develop a successful customer loyalty program that builds your brand following and your bottom line.
  Moderator: Clay Dover, Chief Marketing Officer, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
  Panelists:
  -Michael Mack, CEO, Garden Fresh Corp.
  -Ron Parikh, Chief Marketing Officer, Genghis Grill
  -Dana Benfield, Director Loyalty/Retention, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
  -Amanda Breaux, Marketing Manager, la Madeleine
  

Concurrent Workshop Sessions

• Future of Casual Dining: Exploring Fast, Polished and Casual Dining Appeal
  Is casual dining dead? Technomic uncovers eye-opening approaches to this segment that are sure to breathe new life into the casual dining segment.
  Moderator: Darren Tristano, Executive Vice President, Technomic, Inc.
  
  
• Going International: What You Need To Know
  So many countries, so little time! Get important tips and advice on international expansion from restaurant operators who have already paved the way for you.
  Moderator: Alan Liddle, Managing Editor, Special Projects
  Panelists:
  -Henry McGovern, President, AmRest Holdings
  -Richard Snead, Board of Directors, Rosinter Restaurant Group
  -Michael Schaefer, Head of Global Consumer Foodservice Research, Euromonitor International
  
  
• Win the Menu Pricing War
  Don’t be the next contestant on “The Price is Right!” This session will identify menu pricing strategies addressing price elasticity, categories of menu and the psychology of your customers.
  Moderator: Scott Taylor, COO, Last In Concepts
  Panelists:
  -Lane Cardwell, CEO, P.F. Chang's China Bistro
  -Carl Howard, President & CEO, Fazoli's
  -Randy DeWitt, CEO, Twin Peaks Restaurants
  
  
• Supply Chain Strategy: What You Need To Know
  The effect of rising gas prices on your customers spending habits…How to manage increased commodity costs…Is food you serve safe…where is the economy really going. What keeps you awake at night? Rest assured, these experts will hit these challenges head on and provide you with the information you need to grow your business.
  Moderator: John Barone, President, Market Vision/Contributing Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News
  Panelists:
  -Scott DeFife, Executive Vice President Policy & Government Affairs, National Restaurant Association
  -Brenda Lloyd, Director Equipment Purchasing, Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-Op
  -David Parsley, Sr. Vice President Supply Chain Management, Brinker International
  

Keynote: Guy Kawasaki, Former Evangelist for Apple & Best Selling Author
Topic - Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds & Heads
Guy Kawasaki's presentation will focus on the importance of believing in an idea that delivers something entirely unique to the customer and transform the marketplace as a result. MUFSO attendees will be enlightened with the concept of Enchantment—enabling you to maneuver through difficult decisions, break entrenched habits, defy the wisdom of crows and get colleagues and business partners to work for long-term mutually beneficial goals.

Sponsored by Taylor Company

Award Winning CEO Panel
This session will feature a rapid-fire Q&A panel discussion featuring the 2011 Golden Chain, Pioneer and The Norman award honorees. Find out what motivates these leaders and how their companies have managed to thrive in the current economic environment.
Moderators: Randall Friedman, Publisher, Nation’s Restaurant News & Robin Lee Allen, Executive Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News
Panelists:
-Patrick Doyle, CEO, Domino's
-Don Fox, CEO, Firehouse of America
-Phil Hickey, Chairman, O'Charley's (The Norman Award Winner)
-Steele Platt, Founder & Chairman, Yard House Restaurants
-Steve Romaniello, Managing Director, Roark Capital
-Ron Shaich, Founder & Chairman, Panera Bread (Pioneer Award Winner)

Sponsored by American Express

Capital Gains: How Private Equity is Changing the Landscape (Again) & Charging in with Cash!
Moderator: Sarah Lockyer, Executive Editor, NRN.com
Panelists:
-Jim Greco, CEO, Brueggers
-Glenn Kaufman, Managing Director, DCubed Group
-Geoff Hill, Vice President, Roark Capital Partners
-Anthony G. Polazzi, Principal, Sun Capital Partners