ATLANTA —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
To be sure, some educators and consultants are playing important roles in the 2007 event, which is being staged at the Georgia World Congress Center in a co-location with The NAFEM Show equipment event. But Nation’s Restaurant News publisher Alan Gould underscores that three dozen operators from chains big and small and all segments of the industry “are the key to FS/TEC 2007’s peer-to-peer general sessions, breakout panels and keynote speeches.” —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
NRN co-produces and co-manages FS/TEC with Robert Grimes of Accuvia. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
FS/TEC 2007’s theme is “Networking for Profits,” and Grimes says that’s how it should be. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
“Networking and integration are key elements of any foodservice technology strategy, and technology increasingly is helping to build revenues and control costs, with the obvious outcome being enhanced profitability,” Grimes says. “This year’s ‘Networking for Profits’ theme couldn’t be more fitting, as it ties these important concepts together for our attendees.” —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
FS/TEC exhibit hall hours correspond with those of The NAFEM Show, running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Oct. 11-13. Show managers say they are anticipating from 150 to 160 exhibitors of foodservice technology hardware, software and services, and from 2,000 to 2,500 FS/TEC attendees. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
Career and social-networking events free to all registered participants are a major attraction for FS/TEC attendees, and this year’s schedule calls for daily receptions and more. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
An integral part of the conference, The Annual FS/TEC Awards Luncheon, will be held Oct. 12, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., and is free to conference registrants and ticketed exhibitors. This year’s luncheon keynote speech will be delivered by Don Zimmerman, senior vice president and chief information officer for Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc. of Atlanta. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
NRN publisher Gould, who co-chairs FS/TEC with Grimes, says this year’s education program touches on a wide variety of topics ranging from food safety and security tools to successful loyalty card programs to customer-activated kiosks. Payment processing issues will be top of mind for many attendees, he adds. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
The growing acceptance of debit and credit cards among quick-service and fast-casual restaurant chains, along with some customer identity theft problems among large retailers and other businesses during the past year, have heightened operator interest in payment technology. Recently passed and pending deadlines tied to the Payment Card Industry group’s new standards for tighter card data security, and card organization threats to levy fines for operator failure to comply with those new PCI standards, are making many restaurateurs anxious. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
In response, FS/TEC is offering two relevant educational sessions: “The Changing Face of Payment Technology” breakout panel and a “PCI Compliance – It’s Time to Act” general session. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
The “Changing Face” breakout presentation will address a variety of hardware, software and services supporting faster or more secure payment processing. Panelists include Mike Achord, senior manager of application development for Applebee’s International Inc. of Overland Park, Kan., and John Koontz, senior vice president and chief information officer for Real Mex Restaurants Inc. of Cypress, Calif. Joining them are Jeff Peterson, restaurant technology manager for Denver-based Noodles & Co., and John Thompson, vice president of information technology, or IT, for Canadian casual-dining restaurant operator, quick-service chain franchisor and airline caterer Cara Operations Ltd. of Mississauga, Ontario. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
Bob Russo, general manager of the PCI Security Standards Council of Wakefield, Mass., is taking part in the “PCI Compliance” presentation. The session is sure to generate a large number of questions from audience members, if the initial reaction to the program by FS/TEC advisors and other operators is any indication. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
Also taking part in the PCI discussion, among others, are Terence McCarthy, senior channel manager for AmbironTrustWave, a Chicago-based consulting company that audits restaurant company compliance with PCI directives, and Nick Ibrahim, chief information officer for casual-dining chain Ruby Tuesday Inc. of Maryville, Tenn. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
The annual “CIO Panel” general session moderated by Grimes examines the organizational pressures and external factors that drive decision making among the chief information officers and IT executives of seven major foodservice companies. This year’s panel includes Steve Barrow, vice president of IT, Luby’s Inc., Houston; Jeff Chasney, executive vice president of strategic planning and CIO, CKE Restaurants Inc., Carpinteria, Calif.; and Scott Dever, vice president of information systems, or IS, Logan’s Roadhouse, Nashville, Tenn. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
Others taking part in the CIO Panel: Mary Hamill, vice president of human resources and IT, Max & Erma’s Restaurants Inc., Columbus, Ohio; Martyn Holland, senior vice president of systems and CIO, HMSHost Corp. Bethesda, Md.; Kelly Maddern, senior director of IT, Hard Rock International, Orlando, Fla.; and Robert Whittington, senior vice president and CIO, Wendy’s International Inc., Dublin, Ohio. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
The “Technology Executives Panel,” is the supplier company version of the CIO Panel. Again moderated by Grimes, it puts vendor firm leaders front and center so they can share their views about where technology is today and where it is headed in the next three to five years. As with the CIO Panel, questions fly fast and furious from the floor during the audience participation portion of the session. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
Participating on this year’s Executive Panel are Paul Armstrong, chief technology officer, MICROS Systems Inc., Columbia, Md.; Steve Garland, national sales manager, Epson System Device Group, Long Beach, Calif.; and Paul Langenbahn, hospitality division president, Radiant Systems Inc., Alpharetta, Ga. They will be joined by Karen Sammon, president, software solutions, PAR, New Hartford, N.Y.; and Kevin Tigges, managing director, retail and hospitality industry unit, Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
Rounding out the big picture general sessions is the “Feedback from the Top: CEO/COO Panel.” This session is designed to give foodservice company leaders a platform from which they can share their ideas about how technology should be used in foodser-vice, what they expect from their key IT executives and to recall the highs and lows of their experiences with technology. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
Currently signed up for the CEO/COO Panel, and likely to be joined by others later, are Robert Baxley, chief operating officer, Zaxby’s Franchising Inc., Athens, Ga., and Jim Greco, chief executive, Bruegger’s Enterprises Inc., Burlington, Vt. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
This year’s FS/TEC is offering up two educational sessions dealing with equipment in recognition of industry interest in the convergence of technology and equipment, and to mark the conference’s co-location with The NAFEM Show staged by the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
Taking part in the “‘Smart Equipment’ Takes Center Stage” general session is Roy Hook, manager, equipment development, Wendy’s International Inc., and Erik Krueger, senior manager, retail architecture and retail technology strategy, McDonald’s Corp., Oak Brook, Ill. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
A breakout session titled, “Ease the Pain of Foodservice Integration,” will look at foodservice technology standards developed by NAFEM and the Association for Retail Technology Standards, or ARTS. Panelist Eric Elwell, manager of equipment engineering for the Louisville, Ky.-based KFC division of Yum! Brands Inc., will talk about how KFC is putting equipment integration into practice and the role it plays in the chain’s future plans. Joining him on the panel will be Richard Halter, chief technical architect, ARTS, and Charlie Souhrada, director, member services, NAFEM. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
Other FS/TEC educational sessions and panelists or presenters: —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
“What’s New in the Automated Restaurant?” Carrie Maun-Smith, director, engineering and strategic planning, Wendy’s International Inc.; Cyrus Mokhtari, franchise area director, Galardi Group, Newport Beach, Calif. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
“The Latest in Food Safety Technology,” Joe Amorim, president and chief executive, Sadima Inc.; Mike Dunn, director, product quality assurance, Sodexho Inc., Gaithersburg, Md. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
“The Evolving World of Employee Training Tools,” Steve Brown, senior director, support services, McAlister’s Deli, Ridgeland, Miss.; Todd Horchner, director, operations, CEC Entertainment Inc., Irving, Texas; and Mike McCoy, e-learning manager, Bravo Development Inc., Columbus, Ohio. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
“What’s Ahead on the CIO Career Path—Trends and Tips,” H. Michael Burgett, president and managing partner, CIO Partners, Marietta, Ga., and David Mansbach, managing director, HVS Executive Search, Mineola, N.Y. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
“The Latest Twists in Self-Service Technology,” Michael Verdesca, divisional vice president, systems development, Jack in the Box Inc., San Diego. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
“What’s New, What’s Working in Loyalty Card Technology,” Jeff Gengler, vice president, information systems, Rock Bottom Restaurants Inc., Louisville, Colo., and Regina Jerome, director, technology, Avado Brands Inc., Madison, Ga. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
“Hot in the Kitchen: Looking Ahead to 2020,” Cihan Cobanoglu, associate professor, hospitality IT, University of Delaware, Newark, Del., and Fred DeMicco, professor and Aramark chair, Department of Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Management, University of Delaware. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
“Stay Safe: What’s New in Security Technology,” Dan Parsons, director, operations, Nature’s Table Cafe, Orlando; Michael Simmons, director, risk management, El Pollo Loco Inc., Irvine, Calif.; and Esau Sims, director, operations, Hartsfield Hospitality, Atlanta. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
“The Brave New World of Digital Menu Boards and Other Restaurant Communications Technology,” John Lanni, co-owner and operator, Currito, Hamilton, Ohio. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
FS/TEC’s founding sponsors are MICROS Systems Inc. and Microsoft Corp.; the corporate sponsors are Epson America Inc., PAR and Radiant Systems Inc.; HyperActive Technologies Inc. and Torex Hospitality are the affiliate sponsors. —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
More details about session dates and times, registration procedures and information about the conference facilities are available online at
FS/TEC-NAFEM combo: Additional technology and equipment to see, more ways to learn —In a year when deadlines for compliance with challenging new credit and debit card data security standards have passed for some operators and loom large for others, payment systems education sessions are likely to be among the best attended during the 12th Annual International Foodservice Technology Exposition, or FS/TEC, here Oct. 10-13.
