UCLA Extension brings together restaurant operators, investors, culinary leaders and marketers, and industry professionals on April 25, 2019, for the 23rd Annual Restaurant Industry Conference at Covel Commons, UCLA Campus.
“The UCLA Extension Restaurant Industry Conference is a unique event given its association with UCLA and emphasis on education. The theme this year, ‘Things Are Great! The End Is Near!’ captures what every operator is thinking,” said Anna M. Graves, Partner & Co-Leader of the Restaurant, Food & Beverage Industry Group, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, and Conference Chair. “So is it the best of times or the worst of times? Depending on the statistic you’re reviewing, it could be either. The Restaurant Conference is designed to provide guidance across the full spectrum - the good and the bad, the light and the dark, the risks and the opportunities.”
A conference highlight is the presentation of the Innovation Award to Julie Felss Masino, President, North America, Taco Bell, in recognition of her success at Taco Bell which has outperformed its peers in the fast food category, by every measure. Also, the conference is especially honored to welcome keynote remarks from Valorie “Miss Val” Kondos Field, UCLA Women’s Gymnastic Head Coach. Miss Val is a seven-time NCAA Championship Coach, UCLA Hall of Fame Inductee, and PAC 12 Coach of the Century.
Speakers include: Joel Yashinsky, SVP, Chief Marketing Officer, Applebee’s; Robert Thompson, Founder & CEO, Punch Bowl Social; Atul Sood, Chief Business Officer, Kitchen United; Patrik Hellstrand, CEO, By CHLOE; Karen Eadon, Chief Executive Officer, Farmer Boys; Maria Pourteymour, Co-Founder and Chief Culinary Officer of Luna Grill; Meenakshi Nagarajan, Vice President, Marketing, Sweetgreen; Mike Colonna, President, Norm’s Restaurants; Chas Hermann, Chief Brand Officer, Noodles & Company; Paul Potvin, CFO, California Fish Grill; Cheryl Thompson, Director of Learning & Development, The Habit Restaurants; Stacey Sultar, Chief Marketing Officer, Rubio’s Coastal Grill; and Wally Doolin, Chairman and Co-Founder, TDn2K. For a complete list of panelists and speakers, see the program agenda here.
Registration is open and the conference fee is $495. For more information, please contact Freda Bush at [email protected] or call 310-206-1555.