Brian P. Connors, M.S., CHE, CSW

Director of Innovation & Strategy Accelerating Leaders

10:00AM – 12:30PM – Professional Kitchen Operations

Overview
Designed for chefs, kitchen managers, sous chefs, and culinary professionals preparing for greater leadership responsibility. Participants explore modern kitchen systems, technology, operational excellence, and leadership practices that improve consistency, profitability, and team performance.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:

• Improve kitchen productivity through modern operating systems.
• Apply practical strategies to reduce food, labor, and operating costs.
• Evaluate emerging culinary technologies and AI applications.
• Our Culture: Strengthen kitchen leadership, communication, and accountability.

1:30PM – 4:00PM – Leading Dynamic Teams

Overview
Leadership begins with people. This workshop equips emerging leaders with practical coaching, communication, and leadership skills that build stronger teams and improve employee engagement.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:

• Apply coaching techniques that improve employee performance.
• Build trust through effective communication.
• Increase team accountability and engagement.
• Resolve workplace challenges with confidence.
• Create a positive team environment that supports retention.

Brian P. Connors, M.S., CHE, CSW

Director of Innovation & Strategy Accelerating Leaders

10:00 AM to 12:30 PM – Building Winning Restaurant Cultures

Overview
Strong workplace cultures attract, develop, and retain great employees. Participants explore leadership practices that build engaged teams and create workplaces where employees thrive.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:

• Foster an inclusive, high-performing workplace culture.
• Improve employee engagement and retention.
• Coach and develop future restaurant leaders.
• Navigate generational differences within the workforce.
• Strengthen organizational culture through intentional leadership.

1:30PM – 4:00PM – Leading Change & Organizational Growth

Overview
Restaurant leaders must navigate constant change while maintaining operational excellence. This session provides practical strategies for leading change, improving performance, and preparing organizations for future growth.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:

• Lead organizational change with confidence.
• Improve decision making during periods of growth and transition.
• Align team performance with organizational goals.
• Build resilience within restaurant teams.
• Develop strategies that support sustainable business growth.

Kevin Gully & Dale Gomez

10:00AM – 12:30PM – The Kendal Project Prompt

Overview
As organizations work to turn AI investment into consistent, profitable performance, the same gaps keep appearing. The Kendall Framework exists to close them, giving your leaders the alignment, your teams the skills, and your organization the operating discipline to ensure AI solves business problems accurately, durably, and profitably.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:

• Define AI’s role, expertise and point of view before it begins thinking
• Define who needs a problem solved
• Define the specific challenge AI needs to address
• Define the purpose and the exact work AI is to perform.

1:30PM – 4:00PM – Restaurant Management – AI – Don’t Be AfrAId

Overview
Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping restaurant operations. This session provides practical tools that improve efficiency while maintaining the human side of hospitality.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:

• Identify practical AI applications for restaurant operations.
• Evaluate technology solutions that improve productivity.
• Balance automation with exceptional hospitality.
• Understand ethical considerations surrounding AI adoption.
• Develop a roadmap for responsible technology implementation.

Professor Gabriel Urrutia

10:00AM – 12:30PM – Beverage Innovation & Profitable Holiday Programming

Overview
This workshop provides restaurant managers, beverage leaders, chefs, and operators with practical strategies to create innovative beverage programs and seasonal promotions that increase guest engagement, drive sales, and improve profitability. Participants will learn how to develop high-impact holiday offerings, capitalize on emerging beverage trends, and execute promotions that deliver measurable business results.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:

• Develop seasonal beverage programs that increase revenue and guest engagement.
• Design profitable holiday promotions and limited-time offerings.
• Identify emerging beverage trends and evaluate opportunities for their operation.
• Apply pricing, menu design, and merchandising strategies to maximize beverage sales.
• Create promotional action plans that drive guest traffic and profitability.

1:30PM – 4:00PM – Building High – Margin Beverage Experiences for Today’s Guests

Overview
This workshop equips restaurant owners, beverage managers, bartenders, chefs, and food and beverage professionals with practical strategies to build innovative, high-margin beverage programs that drive guest engagement and profitability. Participants will explore the latest beverage trends shaping 2027, evaluate which concepts are right for their operation, and learn how to create memorable beverage experiences that increase sales throughout the year, not just during seasonal promotions.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:

• Identify emerging beverage trends and evaluate opportunities for their operation.
• Develop innovative beverage programs that increase guest engagement and average check.
• Design balanced beverage menus featuring cocktails, mocktails, zero-proof, and low-ABV offerings.
• Apply beverage pricing, menu engineering, and cost control strategies to maximize profitability.
• Implement operational best practices that improve consistency, efficiency, and beverage execution.

Professor Missy Varao

10:00AM – 12:30PM – Guest Experience Excellence

Overview
Exceptional guest experiences don’t happen by accident. Participants learn how intentional service design creates memorable dining experiences while strengthening guest loyalty and business performance.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:

• Design guest experiences that create lasting impressions.
• Improve service recovery and guest satisfaction.
• Apply hospitality principles that build customer loyalty.
• Recognize opportunities to elevate the guest journey.
• Develop service standards that support operational consistency.

1:30PM – 4:00PM – Booking Profitable Events & Revenue Growth

Overview
Restaurants can no longer rely solely on great food to drive traffic. This session explores integrated marketing, private events, digital engagement, and experiential hospitality as revenue-generating strategies.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:

• Develop marketing strategies that increase guest traffic.
• Build profitable event and catering programs.
• Utilize digital marketing and social media to strengthen brand visibility.
• Create memorable guest experiences that generate repeat business.

Patrick Renna

10:00AM – 12:30PM – Restaurant Finance & Business Performance

Overview
This workshop provides restaurant supervisors, managers, and emerging leaders with practical financial knowledge needed to improve profitability and make better business decisions.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:

• Interpret key restaurant financial reports and operating metrics.
• Identify opportunities to improve labor, food cost, and profitability.
• Use restaurant KPIs to support operational decision making.
• Apply budgeting and forecasting tools to daily operations.
• Make data-informed decisions that improve business performance.

1:30PM – 4:00PM – Booking Profitable Events & Revenue Growth

Overview
This workshop helps restaurant supervisors, managers, general managers, owners, and regional leaders use data to make smarter, faster, and more profitable business decisions. Participants will learn how to interpret key restaurant metrics, identify performance trends, and apply data to improve operations, profitability, labor, and the guest experience.

Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:

• Interpret key restaurant reports, dashboards, and performance metrics.
• Analyze sales, labor, food cost, and guest data to identify opportunities.
• Apply KPIs to improve operational and financial performance.
• Use forecasting and business data to support better decision making.
• Develop action plans that turn data into measurable business results.