Agenda
Tuesday, January 31
2:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Harmony Foyer
Registration
Join us early at registration to grab your badge and our signature swag before we kick off the day with purpose-driven speakers.
4:00 PM - 4:10 PM | Harmony Ballroom
General Session: Opening
Welcome conference attendees and sponsors!
Fred LeFranc, CEO and Founder of Results Through Strategy
4:10 PM - 4:30 PM | Harmony Ballroom
Powering the Best Workplaces of 2023: What’s Possible, Measurable, and Sustainable
Correction: finding sustainability in the workplace is not a complex process. In this session, we’ll walk through the tangible steps any business can take in order to foster a better workplace.
Joe Wiese, Senior Sales Director, GreenPlaces
4:30 PM - 4:50 PM | Harmony Ballroom
Workforce Wellness: Finding Wealth Beyond a Paycheck
Offer your employees more than a paycheck. Find out how to deliver meaningful physical, mental and social health solutions for the wellness and long-term success of your frontline teams.
Kimberlee Vandervoorn, CEO, Healthy Hospitality
4:50 PM - 5:35 PM | Harmony Ballroom
Panel: Leading with Purpose
Building and nurturing communities, facing environmental and economic change, competing against shareholders wealth - hear from industry experts to learn the balance and the action you should take to deliver on every expectation.
Fred LeFranc, CEO and Founder, Results Thru Strategy
Rob Wilder, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder, José Andrés Group
Scott Lawton, CEO and Co-Founder, Bartaco
Chad Houser, Founder and CEO, Cafe Momentum
5:35 PM - 5:45 PM | Harmony Ballroom
Taking Leadership Lessons Forward
Recap of the day’s largest takeaways and what to expect throughout the remainder of the conference.
Fred LeFranc, CEO and Founder, Results Thru Strategy
5:45 PM - 7:30 PM | Harmony Ballroom
Drinks & Apps | Exclusive Viewing of Award Winning Documentary, Beyond Zero
Let’s toast to connecting purpose to process - beer, wine, beverages and movie-theater snacks to fuel an exclusive viewing of award winning documentary, Beyond Zero.
Nathan Havey: Director, Producer and Documentarian
Purpose-driven leadership that has transformed an industry and made a difference in the world for generations to come. Beyond Zero chronicles the story of visionary leader, Ray Anderson and his company, Interface, as they embark on a high-stakes journey to become a 100% sustainable enterprise. Ray’s heroic leadership serves as an inspiration for organizations at any stage and a call to action that ignites the human spirit.
Dinner on your own
Perfect opportunity to network on a more intimate level
Wednesday, February 1
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM | Harmony Foyer
Breakfast
Get your breakfast classics and be sure to fuel up. We have a lot to discuss, learn, and celebrate today!
8:00 AM - 8:05 AM | Harmony Ballroom
Welcome Best Practices Attendees!
Conference highlights through the years. Join us for our National Anthem.
8:05 AM - 8:20 AM | Harmony Ballroom
Opening Address: Making the Best of Every Journey
It starts with you, the leaders in the room and those managing our restaurants day in and day out, to create transformational change in the workplace. In this session, we’ll talk through the journey we’ve been on to help you do exactly that.
David Cantu, CEO, Black Box Intelligence
8:20 AM - 8:50 AM | Harmony Ballroom
Black Box Presents | The Future of How We Manage Experience
We’ve always represented the intersection of people, planet and profit. Find out how we’re evolving to help customers drive transformational change with experience-driven restaurant performance.
David Cantu, CEO, Black Box Intelligence
Hannah Albarece, VP of Product, Black Box Intelligence
Ben Holschuh, Sr Product Manager, Black Box Intelligence
Peter Vermeulen, Chief Architect, Black Box Intelligence
Tim Suh, VP of Data Analytics, Black Box Intelligence
8:50 AM - 9:50 AM | Harmony Ballroom
Opening Keynote: Dr. Randy Ross
When it comes to qualities such as passion, enthusiasm, energy and creativity, a majority of the workforce could be described as “severely lacking”. Too many people go through motions, viewing work as something they have to do rather than something they love to do. This translates into lackluster performance, lost opportunities and a staggering loss of profits. So how does a team leader turn a business-as-usual team into a remarkable one?
9:50 AM - 10:20 AM | Harmony Foyer
Networking Break Sponsored by Opus
[Training technology for deskless workers]
Coffee, water, tea? >> right this way. Take advantage of your time away from it all to get connected with fellow attendees.
10:20 AM - 11:00 AM | Harmony Ballroom
Black Box Presents | The Value of Best-in-Class Retention
A look back at the most critical lessons from the past few years, where the workforce has evolved and current demographic trends that have led to the worst labor crisis in decades.
Victor Fernandez, Head of Insights, Black Box Intelligence
Mary Hamill, CRO, Black Box Intelligence
11:00 AM - 11:35 AM | Harmony Ballroom
The Journey Toward Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
Union Square Hospitality Group’s journey to fostering an inclusive workplace.
James Pogue, President & CEO, JP Enterprises (Moderator)
Patti Simpson, CAO, Union Square Hospitality
11:35 PM - 12:25 PM | Harmony Foyer
Lunch
Grab a warm cup of chicken tortilla soup, any of our southwest classics, or head straight to the churro station to fuel your afternoon of learning, discussion, and delight!
12:25 PM - 1:10 PM | Harmony Ballroom
Panel: Best Practices to Enrich The Employee Journey
How do brands achieve employee and manager retention? Where are training investments being made? Learn from the passionate group of leaders who have tested and proven best practices for managing people in this new operating era.
Jamie Griffin, Founder & Principal, Consult to Grow (Moderator)
James Fripp, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Yum!
Sarah King, Chief of People & Diversity Officer, Darden
Peggy Rubenzer, Chief People Office, Whataburger
1:10 PM - 1:30 PM | Harmony Ballroom
Keeping Workforce Technology Human
Rachael Nemeth, CEO and Co-Founder, Opus
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM | Harmony Foyer
Cheesecake Break!
A gracious member from our Black Box Intelligence network, The Cheesecake Factory, returns with an ever-so-delicious and noteworthy treat. We can't wait to share with you all!
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM | Melody Ballrooms
Sponsor Breakouts:
Instant
GoHappy
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Harmony Foyer
Break
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Harmony Ballroom
Black Box Presents | The Difference Between Good to Great Customer Experiences
A granular look at what our analysts are seeing in our guest sentiment insights, connecting the dots between employee happiness and customer satisfaction
Victor Fernandez, Head of Insights, Black Box Intelligence
Emily Bennett, Sr Customer Success, Black Box Intelligence
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Harmony Ballroom
The 2023 MarTech Stack: The Balancing Act Between Modernization and Humanization
Fred LeFranc, CEO and Founder of Results Thru Strategy
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM | Harmony Ballroom
Customer Experience Panel: Data's Role in the Customer Journey
The more we progress digitally, the more room for error - or opportunity. Learn from the top marketing executives on how they're using a hybrid strategy to bring consistency and delight throughout the in-person and online experience
Sam Oches, Senior Editor, Nation's Restaurant News (Moderator)
Brad Jacobus, CMO, Jim N' Nicks
Destinee Rollins, VP of Marketing, Twin Peaks
4:45 PM - 4:50 PM | Harmony Ballroom
Closing Remarks
David Cantu, CEO, Black Box Intelligence
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM | Harmony Ballroom
Awards Ceremony + Dinner
Followed by a Dessert Reception Sponsored by ECOLAB
Celebrating everyone in this industry and their accomplishments, and honoring the brands that worked diligently to keep operations running smoothly, employee and guest expectations high, and growing sales
Presented by:
Melissa Doolin-Koehne, VP of Business Development, Black Box Intelligence
Amy Valentine, Director of Customer Success, Black Box Intelligence
Sarah Lockyer, Chief Brand Officer, The Elliot Group
Thursday, February 2
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM | Harmony Foyer
Breakfast
Start the day off right. Enjoy grab & go and sit down options, to suit any mood.
8:00 PM - 8:30 PM | Harmony Ballroom
Restaurant Industry Address
Uncovering the legislation landscape for your workforce and beyond
Emily Knight, CEO, Texas Restaurant Association
8:30 AM - 9:15 AM | Harmony Ballroom
2023 State of the Economy: Reading the Honest Tea Leaves
What the macro-trends show, and our predictions for the remainder of 2023.
Carlos Herrera, Chief Economist, Coca-Cola
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM | Harmony Ballroom
Closing Keynote: David Salyers
David has been on quite a journey. Graduating from college on a Saturday morning, he started his career with Chick-fil-A before the day was over. With over 30 years leading national, regional, and local marketing for Chick-fil-A, David will share his experience of working with a team committed to building the kind of culture that people want to talk about.
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM | Harmony Foyer
Break
10:30 AM - 10:50 AM | Harmony Ballroom
Black Box Presents | Connecting Experience to Outcome
Black Box analysts take a deep dive into the most impactful actions restaurants can make at any stage of your restaurant journey so you can make the best of every moment
Victor Fernandez, Head of Insights, Black Box Intelligence
Melissa Doolin-Koehne, VP of Business Development, Black Box Intelligence
10:50 AM - 11:30 AM | Harmony Ballroom
Panel: C-Suite from Experiential Brands Reveal the Lessons that Led to Growth
Michael Halen, Senior Restaurant Analyst, Bloomberg
Clay Dover, CEO, Velvet Taco
Joe Hummel, CEO, Twin Peaks
Maria Rivera, CEO, Small Sliders
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Harmony Ballroom
Closing Remarks: Where We Go From Here
David Cantu, CEO, Black Box Intelligence