Foyer
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
2022-11-02
Registration Open
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
11:00 AM
7:00 PM
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
2022-11-02
'An Afternoon in Napa' Networking Outing
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
1:30 PM
4:30 PM
<p>Soak in the beautiful sights and enjoy guided tastings in one of the world's most iconic wine regions. Round trip transportation will be provided to and from Meritage Resort & Spa.</p>
<p><em>Open to restaurant operators and select MES sponsors. Pre-registration is required.</em></p>
Meritage Ballroom
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
2022-11-02
Welcome Remarks and 'A Transformative Approach to the Labor Crisis'
5:15 PM - 6:10 PM
5:15 PM
6:10 PM
<p>It’s no secret the restaurant industry has had trouble hiring and retaining workers. But the causes of the current labor crisis run deep: From the c-suite to the frontline, workers are under unprecedented stress and at risk for burnout. Deborah Gilboa, MD, board certified Family Physician and internationally recognized Resilience Expert, offers truly transformative strategies to help leaders build and retain nimble, resilient teams.</p>

Dr. Deborah Gilboa
Resilience Expert
Dr. Deborah Gilboa
Resilience expert Deborah Gilboa, MD (aka “Dr. G”) works with families, organizations, and businesses to identify the mindset and strategies to turn stress to an advantage. Renowned for her contagious humor, Dr. G works with groups across multiple generations, to rewire their attitudes and beliefs, and create resilience through personal accountability and a completely different approach to adversity. She is a leading media personality seen regularly on TODAY, Good Morning America and The Doctors. She is also featured frequently in the Washington Post, The New York Times, Authority Magazine, and countless other digital and print outlets. Dr. G is board certified attending family physician and is fluent in American Sign Language. She lives in Pittsburgh with her four sons.
Vintner's Room
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
2022-11-02
Welcome Reception
6:15 PM - 7:30 PM
6:15 PM
7:30 PM
Vineyard Terrace
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Breakfast
8:00 AM - 8:50 AM
8:00 AM
8:50 AM
Foyer
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Registration Open
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
8:00 AM
5:00 PM
Meritage Ballroom
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Morning Remarks
8:50 AM - 9:00 AM
8:50 AM
9:00 AM
Meritage Ballroom
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Keynote
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
9:00 AM
9:45 AM
Foyer
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Keynote Networking & Coffee Break
9:50 AM - 10:25 AM
9:50 AM
10:25 AM
Meritage Ballroom
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Robots Rise Up: Automation Enhances Operations & Revenue
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
10:30 AM
11:15 AM
<p>
The NRA reported that 65% of restaurants say they cut hours of operation on days routinely open for business, due to being understaffed. Enter robots, like the ones from Miso named Flippy, Sippy and Chippy. Big brands, like Brinker, White Castle, Chipotle and Wing Zone are tapping the shiny objects for operational efficiencies while cracking the labor shortage code and redeploying staff to customer-facing roles. With first-day operational ROI via Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) models, robots take center stage during this thoughtful discussion on one of the hottest automation topics today.</p>
Massimo Noja De Marco
Co-Founder
Soigne’
David Bloom
Chief Development and Operating Officer
Capriotti's and Wing Zone
Meritage Ballroom
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Innovator Roundtable: The Story Behind Innovative Solutions
11:20 AM - 11:55 AM
11:20 AM
11:55 AM
<p>
We sit down with solution providers who are offering truly game-changing tech for the restaurant industry. We'll address challenges that include payments, security, labor, data & analytics, off-prem revenue opportunities, and enhancing your ability to meet evolving guest needs and expectations.</p>
Vineyard Terrace
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Networking Lunch
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
12:00 PM
1:15 PM
Meritage Ballroom
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Restaurant Remix
1:20 PM - 1:45 PM
1:20 PM
1:45 PM
<p>
As restaurant operators rethink how to get consumers food they want, however, wherever and whenever they want it, what restaurants look like is evolving radically - both inside and outside physical spaces. Business models are becoming more nimble, and brands are reinventing themselves to keep up. We’ll explore the ways restaurants are stepping up, and out, to satiate consumer demand, including transforming physical locations, adding pick-up stations and food lockers, co-branding under one roof, maximizing kitchen capacity via dark or ghost kitchen models, drive-thru and walk-up only formats, virtual brands, pairing up with unlikely retail outlets, and so much more.</p>
Meritage Ballroom
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Restaurant Technology Tools You Can Use & Workshop
1:50 PM - 2:45 PM
1:50 PM
2:45 PM
<p>Presented by RTN, we'll share newly-published guidance around customer record data, transactional data and restaurant technology KPIs, as well as RTN's cybersecurity guidance and Restaurant Technology Capabilities Framework. In addition to showcasing these resources, we'll ideate around today's restaurant challenges to inform tomorrow's RTN workgroups.</p>

Robert Peterson
AVP, New Business North America
Oracle Food and Beverage
Robert Peterson has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality technology industry. Following time with various hospitality technology companies and has worked across many positions throughout his career including technical, sales, and strategic roles. Robert joined Oracle in early 2021.
Today with his passion to see our customers’ success Robert leads North American new business sales for Oracle Food and Beverage. He is also a contributing member of RTN’s Vendor Advisory Council. An 80’s BMX World Champion, he can still be spotted in San Diego with one of his four children showing off on his bicycle. Or experimenting with plant-based recipes at home with his wife, Julie.

Steven M. Elinson
Worldwide Head of Restaurants and Food Service
AWS
Steven M. Elinson leads the Worldwide Restaurants and Food Service industry practice for Amazon Web Services (AWS), with a charter to support customers as they accelerate cloud adoption.
Today’s restaurant must deliver a personalized and seamlessly connected guest experience while being operationally efficient with optimized assets, high utilization, predictive analytics and quality, health and safety standard compliance. As a trusted advisor, Steven utilizes his broad knowledge and 30 years of experience to drive guest experiences and to increase operational efficiencies.
The AWS Restaurant team supports customers such as Chick-fil-A, Compass Group, Deliveroo, Delivery Hero, Domino’s, DoorDash, Jollibee, McDonald’s, Olo, Subway, Sweetgreen, Sysco and Upserve, together with members of the AWS Partner Network (APN).
Before joining AWS, Steven held various leadership roles in restaurant and restaurant technology businesses. His experience ranges from operations, training, supply chain, technology and new concept creation having created and sold a restaurant concept. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management from Purdue University, and a Master of Business Administration from Florida International University.

Courtney Radke
Retail CISO
Fortinet
Foyer
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Networking & Coffee Break
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM
2:45 PM
3:15 PM
Meritage Ballroom
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Research Super-Session: Customers Crave Digital Transformation
3:20 PM - 4:00 PM
3:20 PM
4:00 PM
<p>
We reveal the results of HT’s 2022 Customer Engagement Technology Study, including fresh data-driven insights into new expectations around payments, mobility, self-service, delivery, and other revenue-driving experiences.</p>
Meritage Ballroom
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Lifetime Loyalty: Fresh Ideas to Attract, Reward, and Keep High-Value Customers
4:10 PM - 4:45 PM
4:10 PM
4:45 PM
<p>Restaurants have always valued loyalty, but today’s programs are tapping more creative ways to pull customers close. From fine and casual dining to QSR, everyone has a stake in winning over (or back) consumer dollars, with customer lifetime value being the evasive secret sauce. How are loyalty programs succeeding in a web 3.0 world? Dive in with us as we uncover what success looks like, from subscription models and first-party ordering / delivery, to the brave new world that is the metaverse and NFTs.</p>

Susan Lucas
SVP of Technology
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants

Danielle Kimble
Chief Marketing Officer
Menches Bros. Restaurant

Geoff Alexander
President & CEO
Wow Bao
Geoff Alexander joined Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) in 1993, and after working on multiple concepts within LEYE’s portfolio, Alexander took over LEYE’s three unit Wow Bao concept in 2009.
Being a pioneer in technology and social media, Alexander implemented mobile ordering, self-ordering kiosks, bicycle delivery, nationwide shipping, and made Wow Bao one of the first Chicago brick & mortar restaurants to take to the streets with its BAO-Mobile Food Truck.
Alexander has overseen Wow Bao’s inclusion into airports, NFL/MLB/NHL/NBA stadiums, university campuses, music venues, and more than 300 grocers sell Wow Bao’s frozen retail line.
In 2017 Alexander changed the landscape for fast casual dining by introducing Wow Bao 2.0 – a fully tech enabled front of the house environment, where guests order via an iOS or Android device, and pick up their food from an animated personalized cubby.
Shortly after being named to both Nation’s Restaurant News Power List (2020) and Most Influential Restaurant CEOs in the country (2021), Alexander evolved the restaurant industry once again by creating Wow Bao Now; launching 500 Wow Bao Dark / Virtual Kitchens in more than 400 cities in less than 18 months. This new extension of the business is not only allowing Wow Bao to grow its national footprint, Wow Bao is also helping restaurant operators across the nation grow top line sales and increase bottom line profits.
Vineyard Deck
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
Awards Reception
5:00 PM - 6:15 PM
5:00 PM
6:15 PM
Crush
Thursday, November 3, 2022
2022-11-03
RTN After Hours Party
9:00 PM - 11:30 PM
9:00 PM
11:30 PM
Vineyard Terrace
Friday, November 4, 2022
2022-11-04
Breakfast
8:00 AM - 8:50 AM
8:00 AM
8:50 AM
Foyer
Friday, November 4, 2022
2022-11-04
Registration Open
8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
8:00 AM
10:30 AM
Meritage Ballroom
Friday, November 4, 2022
2022-11-04
Morning Remarks
8:50 AM - 9:00 AM
8:50 AM
9:00 AM
Meritage Ballroom
Friday, November 4, 2022
2022-11-04
MURTEC Breakthrough Awards
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
9:00 AM
9:30 AM
<p>We recognize outstanding restaurant operators for innovative approaches to guest experience and enterprise operations.</p>
Meritage Ballroom
Friday, November 4, 2022
2022-11-04
IT Leaders Share Their Aha! Moments
9:35 AM - 10:15 AM
9:35 AM
10:15 AM
<p>Tech leaders from top restaurant brands pull back the curtain to disclose their breakthrough innovations — the tools and techniques that truly transformed their business.</p>

Tom Seeker
CIO
Earl Enterprises
Meritage Ballroom
Friday, November 4, 2022
2022-11-04
Closing Remarks
10:15 AM - 10:20 AM
10:15 AM
10:20 AM