November 20 - 23, 2024
Santa Barbara, CA

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Agenda

Wednesday, 11/20

6:30 PM Pacific
9:30 PM ET
Welcome Cocktails Ocean Lawn

Thursday, 11/21

7:45 AM Pacific
10:45 AM ET
Coffee Service Available Pacific Ballroom
8:00 AM Pacific
11:00 AM ET
VIP 1:1 Meetings Fireside
8:30 AM Pacific
11:30 AM ET
Breakfast Buffet Opens Pacific Ballroom
9:15 AM Pacific
12:15 PM ET
Sponsor Breakfast Presentation
9:35 AM Pacific
12:35 PM ET
Opening Remarks
MC
Erin Everhart, Senior Director of Event Programming, MediaPost 
9:45 AM Pacific
12:45 PM ET
Keynote: Cultivating a Cult Brand: Fail Fast and Grow Intentionally
In the world of quick service food, there are ubiquitous go-tos. There are emerging fan favorites. And then there are cults. Since its launch as a Portlandia hole-in-the-wall filled with custard quirk, Voodoo Doughnut has been the very definition of a cult brand. Even with a footprint of only 22 stores, you probably know the brand and its iconic pastries. CEO Chris Schultz shares how he’s scaling the brand and leaning into the frenzy without losing its allure and exclusivity.
Keynote
Chris Schultz, CEO, Voodoo Doughnut 
10:15 AM Pacific
1:15 PM ET
Panel: Where Do Loyalty & Personalization Go From Here?
Loyalty and personalization are top of mind for every restaurant marketer, and rightfully so: we’ve seen first-hand how these strategies drive check growth and visit frequency. But in an era when you can personalize everything and loyalty programs are a dime a dozen, how do you stand out? How do we build a loyalty program that drives value for our customers without driving up our food costs? What should you prioritize to drive the greatest ROI? How do you get customers to try new menu items beyond their routine order?
Moderator
Erin Everhart, Senior Director of Event Programming, MediaPost 
PanelistS
Ryan Sanecki, Sr Manager - Digital Marketing, Bibibop Asian Grill 
Kaitlyn Sullivan, Digital Marketing Manager, CRM, American Dairy Queen Corporation 
10:40 AM Pacific
1:40 PM ET
Sponsor Spotlight & Coffee Break
11:10 AM Pacific
2:10 PM ET
Case Study: Jack in the Box and Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine” Partnership
Jack in the Box is no stranger to celebrity partnerships. Ice Cube. Snoop Dogg. Martha Stewart. They’ve worked with a lot of A-listers, and they know the secret sauce to staying authentic. So when the opportunity came up to partner with Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool and Wolverine”, it seemed too good to be true. Jessica DePrizio, Director of Brand Marketing, shares how they’ve evolved their celebrity partnerships and how this merc with a mouth who loves Mexican food was the perfect spokesperson for their Mini Chimi Bang Bangs.
Presenter
Jessica DePrizio, Director of Brand Marketing, Jack in the Box 
11:35 AM Pacific
2:35 PM ET
Presentation: Putting Pizza Hut at the Center of Culture
Standard media placements don’t cut it anymore. Brands have to catch the cultural wave in order to cut through the sea of sameness, especially when trying to reach the younger generations. Pizza Hut is doing just that, from product placements in Love Is Blind to pop-ups at Coachella. Lauren Bowles, Head of Partnerships, Activations and Influencers, shares how they’re rethinking the influencer space to reach different audiences.
Presenter
Lauren Bowles, Head of Partnerships, Activations and Influencers, Pizza Hut 
12:00 PM Pacific
3:00 PM ET
Roundtable: Striking the Balance Between Brand & Value
Featuring
Taylor Voelker, Senior Director of Marketing, Round Table Pizza 
12:00 PM Pacific
3:00 PM ET
Roundtable: Communication Tips To Align All Your Operators
Featuring
Danielle Moore, Director of Communications and Field/Local Marketing, Noodles & Company 
12:00 PM Pacific
3:00 PM ET
Roundtable: Managing Your GTM Calendar Without Going Crazy
Featuring
Sheena Dougher, Vice President, Marketing Communications, Jack in the Box 
12:45 PM Pacific
3:45 PM ET
Sponsor Lunch Presentation
2:00 PM Pacific
5:00 PM ET
Urban Walking Wine Tour
Golf - Sandpiper Golf Club
Near Coastal Kayaking Tour
6:30 PM Pacific
9:30 PM ET
Cocktail Party Living Room & Oceanfront Terrace
7:45 PM Pacific
10:45 PM ET
Dinner Santa Barbara Wine Collective (Shuttle departs at 7:30 SHARP)

Friday, 11/22

7:45 AM Pacific
10:45 AM ET
Coffee Service Available Pacific Ballroom
8:00 AM Pacific
11:00 AM ET
VIP 1:1 Meetings Fireside
8:30 AM Pacific
11:30 AM ET
Breakfast Buffet Opens Pacific Ballroom
9:15 AM Pacific
12:15 PM ET
Sponsor Breakfast Presentation
9:35 AM Pacific
12:35 PM ET
Notes from the Emcee
MC
Erin Everhart, Senior Director of Event Programming, MediaPost 
9:45 AM Pacific
12:45 PM ET
Keynote: Scaling Digital Across Every Consumer Touchpoint
The QSR digital boom is only just getting started. From mobile ordering and loyalty programs to in-store experiences and third-party delivery, digital technology is touching almost every facet of the ordering experience. How do we scale fast enough to keep up with customer expectations without compromising speed and quality for our operators? Braden Turner, VP of Digital and Restaurant Technology at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, joins us to share how he’s thinking about creating a seamless omnichannel customer journey across their 1,300+ locations.
Interviewee
Braden Turner, VP of Digital and Restaurant Technology, Tropical Smoothie Cafe 
Interviewer
Erin Everhart, Senior Director of Event Programming, MediaPost 
10:15 AM Pacific
1:15 PM ET
Panel: Building Your Brand Beyond the In-Restaurant Experience
The in-restaurant experience is arguably the most important asset we have, but it’s not the only way customers interact with QSR and fast-casual brands. From online ordering and delivery to cross-brand partnerships and retail licensing, each comes with its own dynamics and customer experience. How do we strategically partner with third-party delivery providers to build brand awareness while maintaining our bottom line? How do we cater to the delivery customer? How do we authentically partner with other brands and retailers to expand our footprint? Our panel of digital experts discuss how to adapt your marketing strategy no matter the customer journey.
Moderator
Doug Parks, Director, Event Programming, MediaPost 
PanelistS
Joseph Dray, Director - Ecommerce & Digital Marketing, Subway 
Nick Petrocci, Senior Director, Restaurant Technology, Zaxbys 
Irene Shtrulis, Director & GM, eCommerce - Global Channels, GoTo Foods 
10:45 AM Pacific
1:45 PM ET
Sponsor Presentation & Coffee Break
11:15 AM Pacific
2:15 PM ET
Presentation: How One Weekend Changed Smoothie King’s Digital Experience
Let’s set the stage. It’s President’s Day 2024, and Smoothie King is on the cusp of the biggest technology migration the 51-year-old company has ever seen. Their mission? Launch a new CRM, loyalty platform, Olo menu and gift card program all in one weekend. Shannon Murphy, Senior Director of Digital Marketing and Loyalty, shares how they overhauled their tech stack while minimizing impact to digital sales and protecting the customer experience.
Presenter
Shannon Murphy, Sr. Director - Digital Marketing & Loyalty, Smoothie King 
11:35 AM Pacific
2:35 PM ET
Presentation: Big Chicken Makes a Big Break Into Digital
Big Chicken is one of those brands you just can’t stop hearing about. While it helps to be backed by NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, the challenger brand isn’t resting their laurels on the celebrity owner to fuel all its growth.  From a revamped loyalty program to a new app and website, Head of Marketing Joshua Sims shares how they’ve weaved technology into every facet of their business to drive digital to nearly 25% of sales.
Presenter
Joshua Sims, Head of Marketing, Big Chicken 
12:00 PM Pacific
3:00 PM ET
Roundtable: Managing the Relationship with Third-Party Delivery Partners
Featuring
Nick Petrocci, Senior Director, Restaurant Technology, Zaxbys 
12:00 PM Pacific
3:00 PM ET
Roundtable: Navigating Digital Change Management Across Your Organization
Featuring
Joshua Sims, Head of Marketing, Big Chicken 
12:00 PM Pacific
3:00 PM ET
Roundtable: Marketing Without Massive Budgets
Interviewee
Ha Ly, Head of Marketing, Pokeworks 
12:00 PM Pacific
3:00 PM ET
Roundtable: The Fight to Stay Top of Mind
Featuring
Katelyn Zborowski, Head of Brand Strategy & Calendar, Pizza Hut 
12:45 PM Pacific
3:45 PM ET
Sponsor Lunch Presentation
2:00 PM Pacific
5:00 PM ET
Catamaran Cruise Santa Barbara Coastline
Funk Zone Brewery Tour
Hiking at Rattlesnake Canyon
6:30 PM Pacific
9:30 PM ET
Cocktail Party Fireside
7:45 PM Pacific
10:45 PM ET
Dinner Barbareño (Shuttle departs at 7:30 SHARP)

Saturday, 11/23

8:00 AM Pacific
11:00 AM ET
Breakfast Buffet Opens Pacific Ballroom
9:00 AM Pacific
12:00 PM ET
Keynote: Bringing The Heat: Inside Dave’s Hot Chicken Social Media Strategy
Dave’s Hot Chicken was founded only seven years ago as a simple chicken stand, but it’s quickly becoming one of the fastest growing restaurant brands in the US. When one opens in a new city, it feels like a movie premiere or iPhone launch circa 2013: long lines form early and earned media buzzes for weeks. How does the brand lean into and maintain cult status as it aspires to expand quickly? And how does it maintain that buzz well after launch? CMO Brad Haley shares how their witty ad campaigns and UGC-powered approach helps them become the hot chicken of choice in new markets.
Keynote
Srishti Handa, Director of Marketing, Dave’s Hot Chicken 
9:30 AM Pacific
12:30 PM ET
Panel: Turning Browsers Into Buyers
It’s a crowded restaurant space right now. Everyone is clawing for their fair share of stomach. Customers have more choices than ever on where to eat, and the media landscape is saturated with ads, content, and celebrity endorsements. How do we adapt our media strategy to reach people at the right time and right place? How can growth brands compete when their budgets are a fraction of the big guys? Hear from our panel of media and marketing experts as they share tried and true techniques to cut through the clutter to drive visit frequency.
Moderator
Taylor Voelker, Senior Director of Marketing, Round Table Pizza 
PanelistS
Ha Ly, Head of Marketing, Pokeworks 
Katelyn Zborowski, Head of Brand Strategy & Calendar, Pizza Hut 
10:00 AM Pacific
1:00 PM ET
Case Study: Breaking Through a Crowded Pizza Market
It’s not easy being the David in a Goliath pizza industry, but Casey’s General Stores is taking this challenge head on to cement themselves as the Midwest's favorite fast-casual pizza. With more than 20 years of pizza experience under her belt, Steph Hoppe, VP of Omnichannel Marketing, joins us to share how the convenience store is delivering unexpected goodness and diversifying into fast food with a new brand campaign, revamped media practice, and evolving loyalty program.
Presenter
Steph Hoppe, VP of Omnichannel Marketing, Casey's General Stores 
10:30 AM Pacific
1:30 PM ET
Summit Concludes