Workshops

Monday, May 18, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm

The current stage of AI in restaurant operations has evolved from experimental to practical implementation, with machine learning and predictive analytics now powering real-world solutions that deliver measurable ROI. This workshop will enable foodservice and restaurant operators to leverage AI to improve productivity by automating routine tasks to free up valuable time to focus on strategic decision-making and customer experience. Learn how AI can take on your data-driven operational tasks, ultimately leading to improved margins, reduced labor costs, and enhanced customer satisfaction through faster service and personalized experiences. Come prepared with your laptop and a curious mindset as we dive into the transformative potential of AI for your business operations.

This workshop is designed for restaurant and foodservice operators with little to no direct AI experience/use in business operations.

This workshop is open to foodservice operators only.

Presenters:
Aaron Adalja, Associate Professor of Applied Economics and Policy, Cornell University
Chris K. Anderson, Professor, Cornell University

Sunday, May 17, 9:45 am – 12:15 pm

Are you leaving money on the table? Catering is a real opportunity to enhance revenue and supplement your current restaurant offerings – but it’s more complicated than you may expect.

Do it right and your catering can be stylish and sophisticated. It can be done without your marketing appearing desperate. The addition of off-premise catering can absolutely complement your brand and take it to new financial heights.

In this deep dive workshop into the logistics of catered events, you will hear from both restaurant and high-end catering operations on best practices, how to prevent roadblocks, and how best to scale a catering operation inside your organization. Learn from those who have found tremendous success in an industry that serves multiple guests quickly and efficiently under severe time constraints, but leaves them with memories that will last a lifetime.

This workshop is open to foodservice operators only.

Workshop Sessions

Beyond the Restaurant: Mastering Catering Staffing & Logistics
Designing a great catering experience is one thing, delivering it flawlessly on a consistent basis takes intention and systems. As catering operations grow, the real challenge becomes execution: getting the right people, in the right roles, at the right time, while maintaining consistency, controlling labor costs, and protecting the guest experience.

In this session, CEO Anthony Lambatos of Footers Catering and Social Capital, alongside Director of Operations Jason Sutton, will break down the real-world systems behind successful catering execution. From building the right organizational structure to dialing in staffing models for different event types, they’ll share how to balance full-time and temporary labor, adapt to seasonality, and create an environment where employees actually want to come to work. Attendees will walk away with practical tools for scheduling, training, and retention, along with proven strategies to align staffing decisions with both profitability and elevated guest experiences. Because in catering, the experience you sell is only as strong as the team that delivers it.

Presenters:
Anthony Lambatos, Owner, President at Footers Catering
Jason Sutton, Executive Chef and Director of Operations at Footers Catering

Special Considerations for Catering: Designing Experiences That Sell, Scale, and Execute Well!
Catering today is no longer about food—it’s about creating exceptional hospitality experiences that clients value and are willing to pay for over and over. Yet many operators struggle with unclear service models, weak positioning, and inconsistent revenue across both social (B2C) and corporate (B2B) markets.

In this practical session, Roy Porter outlines how to define your difference, align service offerings with profitability, and attract the right clients through both proactive and reactive sales strategies. Attendees will also learn how to simplify operations and reduce waste to improve execution and margins.Several secrets to success will be shared and time will be allocated for plenty of opportunity to ask questions!

Presenter:
Roy Porter, CEO at Engage-Works Inc.