Alexis Blair, President, Alicart Restaurant Group
Alexis Blair is President of Alicart Restaurant Group, where she leads the strategic vision, operations, and growth of a portfolio of iconic hospitality brands including Carmine’s, Virgil’s Real BBQ, The Mermaid Oyster Bar, and Bar Mexicana.
Alexis has worked her way up through the restaurant industry, holding a broad range of operational, finance, and strategy roles across her career. This hands-on, cross-functional experience informs her people-first, results-driven leadership style and gives her a deep appreciation for every level of the business—from the front line to the balance sheet.
In recognition of her impact and leadership, Alexis was named a 2025 Crain’s New York Business 40 Under 40 honoree. She also serves as a member of the Toast Customer Advisory Board, advising on technology innovation and the future of restaurant operations alongside industry peers.
A passionate hospitality leader and experience curator, Alexis is deeply committed to developing strong teams, cultivating inclusive leadership, and building businesses that thrive through culture, empathy, and excellence. She is also a proud mother to two sons, Hudson and Theo, who continually inspire her to lead with resilience, and purpose—both at work and at home
Tezra Bryant, The Restaurant MC
Tezra Bryant is a New York City-based, award-winning master consultant who trains restaurateurs to operate at an exceptional level of excellence seldom found in New York City’s competitive 25,000 restaurants.
With over 30 years of experience and a multitude of successful clients, Tezra has become the must-have master consultant who intricately understands every detail of FOH operations, from choosing your space, equipment, and POS systems, hiring, training, management, and several additional factors often missed, even by experienced restaurant owners.
Kelly Bush, Co-Owner, The Union Tavern Seabreeze
Kelly Bush is a hospitality leader, entrepreneur, and unapologetic advocate for doing business differently. As co-owner of Union Tavern and Marshall Street Bar & Grill, and co-founder of BOSSY, she has built a career rooted in community, inclusivity, and real connection.
Known for her candid voice and creative approach, Kelly blends operational expertise with bold, people-first leadership. She is especially recognized for her work in reshaping the hospitality experience, whether through innovative programming, inclusive “free-spirited” beverage offerings, or creating spaces where everyone feels like they belong.
Through speaking, consulting, and co-hosting the podcast Getting Real with BOSSY, Kelly shares the unfiltered realities of entrepreneurship. The wins, the challenges, and everything in between. Her work centers on helping business owners trust their instincts, embrace their unique wiring, and build something that actually works for their life.
Kathy Cacciola, Global Sustainability Lead Food Program, Google
As a global sustainability executive with more than 17 years of diverse experience, Kathy excels at aligning key environmental and social issues important to employees, consumers, clients, shareholders and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) with material business risks and opportunities to deliver improved operational performance and brand value.
Kathy leads cross-functional teams on strategic and emerging issues while designing and driving implementation of company-wide programs across diverse business units and international geographies. Conversant in a wide-range of sustainability topics, she is experienced at creating long-term vision linked to scalable actions, and developing strategies, policies, and practices.
Her skills include navigating large complex organizations to drive change, influencing buy-in from executive leadership and boards of directors, communicating with investors, engaging diverse stakeholders across NGOs to industry, leading activist dialogue and mitigating reputational risks.
Kathy is a multi-cultural change agent balancing pragmatism with perseverance. Her values are embedded in respect for others, intellectual curiosity, and sense of purpose.
Alice Cheng,CEO & Founder, Culinary Agents
Alice Cheng is the Founder & CEO of Culinary Agents, a professional networking and job matching website designed for current and aspiring professionals in the hospitality industry. Having spent years working in a restaurant and then moving on to work for IBM (for 13 years), Alice brings her knowledge of applied technology into the food and beverage industry to solve inefficiencies and gaps around talent sourcing and career development. Alice is a deeply experienced business, marketing and sales professional who is passionate about helping people build careers. She takes leadership roles in mentoring all levels of talent in the technology, business and hospitality spaces.
Jennifer Dodd, CEO, Main Squeeze Juice Co.
Jennifer is the CEO of Main Squeeze Juice Co., a restaurant brand that exists to Make Healthy Easier® by offering nutritionist-designed, superfood-centric menus that include raw, cold-pressed juices, handcrafted smoothies, organic açaí bowls, juice cleanses, shots, and more. With 25 locations nationwide and more on the way, Main Squeeze is committed to nourishing both body and community—one juice, one smile, and one
meaningful connection at a time.
A seasoned branding and franchise executive, Jen is known for her ability to redefine brands, drive strategic growth and deliver shareholder value. Having led aggressive expansion and turnaround initiatives with a diverse range of top ranked franchise companies throughout North America, her extensive experience includes more than 30 years as an executive in top brands across the foodservice industry in traditional and nontraditional sites. Jennifer has led businesses in 13 countries, 3 continents.
Prior, Jennifer led the successful execution of the brand redesign of The Melting Pot, a polished casual fondue restaurant chain. She guided the delivery of an evolved restaurant concept for the franchise brand, added reimagined locations and led the team delivery of the award-winning food and beverage menu, to deliver profitable growth.
In previous executive roles Jennifer led innovative growth of the Tim Hortons U. S. franchise development and non-traditional development teams. Implementing proven digital and rebranding strategies, partnering with the IFA, (international Franchise Association), Veterans Franchise Initiative, growing non-traditional locations, and driving new franchise owner conversions as well as launching U.S. CPG, (consumer package goods retail) for Tim’s.
Jen also led the expansion of one of Dunkin Brands top markets, growing revenue, adding new franchise locations, on-boarding new area developers, and leading the highest number of multi-brand combo locations, (3 brands 1 roof) in the U.S. during her tenure. Jennifer has been a trailblazer throughout her career, guiding numerous brand redesigns and successful new market entries to lead successful organizational development. Her seasoned experience includes a diverse range of multi-site / territory companies, including a $400M+ multi-brand QSR franchise group, a $200M+ privately held, global casual dining chain, a tuition based international education franchise organization, and a 1500-unit franchise-licensed chain, with businesses in more than 10 countries.
As a leader, Jennifer has cultivated talent-rich, servant leadership cultures within organizations, empowering employees to harness their potential and foster organizational team collaboration and community, while delivering exceptional results
Amanda Fugazy, Partner, EGS
Amanda is head of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. Amanda represents clients primarily in the fields of labor and employment law, including litigation, counseling and preventative education with regard to employment discrimination, harassment, labor relations, employment contracts, severance agreements, arbitration, mediation, wage-hour compliance and labor and employment aspects of corporate and real estate sales. Amanda also has extensive experience in developing and delivering custom tailored management and employee-training seminars on a variety of employment related topics.
Heather Kogan, Chief Commercial Officer, The Sam Tell Companies
Heather Kogan is Chief Commercial Officer of the Sam Tell Companies, a leading foodservice distribution and supply business based in New York City. With over two decades in the industry—including nine years at Sam Tell—she brings deep expertise in driving commercial growth and building high-performing teams.
She is known for identifying and developing high-potential talent, fostering strong relationships, and her unwavering commitment to being the best possible partner to both employees and clients. At 40, Heather returned to school to earn her MBA from NYU Stern, reinforcing her belief in continuous growth and staying relevant in an evolving business landscape.
She welcomes candid conversations about what it truly takes to succeed in senior leadership roles, including navigating ego, maintaining perspective, and making a meaningful impact.
Kate Loftus, Hospitality Specialist, SpotOn
Kate Loftus is a hospitality sales professional with a background in restaurant operations, people strategy, and business development. She currently works with SpotOn, partnering with restaurants across Manhattan to help operators modernize their technology, streamline service, and support growth. Prior to SpotOn, Kate worked in hospitality leadership and operations with Pomo Restaurant Group and IGC Hospitality, giving her a strong understanding of the day-to-day realities restaurant teams face.
With experience across sales, operations, and hospitality culture, Kate brings a practical, people-first perspective to conversations around leadership, growth, and the evolving restaurant industry.
Juliana Martins, Publicist & Founder, Eleven11 Media Relations
Juliana Martins is the Founder of Eleven11 Media Relations, a Forbes 30 Under 30–recognized publicist specializing in helping hospitality, food & beverage, and lifestyle brands earn meaningful press and cultural relevance. She is known for helping hospitality brands move beyond traditional press to become culturally relevant destinations, building strategic narratives and experiential moments that translate into visibility, reservations, and long-term brand equity.
Juliana works closely with restaurant groups, hotels, and operators to position venues as must-visit spaces through media strategy, partnerships, and culturally relevant programming. Her work has secured coverage in outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, Eater, The Infatuation, Delish, Imbibe, Time Out, and more.
Eleven11 Media Relations has supported hospitality brands including MICHELIN Bib Gourmand recipient LORE and Chef Jay Kumar, Williamsburg Pizza, LOLITA in Midtown, and notable New York venues such as Café Maud, The Rhymers’ Club, Dear Maud, Odd Sister, Jackdaw, Campangola, and The Domino Room.
Juliana has also led media strategy and experiential partnerships tied to major cultural moments and high-visibility talent collaborations, including Cardi B’s Super Bowl LIX weekend appearance with Fat Tuesday, brand collaborations involving Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila, and experiential projects connected to Shaquille O’Neal’s former Fantasy Lab pop-up in Las Vegas. She has spearheaded creator and talent programming at destination properties including Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa, and led PR strategy for international hospitality properties such as RÌGH Residences in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Kelly Metras, Owner, Salena’s Mexican Restaurant
Kelly Metras is an entrepreneur, community leader, and creative visionary based in Rochester, New York. With a passion for empowering others and a deep commitment to building meaningful experiences, Kelly has established herself as a respected voice in both the hospitality and nonprofit sectors.
As a business owner and leader, Kelly brings a unique blend of strategic thinking and emotional intelligence to her work. She is known for her ability to connect people, cultivate strong teams, and create environments where both employees and clients feel valued and inspired. Her expertise spans operations, team development, and customer experience, with a particular focus on helping businesses thrive through intentional culture and innovative leadership.
A passionate advocate for women in business, Kelly frequently shares insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal development. Through speaking engagements, mentorship, community action, and collaborative projects, she empowers others to understand their strengths, embrace their unique wiring, and build businesses and lives aligned with their values.
Step inside Kelly’s world on her unapologetic podcast, Getting Real with BOSSY, co-hosted with Kelly Bush, where real conversations meet bold leadership.
Shayna O’Brien, Senior Director of PR, Tao Group Hospitality
Shayna O’Brien leads PR and communications for Tao Group Hospitality, a global hospitality group known for its portfolio of restaurants, nightlife venues, and large-scale experiential destinations. She oversees media strategy across the company’s diverse portfolio, spanning major openings, partnerships, and cultural moments.
Her work focuses on keeping brands relevant in an ever-evolving landscape, whether through high-profile launches, strategic partnerships, or moments that extend beyond the venue itself. She’s known for navigating fast-paced, high-visibility environments and creating stories that resonate both within the industry and beyond it.
Shelby Poole, Experiential + Trade Marketing, Ayrloom
Shelby is the founder of Betty Bloom, a mobile social club focused on cannabis education, destigmatization, and fun. Through her out-of-the-box events and brand activations, she introduces mainstream audiences to the future of cannabis hospitality.
Shelby is also Trade Marketing Specialist for Ayrloom, where she applies her signature style of building highly collaborative, community-driven campaigns. Her passion for fostering authentic IRL connections and good times is evident in every facet of her work. She serves on the Board of Directors for the New York State Restaurant Association, where she is a fierce advocate for a sustainable and healthy future for the intersection of food, beverage, and cannabis.
Lisa Preller, CNM, LM, Founder of Empowered Midwifery
Empowered Midwifery Care & Evolve Integrative Health has spent more than two decades providing compassionate, relationship-centered care as a doula, labor and delivery nurse, and Licensed Midwife. As the founder of Empowered Midwifery Care and Evolve Integrative Health, she combines the principles of midwifery with a functional and integrative approach to women’s health, supporting patients through hormone health, perimenopause, weight regulation, inflammation, and overall wellness. Her work is grounded in personalized, empowering care that supports the whole person through every phase of life.
Chef Missy Robbins, Grovehouse Hospitality
Celebrated chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Missy Robbins is recognized for the exemplary Italian cuisine on display at her two Williamsburg restaurants – Lilia and Misi – both of which have received three stars from The New York Times. Since opening Lilia in 2016, Robbins has become known for her passionate cooking and warm hospitality. As a result, both Misi and Lilia have quickly become distinguished restaurants within the Williamsburg community which Robbins now calls home. In 2018, she was recognized nationally by the James Beard Foundation as Best Chef New York City, for which she was named a finalist in the year prior. Following the success of her first cookbook, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner…Life! Recipes and Adventures from My Home Kitchen, Robbins published her pasta-focused cookbook, PASTA, in October 2021.
Prior to opening her own restaurants, Robbins spent five years as the executive chef of Michelin starred restaurant, A Voce, where she focused on developing her personal style of cooking. Before that, she honed her craft for five years in Chicago as the executive chef of Spiaggia and Café Spiaggia, which completely immersed her in cuisine and culture of fine dining Italian restaurants. Early in her career, Robbins spent many years training under critically acclaimed chefs in New York City, but her love of Italian culture began when she embarked on an excursion to Northern Italy. She worked in several kitchens, from family-run rustic trattorias to Michelin-rated restaurants, and grew intimate with the country’s products and cooking. Robbins quickly developed a long-lasting admiration for the simplicity, regional inspiration and innate focus on quality ingredients that characterize Italian food. She continues to highlight these characteristics at both Misi and Lilia today.
Chef Melissa Rodriguez, Tao Group Hospitality
Melissa Rodriguez is one of New York City’s leading chefs, celebrated for her technical precision and creative approach to modern cuisine. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, she began her career at Restaurant Daniel before joining Del Posto, where she became the first woman to helm a four‑star New York Times restaurant as Executive Chef. Following Del Posto’s closure in 2020, Rodriguez partnered with Jeffrey Katz to create Al Coro, Discolo, and Mel’s at 85 Tenth Avenue. Al Coro earned two Michelin stars shortly after opening, further solidifying Rodriguez’s reputation as a culinary innovator. In 2024, Rodriguez and Katz partnered with Tao Hospitality Group to launch Crane Club in West Chelsea. The restaurant marks Rodriguez’s first concept beyond Italian and French cuisine, featuring a seasonal menu built around a custom wood‑fire grill, a raw bar program, and bold, shareable dishes. Since its debut, Crane Club has earned inclusion in the Michelin Guide 2025, been named one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Best New Restaurants in NYC of 2025, received recognition as Best of Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator for its wine list, and was spotlighted as Wine Enthusiast’s “Top 50 New Restaurants of 2025.” Rodriguez’s ability to merge technique with creativity has positioned Crane Club as one of New York’s most talked‑about openings, recognized for both its ambitious menu and exceptional overall experience.
Arianna Sartzetakis, Founder and CEO, Uncover More
Arianna Sartzetakis is the Founder and CEO of Uncover More, a hyper-local and tailored platform to discover bespoke experiences. Since launching Uncover More in 2016, she has reinvented how to uncover vetted experiences and local businesses in cities worldwide, offering her highly engaged community best-in-class guides across art, culture, gastronomy, travel, and more.
Beyond her experience as an entrepreneur, Arianna previously worked in the financial services industry at Goldman Sachs. She attended St. Francis College and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science. Arianna was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where she currently resides.
Fernanda Vazquez, Stylist, House of Colour
Fernanda Vázquez is a certified Image Consultant and franchise owner of House of Colour Downtown Brooklyn, where she helps professionals use personal style as a strategic tool to strengthen their confidence and presence at work. She has worked with over 500 clients to refine how they show up professionally and has reached more than 20,000 viewers through her educational content on image and self-presentation.
Fernanda’s work focuses on helping women align their appearance with their goals, so they can lead with clarity, credibility, and confidence in any environment.Her expertise has been featured on Good Morning America, BuzzFeed News, and Katie Couric Media. Through practical, relatable insights, Fernanda empowers audiences to dress with intention and show up as their most confident, capable selves.
Aly Walansky, Food & Travel Writer
Aly Walansky is a New York City-based food and travel writer. She has been a food journalist for over twenty years and has covered everything from budget shopping to recipes to culinary travel content for national publications, including the Food Network, Southern Living, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, The Kitchn, and more. Her Substack email newsletter is sent free to more than 10,000 PR and media professionals daily, and focuses on industry trends and insights, with a focus on the travel and hospitality PR/media industries.
Julie Zucker, Chief Marketing Officer, Branded Hospitality
Julie is a Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Branded Strategic Hospitality. In addition to accelerating Branded’s Marketing & Communication efforts, Julie is actively involved in all of Branded’s portfolio companies from pipeline to investment and continued growth through marketing. She is a subject matter expert and has been featured in Food Business News, the WSJ and Forbes as well as serving as a panelist a The International Food Show of NY and the Cohen Reznick Annual Technology Summit. She also produces and writes all episodes of The Hospitality Hangout Podcast, a hit Hospitality Technology Podcast on The Foodable Network.