NYSRA Women in Hospitality Conference

Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Google – St. John’s Terminal 550 Washington St., NYC

9:30 – 11:30 am – Mentorship in Motion (separate registration required)
11:30 – 12:30 – Registration & Lunch
12:30 – 6:00 – Women in Hospitality Conference & Happy Hour

This is a celebration of women in hospitality, and an opportunity to create a supportive community where professionals of all levels can connect, learn from each other, and build valuable relationships. Join us!

$169 Member | $209 Nonmember

Secure your spot - Register Now!

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

Hear from Melissa Ben-Ishay, Co-Founder and CEO of Baked by Melissa!

Melissa Ben-Ishay is the Co-Founder and CEO of Baked by Melissa, the New York-based dessert brand famous for its handcrafted bite-size cupcakes and treats. Founded in 2008, the brand now operates 12 retail locations and ships nationwide. With nostalgic flavors developed by Melissa herself, innovative packaging, and gift boxes for every occasion, Baked by Melissa has become a go-to treat for celebrating life’s moments across the U.S.

In 2020, Melissa gained popularity on TikTok with videos of her salads and everyday meals like the viral Green Goddess salad. Today, Melissa’s community of over 4 million followers recreate her recipes at home, each designed to deliver the perfect bite just like her namesake cupcakes. Her newest cookbook, Come Hungry was released January 2024 and became an instant New York Times bestseller. For additional information, visit bakedbymelissa.com.

Register Now!

Attendees will receive a copy of Melissa’s book, Come Hungry: Salads, Meals and Sweets for People Who Live to Eat

NYSRA members, attend a Meet & Greet with Melissa, limited spots available! $50 registration add on available at check out, offered to NYSRA Members on a first come, first served basis. Not a member? Join now!

NEW THIS YEAR

NEW THIS YEAR

Mentorship in Motion

Looking for guidance, inspiration, or a fresh perspective on your career in hospitality? Mentorship in Motion is a speed-dating, mini group style session designed to connect emerging professionals with experienced industry leaders.

In a series of brief conversations, you’ll gain valuable insights, ask career questions, and build meaningful connections—all in a supportive and empowering environment.

Separate registration required – only 45 spots available. Only available to conference attendees, cannot be booked on its own.

Register Now!

Conference Sessions

Mentorship in Motion 

Looking for guidance, inspiration, or a fresh perspective on your career in hospitality? Mentorship in Motion is a speed-dating, mini group style session designed to connect emerging professionals with experienced industry leaders. In a series of brief conversations, you’ll gain valuable insights, ask career questions, and build meaningful connections—all in a supportive and empowering environment. 

Conference Registration & Lunch

Welcome, Melissa Fleischut, CEO NYSRA & Michelle Korsmo, CEO National Restaurant Association

Generations of Leadership: Women Shaping Hospitality

The hospitality industry thrives on innovation, resilience, and leadership—and women have been at the forefront of shaping its future across generations. In this discussion, four distinguished women leaders, each representing a different generation, will share their journeys, challenges, and successes in the industry.

From breaking barriers and navigating change to mentoring the next wave of talent, our panelists will explore how leadership styles, workplace expectations, and industry dynamics have evolved over time. Through personal stories and candid insights, they will discuss what has remained constant in great leadership, how they have adapted to new opportunities, and what the future holds for women in hospitality.

Join us for a conversation that celebrates the power of intergenerational leadership, fosters meaningful connections, and highlights the lessons that each generation brings to the table. 

Breakout Sessions:

How to Land Your Dream Job

Statistics tell us that men will apply for a job when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, but women apply only if they meet 100% of them. This session will help boost your confidence to go after your dream job. Learn how to build your resume, put your best foot forward in interviews, and get hired for the job you want.

Become a LinkedIn Thought Leader

Ready to establish yourself as a go-to voice in your industry? This session, presented by LinkedIn Expert Lyssa Leigh Jackson, will unlock the secrets to expanding your content’s reach on LinkedIn and positioning yourself as a thought leader. Learn how to develop your authentic voice, craft a compelling personal brand, and share insights that resonate. Plus, explore proven techniques to build and nurture a loyal follower base that amplifies your message. Elevate your LinkedIn presence and start leading the conversation!

Navigating the Challenges and Triumphs of Hospitality Entrepreneurship

The path to entrepreneurship is filled with risks and rewards. This panel brings together women who have built successful hospitality businesses to discuss the challenges they’ve faced, the lessons they’ve learned, and how they continue to innovate in a changing industry. Walk away with actionable insights on leadership, innovation, and resilience.

Breakout Sessions:

Become a Culture Builder

What is culture, and how can you create it? In this session, you’ll learn how to define your culture, what small and big actions can help build or erode culture, and how to inspire your team to follow. 

Style Your LinkedIn Profile

Your LinkedIn profile is your digital handshake—make it count! In this interactive session, you’ll learn top tips to refresh your profile and make it stand out. LinkedIn Expert, Lyssa Leigh Jackson will share practical strategies to attract the right opportunities, from optimizing your headline to crafting a compelling summary. Plus, discover insider techniques to enhance your professional brand visibility and make a lasting impression.

As a bonus, participating audience members will receive exclusive LinkedIn swag, including stickers and pens. Don’t miss this opportunity to level up your LinkedIn game!

In the Kitchen and Beyond: Female Chefs Shaping NYC’s Culinary Scene

Hear from powerhouse chefs who are not only redefining what it means to lead in the kitchen but also transforming hospitality as a whole. These NYC-based chefs share their personal stories, leadership philosophies, and how they’re paving the way for the next generation of women in hospitality.
Moderated by Melissa McCart, Editor, Eater NY

Keynote, Melissa Ben-Ishay, Baked by Melissa

Melissa Ben-Ishay is the Co-Founder and CEO of Baked by Melissa, the New York-based dessert brand famous for its handcrafted bite-size cupcakes and treats. Founded in 2008, the brand now operates 12 retail locations and ships nationwide. With nostalgic flavors developed by Melissa herself, innovative packaging, and gift boxes for every occasion, Baked by Melissa has become a go-to treat for celebrating life’s moments across the U.S. In 2020 Melissa gained popularity on TikTok with videos of her salads and everyday meals like the viral Green Goddess salad. Today Melissa’s community of over 4 million followers recreate her recipes at home, each designed to deliver the perfect bite just like her namesake cupcakes. Her newest cookbook, Come Hungry was released January 2024 and became an instant New York Times bestseller. For additional information, visit bakedbymelissa.com.

Networking Happy Hour

VIP Reception with Melisa Ben-Ishay

*Additional sessions to be announced soon!

Meet the Speakers

Jeanne Cretella is Co-Founder and President of Landmark Hospitality, a multi facet company which owns and operates fine dining restaurants, event spaces and boutique hotels throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Jeanne and her husband Frank founded the company in 2000 and many of the properties they own are historic and landmarked. Jeanne serves as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the National Restaurant Association. 

 

Amanda M. Fugazy, a member of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, is head of the firm’s Labor & Employment Law Group and co-head of the firm’s Hospitality Practice Group.  As such, Ms. Fugazy represents businesses (both for-profit and not-for-profit) and executives in litigation, arbitration and mediation, and provides counseling and preventative education with regard to wage-hour compliance, discrimination, harassment, labor relations, leave laws, internal investigations, contracts, manuals, and severance agreements.

 

Sandra Garcia is the founder of Encounter Your Potential, a marketing agency dedicated to helping businesses grow, sustain, and transform. She leverages her leadership experience along with her background in sales and marketing to foster organizational belonging, justice, and accessibility. As an Afro-Latina, Sandra has navigated a multicultural world, which inspired her to create spaces where businesswomen like herself can share their experiences.

 

Lyssa Leigh Jackson is the founder of Be Brand You, helping professionals build career-changing personal brands. Named as Learning’s 30 Under 30 by The Learning Guild, Lyssa is recognized for her innovative approach to personal branding and career development. As the former Program Manager for the inStruct Accelerator Workshop at LinkedIn, she trained over 100,000 professionals from top companies including IBM, Adobe, Zoom, and Tony Robbins’ team on maximizing the platform. At LinkedIn, she also worked closely with creators and Top Voices, developing workshops to enhance their presence. With her strategic expertise, Lyssa empowers professionals to elevate their visibility and unlock new career opportunities through building powerful online presences and leveraging LinkedIn.

 

Michelle Korsmo is president and chief executive officer of the National Restaurant Association and chief executive officer of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. In this role, Korsmo is responsible for delivering value to the Association’s members, the 52 state association partners, and the restaurant industry.With Korsmo’s leadership, the Association continues to pursue its vision for a thriving restaurant and foodservice community through strong operations; risk mitigation and talent development; advancing and protecting business vitality; and driving knowledge and collaboration.

 

Sarah Diehl is the Founder and Principal of Empowered Hospitality, an HR and Talent consultancy specializing in the hospitality industry. After beginning her career in restaurant operations with Hillstone Restaurant Group, Sarah pivoted to lead the people function for a chef-driven restaurant group in New York City. When her position was eliminated in 2016, Sarah realized that many small hospitality businesses desperately need HR guidance but lacked the resources or know-how to hire an HR Director. Sarah instinctively pivoted many of her initial interviews into HR strategy sessions, and Empowered Hospitality was born. Today, Empowered Hospitality has a team of 30 full-time HR and talent experts supporting hundreds of companies and thousands of employees across the US. Sarah earned her bachelor’s in political science with honors from Yale University. She was selected as a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow (2021), was recognized in the ’40 Under 40: Rising Stars in Food Policy’ through the NYC Food Policy Center (2023), and serves as a member of the James Beard Foundation’s Women’s Leadership Programs Advisory Committee. When her ‘HR hat’ is off, Sarah is mom to two beautiful babies under 2, an avid hiker and city walker, and explorer of the NYC restaurant scene.

 

Thank you Sponsors!

Sponsorship opportunities still available! For information about sponsorship – download our 2025 Sponsorship Brochure, or contact Sarah Higgins at sarahh@nysra.org.