2025 Accelerate Speakers

Prosper Accelerate

2025 Accelerate Session Speakers

A select group of leaders from a cross section of the foodservice and hospitality industry.

Maria

Zhang

CEO & Co-Founder

Palona

Read Bio

James

McGehee

CFO and Founding Partner

Dave’s Hot Chicken

Read Bio

Cynt

Marshall

Former CEO

Dallas Mavericks

Read Bio

Erin

Levzow

Growth

Batch & Box

Read Bio

Ryan

Leak

Motivational Speaker & Author

The Ryan Leak Group

Read Bio

Laurie

Lawhorne

CFO

Better Buzz Coffee

Read Bio

Suresh

Iyer

Chief Technology Officer

Henny Penny

Read Bio

Hattie

Hill

Member, Board of Directors

Hattie Hill Enterprises, Inc.

Read Bio

Josh

Halpern

CEO

Big Chicken

Read Bio

David

McKillips

CEO

CEC Entertainment

Read Bio

Heather

Neary

President & CEO

Taco John’s, Inc.

Read Bio

Kim

Twiggs

AVP, Market Development

DIRECTV for Business

Read Bio

Christopher (CTM)

Thomas-Moore

Chief Digital Officer

Former Domino’s Pizza

Read Bio

Scott

Taylor

Chief Executive Officer

Cherry Bounce Hospitality

Read Bio

Neil

Sudaisar

AVP DIRECTV National Accounts

DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS

Read Bio

Samuel

Stanovich

Senior Vice President, Franchise Leadership

Big Chicken

Read Bio

Shokouh

Shafiei

President & CEO

DSA Signage

Read Bio

James

Pogue, Ph.D

President/CEO

JP Enterprises

Read Bio

Shideh

Ovaysikia

Senior Manager

CohnReznick LLP

Read Bio

Nelson

Griffin

Chief Supply Chain Officer

Wawa

Read Bio

Rae

George

Director of Client Solutions

Armada

Read Bio

Derek

Gaskins

Head of Guest Experience

BP

Read Bio

Mark

Cimino

President

Consolidated Concepts

Read Bio

Jeff

Burrus

Vice President of Supply Chain

El Pollo Loco, Inc.

Read Bio

Jim

Bitticks

President & COO

Dave’s Hot Chicken

Read Bio

John

Barone

President

Market Vision, Inc.

Read Bio

Candace

Barnes

VP, Global Head of Diversity, Talent & Culture

Papa Johns

Read Bio

Bernard B.

Banks, Ph.D.

Director, The Doerr Institute for New Leaders | Professor in the Practice of Leadership

Rice University

Read Bio

Trona

Balkissoon

Senior Vice President, Finance

Golden Corral Corporation

Read Bio

Lois

Alexis-Collins

Chief People Officer, Field Operations

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Read Bio

Robert

Clunie

Director, DLR Risk Management & Compliance

Disneyland Resort

Read Bio

Josh

Cobb

Exec Vice President

QSCC

Read Bio

James

Fripp

Chief Culture, Opportunity, and Belonging Officer

Yum! Brands, Inc.

Read Bio

Kate

Fountain

Chief of Staff

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.

Read Bio

Stacey

Floberg

Associate Director, Customer Experience

Datassential

Read Bio

Kevin

Flaherty

CMO

Taco John’s International, Inc.

Read Bio

Kelley

Fechner

VP Customer Experience

Datassential

Read Bio

Kris

Douglas

Vice President, Technology

Smalls Sliders

Read Bio

Andrew

Davis

Keynote Speaker

Monumental Shift

Read Bio

Greg

Creed

Founder

Creed UnCo

Read Bio

Susan

Adzick

President

McLane Foodservice, Inc.

Read Bio