| Meet the Experts |
|
2025 information coming soon...
In 2024, we were thrilled to welcome Brian Jupiter, Chef and Restaurateur of Ina Mae, Frontier and Migos Fine Foods as our 2024 Keynote Speaker!
Tunnel Chicago 151 W. Kinzie St. Chicago, IL 60654
This event offers restaurant and hospitality operators the opportunity to connect one-on-one with some of the biggest restaurateurs in the business, plus experts in HR, public relations, law, accounting, licensing, insurance, and more. This event is in thanks to our partnership with the Cook County Small Business Source and is made possible by our sponsors: Gordon Food Service, Taft Law, and Tunnel Chicago. How it works: Operators (restaurant/hospitality owners, managers, and employees) can select five (5) preferred experts to meet with during the event for 10 minute sessions. Consider it an
ideal opportunity to ask questions, get advice, and exchange business information to keep the conversation going in the future. It's speed coaching and power networking at its finest.
Participating Experts
 Heather Bublick
Co-founder, Soul & Smoke After earning a degree in non-fiction and creative writing, Heather attended culinary school at Kendall College with aspirations of becoming a food writer. During school, she did an internship at the Moto, where she discovered a deep fulfillment in creating positive dining...more
 Andres Clavero
General Manager & Partner, Galit Born and raised in Miami, Andrés attributes his passion for food & beverage to his Palestinian, Cuban and Spanish background and parents being the ultimate hosts. Prior to forming New Wave Hospitality and opening Galit, Andrés was the Senior Accountant for acclaimed restaurant group One Off Hospitality. Before bringing his expertise to restaurants, Andrés spent over 5 years working for Deloitte...more
 Andrew Ely
Marketing Specialist, Gordon Food Service Andrew has been with Gordon Food Service for nearly 13 years. In his current role as a Business Solutions Specialist, he provides consultation to independent restaurant operators in the Illinois and Wisconsin area that helps them grow their businesses profitably...more
 Nick Florek
Head of Back of House, Back of House Nick Florek runs Back of House, a venture focused on helping restauranteurs make better sense of existing & emerging technologies. Back of House advises on what makes the most sense for your restaurant, your staff, and your customers; and ultimately will facilitate...more
 Kimberly Galban
Chief Operating Officer, Hogsalt Chicago native Kimberly Galban grew up hearing tales told by her maître d’ grandfather, so when it came time to finance her studies in college, she decided to take a job in the food industry. It was a fortuitous move, because that part-time hostess gig became a career. Two years after first manning the door of Blackbird, Galban was...more
 Lisa Gardner
Executive Director, Illinois Liquor Control Commission Lisa Gardner currently serves as the Executive Director of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC), where she has been leading the ILCC for three years. A Chicago Native, Lisa graduated from Southern Illinois Carbondale for undergrad and earned her law degree from...more
 Soraya Hernandez
International Trade Center Director, Women’s Business Development Center Soraya Hernandez, M.B.A., serves as the WBDC (Women’s Business Development Center) International Trade Center Director. In her role, Soraya offers business clients direct technical assistance through one-on-one advising...more
 Tuan Huynh
Founder, VietFive Coffee Tuan Huynh is more than just an award-winning Creative Director. He's a storyteller, a champion of diversity, and the founder of VietFive Coffee – a company brewing up not just delicious coffee, but opportunity. Tuan's journey began as a refugee escaping Vietnam with his family. Arriving in the Midwest as a toddler, he found inspiration...more
 Liz Lombardo Stark
Director of Marketing & Public Relations, Gibsons Restaurant Group Liz Lombardo Stark is the Director of Marketing & Public Relations at Gibsons Restaurant Group (GRG) as well as a member of the family that owns and operates the group. GRG is the founder of Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House, LUXBAR, Quartino Ristorante & Wine Bar, and Gibsons Italia... more
 Donnie Madia
Managing Partner & Owner, One Off Hospitality Group Among the nation’s most acclaimed restaurateurs, Chicago-born Donnie Madia has mastered the art of collaboration in executing his instincts for style, atmosphere, and hospitality. His unique blend of visionary inspiration, attention to detail and sense of unlimited possibilities...more
 Dusanka Marijan
Licensing Administrator, Illinois Liquor Control Commission Dusanka Marijan has served as the Licensing Administrator for the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) since 1999. She oversees the ILCC Licensing Divisions in both the Chicago and Springfield offices and provides assistance to licensees to facilitate the license application process...more
 Maura Mitchell
Business Advisor, Women’s Business Development Center Maura Mitchell is a highly accomplished business advisor at the Women’s Business Development Center who is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs to succeed. With decades of experience, Maura has guided...more
 Lamar Moore
Chef, Bronzeville Winery Chef Lamar Moore was born and raised in Chicago, IL and began showing his love for culinary arts as early as age 8. In his formative years, Chef Lamar learned the importance of cooking with love, taking care of people, and giving back to those less fortunate while spending the summers and cooking alongside his grandmother...more
 Tigist Reda
Chef & Restaurateur, Demera Ethiopian Restaurant She was born in Tigray, Ethiopia during the years of communism, making her family moving from one city to the capital due to the civil war during this period. She learned the secrets of the traditional since very young age. She is the number seventh of eleven children in the family and her family was constituted with twenty...more
 Korina Sanchez
Vice President & General Counsel, Third Coast Hospitality Korina Sanchez is a seasoned entrepreneur, that has experience serving across roles as a corporate and regulatory attorney. Korina is Vice President and General Counsel of Third Coast Hospitality. She plays a pivotal role in managing the Chicago-based...more
 Samantha Sanchez
Director and Manager of Operations & Director of Marketing, Third Coast Hospitality Owner, La Luna Restaurant Director and manager of operations at Third Coast Hospitality, Samantha Sanchez, has worked every restaurant position, including hosting, servering, bartending, managing, and even cooking throughout her career. Following years of experience working with her father, Sanchez was inspired to open her first restaurant...more
 Nicole Sanders
Industry Education Manager, Illinois Liquor Control Commission Nicole holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bradley University. She has served as the Industry Education Manager of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) since 2022. In her role as Industry Education Manager, she also oversees...more
 Shannon Trotter
Local Liquor Control Commissioner, City of Chicago Shannon Trotter serves as the City of Chicago Local Liquor Control Commissioner, having been appointed in March 2017. Commissioner Trotter has spent her entire professional career working for the City of Chicago where she brings a wealth of legal expertise and a reputation for creative problem-solving... more
 Patrick Wartan
Attorney, Chair of Food and Beverage Team, Taft Law Patrick Wartan is chair of Taft’s Food and Beverage team. He counsels multi-unit restaurant, hotel developers, and food and beverage consumer brand companies on day-to-day legal needs. Patrick brings extensive experience to matters relating to financing arrangements, food and liquor licensing, mergers and acquisitions, real estate... more
 Scott Weiner
Principal & Co-founder, The Fifty/50 Group Weiner — a Northbrook, IL, native — traces his love and passion for the restaurant business back to taking his first job waiting tables at Johnny Rockets as a teenager. Working at a variety of other restaurants in the area, Scott focused and prepared for a career in the hospitality industry...more
 Derrick C. Westbrook
Owner & Sommelier, Derrick C. Westbrook LLC Derrick C. Westbrook is a nationally recognized sommelier evolving the wine industry by bridging the gap between spirits and culture. Before turning 30, Westbrook became the Cellar Manager of Alinea Group’s NEXT restaurant, and the Beverage Director of the Michelin-starred, Elizabeth...more
 John Wober
Vice President, Chicago Hospitality Partners John Wober is an accomplished executive in the retail and hospitality sectors, recognized for his strategic partnerships and collaborations with top brands, particularly in non-traditional expansion ventures. His firm plays a pivotal role in the O'Hare...more
|
12/5/2025Block Club Chicago: Scammers are trying to extort restaurants with ‘bomb’ of fake negative reviews
12/4/2025Free Sanitation Manager Certification Classes, Chicago Hemp Ban Updates, & More
12/4/2025Block Club Chicago: Chicago could ban hemp products as push advances to final vote
12/3/2025WGN 9: Hemp industry ordinance moves to City Council amid opposition
We could not accomplish all that we do without the generous support of our corporate sponsors
Founded in 1914, the Illinois Restaurant Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, educating and improving the restaurant industry in Illinois.
33 W. Monroe, Ste 250
Chicago, IL 60603
Ph: 312-787-4000
Fax: 312-787-4792
