| Meet the Experts |
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We're excited to welcome Donnie Madia as the 2025 Meet the Experts 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.
Featuring food and beverage sampling courtesy of Third Coast Hospitality, Gordon Food Service, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, and Breakthru Beverage. How it works: Operators (restaurant/hospitality owners, managers, and employees) can select up to five (5) preferred experts to meet with during the event for 12 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
 Hsing Chen
Co-Founder, Eat Well Hospitality Originally from the Bay Area, Hsing’s career took off in 2006 when she moved to New York City and became the Executive Pastry Chef at Country Restaurant, where she oversaw the fine dining restauant along with a busy bistro. She brought back the long-lost tradition of mignardises cart presented at the end of meals offering...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
 Victor Gomez
Sr. Strategic Merchant Lead, DoorDash Chicago native with 6+ years of total restaurant Industry experience, 4+ of which have been spent with Doordash. Knowledge space in new merchant partnerships, onboarding, and high-level account support. Golf enthusiast and proud new owner of a pug... more
 Christina Gonzalez
Co-Owner, Los Comales Having stepped into the business at age of 14, Christina began from the ground up, working every position in the family owned business that first opened it’s doors in 1973. Working alongside her Father, Christina honed her customer service skills running the Front of the House, developed new recipes...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
 Brian Jupiter
Executive Chef, Ina Mae Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Executive Chef Brian Jupiter has always believed that Southern comfort food is a true art form. Pulling inspiration from closely held family secrets and recipes, Jupiter spent his childhood alongside his grandmother in her kitchen. After beginning his professional career at the age of 16...more
 James Kosmala
The Food Equipment Maintenance Expert, Coker Service, Inc.
James Kosmala is a decorated Marine Veteran with over 11 years of experience in the installation, repair, and maintenance of commercial kitchen and ware washing equipment. As a CFESA Master Technician, James is certified in electric, steam, and gas-powered equipment, showcasing his expertise in...more
 Lisa Landsman
Head of Industry Engagement and SMB education for the Restaurants& Travel verticals, Google With over 26 years of experience in the digital space and 20 years at Google, Lisa has led a variety of initiatives and teams - from early stage efforts, to Ads and Partnerships, across restaurant, retail, and CPG verticals...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
 Lamar Moore
Chef, ETC. 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
 Ethan Samson
Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, Lettuce Entertain You Ethan started his career with Lettuce as a Summer Intern while attending the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign). After graduating with dual-degrees in Accounting and Finance, he earned his CPA and started as a Staff Accountant for Lettuce. Ethan continued in this role while earning his...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
 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 Groupr 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
 Emma Westfall
Associate Director of Access to Capital Program and Services, Women’s Business Development Center Emma Westfall, M.B.A. is Associate Director of Access to Capital Program and Services at Women’s Business Development Center. Emma advises diverse entrepreneurs on their cashflow challenges and capital options and oversees the Direct Lending Program. ...more |
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
