Winning Strategies from Restaurant Leaders

Brian Bailey is the Founder and CEO of Old Carolina Barbecue Company, an award-winning fast-casual BBQ chain with eight locations across Ohio and Pennsylvania, including both corporate-owned and franchise-operated restaurants. Since launching the concept in 2003, Brian has grown Old Carolina into one of the most respected barbecue brands in the country, earning more than 150 competition awards along the way. Under Brian’s leadership, the brand has become a leader in off-premises dining, with catering accounting for nearly 40% of total revenue. Old Carolina offers robust catering solutions including pickup, delivery and full-service formats, serving everything from office lunches to nearly 200 staffed weddings each year. Brian is passionate about helping other restaurant operators build scalable, high-performing catering programs. He frequently shares proven strategies for operational efficiency, off-premises growth and maximizing catering revenue in fast-casual concepts.

Molly Flick is the Director of Catering for Southern Rock Restaurants focus on McAlister’s Deli. She began her tenure at McAlister’s Deli in 2006, overseeing catering operations for 5 locations. By 2022, Molly had expanded her purview to 10 delis, achieving $3 million in catering sales. In 2023, she accepted a new challenge to enhance catering sales across 27 locations. Her success led to a promotion in 2024 to Director of Catering for all Southern Rock Restaurants, encompassing 160 locations. Under her leadership, the catering department has grown to include 6 team members and continues to drive sales growth.

Alexis Ortiz is a hospitality leader with nearly a decade of experience in premium catering, regional operations, and high-volume off-premise programs. As the Senior Catering Manager at Naya, she oversees strategic growth and marketing across multi-unit markets, leading innovations like pop-up activations and tech-forward solutions that elevate the guest experience. Known for blending operational excellence with hospitality-driven leadership, Alexis is passionate about making catering feel personal at scale—and empowering teams to deliver unforgettable guest experiences.