Speakers

Erle Dardick is an entrepreneur, author, restaurant veteran, and off premises thought leader for the Global Foodservice Industry. Erle’s mission is to help foodservice operators create successful off premises revenue channels. An expert in turning around struggling businesses, Erle's journey into catering began with acquiring a small Vancouver deli and developing it into a flourishing off premises operation. In a small office above that deli, Erle created MONKEY, The #1 Cloud Platform for takeout, delivery & catering. Through his vision of The Catering Institute, MonkeyMedia Software, and Off Premises Insights, Erle became a leader in a rapidly developing space. Throughout this process, Erle pioneered The 5 Pillars of Successful Takeout, Delivery & Catering which has since evolved into the 5 Stages, a leading strategic framework for the restaurant and foodservice industry.

Kelly Grogan is a highly successful executive in the hospitality industry with extensive experience and achievements in driving revenue growth in both B2B and B2C settings. With a keen understanding of market dynamics and consumer preferences, she has consistently devised and executed innovative sales strategies that have propelled her employers and clients to new heights of success. Her tenure in the restaurant space has been marked by a series of notable accomplishments. Through strategic partnerships, targeted marketing initiatives, and an ability to build from the ground up, Kelly has grown both new and established departments to achieve significant incremental revenue growth. By leveraging her expertise in identifying and capitalizing on emerging trends, as well as her ability to work cross-functionally across all departments, she has seen great success at both the corporate and local store levels.

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.

Allen Beck is an experienced Operations Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the restaurant industry. He's skilled in Microsoft platforms, Sales, Communication, and Team Building. Allen oversees all Off-Premise Sales, operations, and technology including contracts and relationships with our 3rd party DSPs, Catering, and Online ordering platforms along with overseeing the MarTech stack and development. He is the winner of the 2024 Operator of the Year Award, presented by Food on Demand.

Cherryh Cansler is VP of Events for Networld Media Group and publisher of FastCasual.com. She has been covering the restaurant industry since 2012. Her byline has appeared in Forbes, The Kansas City Star and American Fitness magazine, among many others.

Jerome Dees Jr. is an award-winning sales leader with nearly 20 years of experience in the restaurant and CPG industries. Recipient of the National Restaurant Association’s Advanced Leadership Award in 2024 and named among the Most Influential Restaurant Executives in 2021 and 2022, Jerome has driven growth at brands like Bagel Brands, Le Boulanger, Wise Sons, and Tacolicious. Passionate about empowering others, Jerome mentors aspiring entrepreneurs and has sold millions of bagels and tacos while fostering community impact through leadership and education.

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.

After service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Amanda Kahalehoe integrated the values of adaptability and determination into her professional journey. From Long Island, NY, she melds her disciplined nature with exceptional communication skills and sharp critical thinking. Amanda's career embarked on its trajectory at a New York security firm, where she rose from the position of a data communication specialist to Chief Operating Officer of Business Operations. Throughout her profession, Amanda consistently led the charge in pioneering innovation across sales, operations, accounting, HR, and IT domains. Following her relocation to Charleston, she collaborated with George McLaughlin, becoming a pivotal member of the Vicious Biscuit team and contributing to its growth through the implementation of innovative strategies and practices.

Mayank Mehta is a 4x founder with exits to companies including Yahoo and Gartner. He's currently building BeHeard, an AI-native platform focused on helping restaurants treat every customer interaction as though their CEO was having a one-on-one conversation with them. Through BeHeard's technology, companies like Dig, Gregory's Coffee, and dozens of other brands are decreasing support costs, increasing positive Google reviews, and gaining actionable insights into how to keep customers coming back time and again.

Brittany Mercer is a results-driven marketing executive with over 16 years of experience leading high-impact strategies across the restaurant industry. She specializes in local store marketing, off-premise growth, and brand development that drives both top-line sales and long-term brand equity. With a background rooted in operations and catering sales, Brittany brings a deep understanding of what matters most to restaurant operators: practical, actionable marketing that moves the needle. Known for blending creative storytelling with data-informed decisions, she’s passionate about building loyal guest relationships, supporting field teams, and creating marketing programs that feel as authentic as they are effective.

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.

Andi Ott is the owner of four Dog Haus Biergarten locations across Arizona and the founder of The Next Chapter, a senior home care agency rooted in compassionate, high-integrity service. With a background in healthcare and hospitality, she brings a systems-minded, people-first approach to business. Under her leadership, Dog Haus has grown its catering program into a key revenue driver—powered by structured fulfillment, strong community partnerships, and scalable execution across multiple stores. Whether building systems that run without her in the kitchen or turning catering into a brand-building tool, Andi is passionate about helping operators grow with intention, consistency, and heart.

Peter Ruge joined Slice Factory in January 2025, bringing confidence, determination, and a results-driven mindset to the team. As Director of Catering and Events, he leads all aspects of our catering operations—from planning and execution to customer satisfaction and beyond. Peter also oversees catering sales, actively building relationships with local businesses and community partners to grow our presence and expand our impact. His strategic approach, paired with a passion for delivering exceptional experiences, ensures that every event reflects the quality, care, and energy that define Slice Factory.

Jessica Serrano is the Chief Marketing Officer at Dig Inn, where she has been leading marketing efforts since 2022. With extensive experience in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector, Jessica played a key role in national marketing & calendar innovation at Burger King and Taco Bell. She also has experience in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) space having worked at brands including Dole and Kraft. She holds both an MBA and a BS from the University of Southern California.

Courtney joined Monkey Media in March of 2024 with a passion to help brands utilize the Monkey Media software to the best of their capabilities while also partnering to influence first party sales building. Courtney brings over 25 years of food and beverage operations, off premise implementation, catering sales program creation, training and strategy development experience. Courtney has held positions as Vice President of Sales for Newk’s Eatery, Director of Catering & Banquet Sales for Firebird Restaurant Group which included 6 brands. Director of Off Premise Sales for la Madeleine, a total of 11 years with Corner Bakery Café including several roles and Operations Management with Hillstone Restaurant Group.

Darrin is the Chief Operating Officer at MonkeyMedia Software, where he leads a team of dedicated professionals to deliver high-quality SaaS products and services to partners in the restaurant and catering industry. With over 25 years of management experience in both the restaurant and tech sectors, Darrin excels in managing complex projects, integrating technical solutions, and providing exceptional customer service and support. Darrin is passionate about meeting client needs and ensuring their satisfaction with MonkeyMedia's products and services. He enjoys collaborating with colleagues and partners to create innovative solutions that drive the company's growth and success. Also, don't forget to ask Darrin about scuba diving!