Restaurant Influencers

Steele Smiley, founder of Steele Brands, is a successful entrepreneur who built a fitness empire before entering the restaurant business. Despite the differences between those two industries, Smiley says there is a common thread of respect that ties them together.  Listen now to learn about fitness and restaurant hospitality, creating a hospitality ecosystem, and Steele Brands being the nice and cool kids at the lunch table. Sponsored by Toast: All-In-1 Restaurant POS — https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc

It’s time Shawn sits in the hot seat. Shawn Walchef is the founder of Cali BBQ Media and host of this show. In this episode the tables are turned. Our friend Will Eppard (Regional VP of Sales at Toast) took the mic at Spark Los Angeles to interview Shawn about his media empire and more. Listen now to learn about turning into a media company and building communities. Sponsored by: • Toast: All-In-1 Restaurant POS — https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc • Atmosphere: TV for Your Business — https://bit.ly/3Mbc2TZ

Josh Halpern, CEO of Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken, has a track record of building successful brands with successful teams. That’s why Shaq, the Big Man himself, tapped Halpern to be Big Chicken’s first top executive.   Listen now to learn about having big fun and doing big work with Shaquille O’Neal, opening a restaurant in space, and moving as one team with one dream. Sponsored by: • Toast: All-In-1 Restaurant POS — https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc • Atmosphere: TV for Your Business — https://bit.ly/3Mbc2TZ

Serial Entrepreneur Jeff Fenster is the founder of the successful healthy food chain Everbowl. He is now founding his own media company that focuses on providing value to his audience instead of just pushing products.  Listen now to learn about ditching the commercials for content, the Relationship Bank Account, creating The Jeff Fenster Show, and asking for help. Sponsored by: • Toast: All-In-1 Restaurant POS — https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc • Atmosphere: TV for Your Business — https://bit.ly/3Mbc2TZ

Ford Fry is the chef-owner and founder of the Rocket Farm Restaurants. The Rocket Farm umbrella includes popular food spots like State of Grace, Superica, and many more across Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Houston. Listen now to learn about the dream to help others, the increasing role of technology in hospitality, and creating emotional connections with customers. Sponsored by: • Toast: All-In-1 Restaurant POS — https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc • Atmosphere: TV for Your Business — bit.ly/3Mbc2TZ

Chris Do, CEO of The Futur, is no stranger to simultaneous praise and criticism as an influencer. Nevertheless, the Emmy-award winner’s ultimate goal is one of empowerment. In the age of New Media, Do knows that anyone can have a platform to share their message with the world. Listen now to learn about self-development, creating the best content, and The Futur Euro Tour. Sponsored by: • Toast: All-In-1 Restaurant POS — https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc • Atmosphere: TV for Your Business — bit.ly/3Mbc2TZ

PepsiCo’s Digital Lab is helping restaurants future-proof their businesses and unleash their digital potential. As Head of PepsiCo Foodservice Digital Lab, André Moraes uses the expertise he has gathered over the years to optimize digital hospitality. Listen now to learn about using digital tools effectively, technology being an enabler, and the positive culture at PepsiCo. Sponsored by: • Toast: All-In-1 Restaurant POS — https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc • Atmosphere: TV for Your Business — bit.ly/3Mbc2TZ

Téa Ivanovic (@teaiva) is the co-founder and COO of Immigrant Food, a “cause-casual” restaurant in Washington, D.C. whose mission is to celebrate immigrants and push for progressive change in the US. Listen now to learn about Immigrant Food’s 3-Pillar Mission, retaining quality employees, and enhancing media exposure the right way. Sponsored by: • Toast: All-In-1 Restaurant POS — https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc • Atmosphere: TV for Your Business — https://bit.ly/3Mbc2TZ

Jamie & Kayla Giovinazzo built a healthy food empire. But success took time, talent, and teamwork. The founder of Eat Clean Bro combined his passions of cooking and fitness to make a meal prep company. Then the hard work began. #eatcleanbro   Listen now to learn about prioritizing customers, the business of healthy eating, and building  culture with clear communication. Sponsored by: • Toast: All-In-1 Restaurant POS — https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc • Atmosphere: TV for Your Business — https://bit.ly/3Mbc2TZ

Ari Weinzweig, founder of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses (@zingermanscommunity), used visioning and tried-and-true beliefs to grow the Zingerman’s brand in big, but thoughtful, ways. Listen now to learn about opening Zingerman’s Delicatessen, the process of creating a vision for your business, and humbleness being vital to a company’s ecosystem. Sponsored by: • Toast: All-In-1 Restaurant POS — https://bit.ly/3vpeVsc • Atmosphere: TV for Your Business — https://bit.ly/3Mbc2TZ