seminars + demonstrations
Attendees of the Mid-America Restaurant Expo have full access to our dynamic exhibit hall, where more than 350 booths and displays will be showcasing their equipment and sharing their edibles. But for no extra charge, they also have full access to an incredible lineup of 50+ educational and business-building seminars. Expo programming will focus on the innovation, technology and trends transforming the food service industry.
Questions? Please contact Shoshanna Gross at sgross@ohiorestaurant.org or call (877) 265-7469.
Sunday, February 23, 2020
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8:00 a.m. |
Attendee Registration Opens |
Hall B |
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8:30 a.m. |
The Expo Café Network with your peers over coffee prior to the show |
Outside Exhibit Hall B |
|
9:00 a.m. |
Pizza Pizzazz Competition |
Competition Area |
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10:00 a.m. |
Show Floor Opens |
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10:15 a.m. |
Breaking Barriers: discussing the benefits of second chance training program Moderated by Yolanda Harris (10TV), Panelists: Brandon Chrostowski, Anthony Berin, and Paula Haines |
Tech & Trends Stage |
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10:15 a.m. |
Featured Speaker: Bathrooms, Butts, and Bottom Lines Claire Coder (Founder & CEO, Aunt Flow) |
Innovation Stage |
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10:15 a.m. |
Chef Shaun O'Neale Season 7 Winner, Master Chef |
Demo Stage |
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10:15 a.m. |
Columbus Fire Prevention: Mobile Food Vendor Code Inspector Kent Wareham, Columbus Fire Department |
Food Truck Park |
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10:30 a.m. |
ORA 101 - Learn the full value of an Ohio Restaurant Association Membership |
ORA Shareables Stage |
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11:30 a.m. |
Featured Speaker: Sam Quinones Author, Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic |
Innovation Stage |
|
12:30 p.m. |
Featured Speaker: The Age of Automation Tom Grote, Chief Visionary Officer, Edge Innovation Hub |
Tech & Trends Stage |
|
12:30 p.m. |
Chef Christian Gill - Sysco Sunday Kickoff Executive Chef, Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey Bar |
Demo Stage |
|
12:30 p.m. |
Cocktail Demo: Riff on a Classic Jesse Hubbard, Westin Hotels |
The Craft Stage |
|
12:30 p.m. |
ORA Shareables: ServSafe Products Renee Hoggay, National Restaurant Association |
ORA Shareables Stage |
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12:45 p.m. |
Knowing When to Grow: From Pop-up to Brick & Mortar and Beyond Panel Discussion with Chef Bac Nguyen (Ninja City Kitchen & Bar), Wendy and Letha Pugh (Bake Me Happy), and Prakash Karamchandani (Balance Pan-Asian Grill). Moderated by Roy Getz (Profit Guides, LLC) |
Innovation Stage |
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12:45 p.m. |
Mobile Food Technologies Nik Gandhy, Street Food Finder |
Food Truck Park |
|
1:30 p.m. |
Cocktail Demo: Integrate Your Bar & Kitchen Allison Kave, (Co-founder, Butter & Scotch Bar & Bakery) |
The Craft Stage |
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1:30 p.m. |
ORA Industry Insights: CDI Tech Duane Owens, CDI Tech |
ORA Shareables Stage |
|
2:00 p.m. |
Beyond Paper Straws: Building Sustainability into your Business Panel Discussion with Ellery Note (Wendy's), Jim D'Wolf (Sysco), and Luar Romero (Jackie O's Brewing). Moderated by Kyle O'Keeffe (Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio) |
Tech & Trends Stage |
| 2:00 p.m. |
Featured Speaker: Martha Hoover President, Patachou, Inc. |
Innovation Stage |
|
2:00 p.m. |
Chef Hideki Harada & Chef Stephen Kovacic Sysco Sunday demonstrations highlight the range of Cincinnati's food scene |
Demo Stage |
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2:00 p.m. |
Operator's Forum 101 - Getting Started and the Basics Andy Parker (The Sinwich), Andrew Thompson (Seven Little Sliders) |
Food Truck Park |
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2:30 p.m. |
Cocktail Demo: Simple Tips to Upgrade Your Bar Program Christina Basham, Owner, Bubbles & Agave |
The Craft Stage |
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2:30 p.m. |
ORA Shareables: Are You Running Your Business or is Your Business Running You? Roy Getz, Profit Guides, LLC
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ORA Shareables Stage |
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3:30 p.m. |
Featured Speaker: Q&A with John Lanni Co-founder & Owner, Thunderdome Restaurant Group |
Tech & Trends Stage |
|
3:30 p.m. |
Featured Speaker: Melissa Briggs - Phillips Founder & Owner, Next Generation Behavioral Health |
Innovation Stage |
|
3:30 p.m. |
Cooking Demo: Mapi Devyra Sysco Sunday demonstrations highlight the range of Cincinnati's food scene |
Demo Stage |
|
3:30 p.m. |
Build a Better Truck! The Do's and Don'ts of Food Truck Construction Mike Gallichio, Titan Trucks |
Food Truck Park |
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3:30 p.m. |
Cocktail Demo: Freshen Up: Using Fresh Juices & House-made Mixers Jesse Hubbard, Westin Hotels
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The Craft Stage |
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3:30 p.m. |
ORA Industry Insights: Navigating the Wild West of CBD |
ORA Shareables Stage |
Monday, February 24, 2020
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8:00 a.m. |
Attendee Registration Opens |
Hall B |
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8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
CONNECT at the Expo Networking Breakfast featuring Industry Influencers |
Hilton - Lamp Bar |
|
9:00 a.m. |
Burger Battle Competition Pre-Registration Required |
Competition Area |
|
10:00 a.m. |
Show Floor Opens |
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|
10:15 a.m. |
Featured Speaker: Making the Brand Matt Fish, Founder and President, Melt Bar & Grilled |
Innovation Stage |
|
10:15 a.m. |
Chef Bac Nguyen Ninja City Kitchen & Bar, Cleveland |
Demo Stage |
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10:15 a.m. |
Featured Speaker: Developing Effective Social Media Strategies: Engagement + Ads Leah Eaton, Sr. Account Manager, Belle Communication |
Tech & Trends Stage |
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10:15 a.m. |
Operator's Forum 102: Keep Your Business Rolling Enrico Margaroli (A Cut Above), Jim Pashovich (Pitabilities), Shelby Long (The Tasty Good), Damian Ettish (Fetty's), Scott Crite (Squeaky's Cheese Curds) |
Food Truck Park |
|
10:30 a.m. |
ORA Industry Insights -Dorsey & Company Marketing Julius Dorsey |
ORA Shareables Stage |
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11:30 a.m. |
Building Delivery into Your Business Model Panel Discussion with Bill Everett (Rusty Bucket), Rakesh Patel (NCR), and Geoff Madding (NextBite Brands). Moderated by Michael LaMarca (Master Pizza Franchises) |
Technology & Trends Stage |
|
11:30 a.m. |
Chef Monique Costello |
Demo Stage |
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11:30 a.m. |
From Talk to Action: On Men with Women Panel Discussion moderated by Rohini Dey (Vermillion) with Anthony Joseph (White Castle), Ryan Coslett (Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment) and Allison Kave (Butter & Scotch). |
Innovation Stage |
|
11:30 a.m. |
ORA 101 - Learn the full value of an Ohio Restaurant Association Membership
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ORA Shareables Stage |
|
11:30 a.m. |
The Changing Landscape of State Fire Code & Mobile Food Bureau Chief Alan Smith, Ohio Department of Commerce |
Food Truck Park |
|
12:00 p.m. |
Cocktail Demo: Riff on a Classic Briana Anello & Nick Bohardt, Wheat Penny Restaurant |
The Craft Stage |
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12:30 p.m. |
ORA Industry Insights: CDI Tech
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Shareables Stage |
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12:45 p.m. |
What's Trending in 2020? Allison Grace, Manager Research & Insights (Technomic) |
Technology & Trends Stage |
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12:45 p.m. |
Leading the Way: Accelerate Women's Advancement & Reap the Rewards of Gender Diversity Panel Discussion moderated by Libby Saylor Wright (Women's Foodservice Forum), Jane Grote-Abell (Donatos), Lisa Ingram (White Castle), Abigail Pringle (Wendy's) and Britney Ruby Miller (Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment) |
Innovation Stage |
|
12:45 p.m. |
Mario Rizzotti, The Italian Culinary Expert
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Demo Stage |
| 12:45 p.m. |
The Importance of Intellectual Property and Food Truck Businesses Nick Gingo, Renner Otto |
Food Truck Park |
|
1:00 p.m. |
Cocktail Demo: Batched & Barrel Aged Cocktails Christina Basham, Bubbles & Agave |
The Craft Stage |
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1:00 p.m. (Registration at 12:30 p.m.) |
Foodservice Safety Training Human Resources: The Foundation of Safety in the Workplace Laura Morrison, Ohio Restaurant Association & Guests |
B131 |
|
1:30 p.m. |
ORA Industry Insights: Ben's Friends |
Shareables Stage |
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2:00 p.m. |
Featured Speaker: The Tipping Point of Inventory Control Charlie Diebel, BevinCo |
Technology & Trends Stage |
|
2:00 p.m. |
Featured Speaker: Pushed Out or Copped Out - Empowering Women to the Vanquish Gaps Rohini Dey, Vermilion |
Innovation Stage |
|
2:00 p.m. |
Chef Liz Faller Sysco, Cincinnati |
Demo Stage |
| 2:00 p.m. |
Cocktail Demo |
The Craft Stage |
| 2:00 p.m. |
FIY (Fix it Yourself)! Simple, Preventative Maintenance to Keep Your Business on the Road Josh Bishop, Maxi Mobile |
Food Truck Park |
| 2:30 p.m. |
ORA Industry Insights: CareWorks Comp |
Shareables Stage |
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4:00 p.m. |
Show Floor Closes |
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