Built to Breakthrough Playbook: How to go from stuck to scale

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To help founders overcome the "Stuck Zone" where business complexity stalls momentum, this playbook introduces the Power of One System and its Six Factors of…

Turn up the volume: how to use storytelling to build an unstoppable company culture

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Effective storytelling transforms abstract company values into a memorable, emotionally resonant culture by humanizing leadership and providing a narrative…

'Don't go viral without this system:' Keynote to reveal growth framework at Restaurant Marketing Workshop

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

The 2026 agenda is designed to cover every touchpoint of the modern guest journey. If a topic impacts your brand's bottom line, it is on the schedule.

How to build a thriving company culture that inspires and engages

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

A strong, intentional company culture drives success by boosting productivity, attracting top talent and fostering an environment where employees feel valued…

How to knock down blocks, power up your pivot points

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

To break through the "Founder’s pivot point," leaders must transition from micromanagement to scalability by documenting standards, delegating outcomes…

Measuring the impact of culture change in the workplace

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

To successfully transform company culture, organizations must move beyond mission statements by tracking specific metrics — such as engagement, turnover and…

Slowing the revolving door: tackling turnover in America’s pizzerias

by John Dorer — CEO, eb3.work

If there's one corner of the restaurant industry that knows churn, it's pizzerias.

How to empower employees through autonomy, ownership

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Effective leadership requires balancing autonomy with support to transform organizational culture, drive innovation and boost performance by empowering…

Four decades in pizza: Lessons in consistency, community and smart growth

by Shahpour Nejad — Founder/PRESIDENT/CEO, Pizza Guys Franchises Inc.

By prioritizing product integrity, franchisee support, and community trust over short-term trends, Pizza Guys has achieved 40 years of sustainable growth and…

Speaker Spotlight: Chris Noffze, director of direct franchising and operations, Gong cha

by Bradley Cooper — Editor, Connect Media

In today's Speaker Spotlight, we are highlighting Chris Noffze, director of direct franchising and operations at Gong cha Americas, who will be sharing…

Got marketing chops? Prove it: The 2nd Annual Top 30 Movers & Shakers Nominations are live

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Calling all restaurant marketing visionaries!

Building unity through community

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

By fostering shared experiences and intentional connections, the restaurant industry serves as a vital "community connector" that accelerates growth for…

Speaker Spotlight: Liz Williams, CEO, El Pollo Loco

Liz Williams, CEO of El Pollo Loco, shares a look at her career, her achievements and industry trends ahead of her appearance at the Restaurant Franchising …

Pizza’s competitive reset: Why demand isn’t dying, it’s evolving

by Bill Mitchell — CEO, HungerRush

While pizza is no longer the "default" delivery choice, brands can still drive growth by pivoting from broad discounts to a disciplined, tech-enabled focus on…

Reigniting passion in your team: a blueprint for peak performance

by Jim Knight — Founder & CEO, Knight Speaker

Cultivating employee passion through purpose, recognition and autonomy is the key to driving superior business performance, innovation and long-term retention…

Pizza vs. Chicken: The ultimate industry 'vibe check' at RFIS

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Executives in the pizza and chicken restaurant fields will answer questions about feedback in a 'Family Feud'-style game at the Restaurant Franchising and…

2026 State of the Industry: 10 trends redefining the restaurant landscape

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

The 2026 restaurant landscape is more data-rich than ever, but it remains a people-first business. By leveraging technology to remove friction, operators can…

Successful and struggling: The Founder paradox no one talks about

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

We explore the "founder's paradox" of being both successful and isolated, ultimately arguing that connecting with a community of peers is the essential…

The Super Bowl of restaurant operations: Why game day is every day for pizza chains

by Christian Wiens — Co-Founder & CEO, Loman AI

Super Bowl Sunday serves as a high-stakes stress test that reveals whether a restaurant has built the scalable, automated systems necessary to turn extreme…

Bridging the restaurant coaching gap: LEAD announces leadership events in KC, Dallas

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

As the publisher of FastCasual.com and a proud Kansas Citian, I've always said that some of the best leadership in the restaurant industry is bred right here…