After a successful IPO, the distinguished CEO introduces the Restaurant Finance Summit 2015: Strategies for Growth and Liquidity at the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show on May 18
The National Restaurant Association today announced Russ Bendel, chief executive officer of the Habit Burger Grill, will serve as the keynote speaker at the second annual Restaurant Finance Summit. The event takes place during the 2015 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show at Chicago’s McCormick Place on Monday, May 18.
The day-long conference connects top foodservice financial executives with Wall Street analysts, investment groups and lenders, and expert tax/accounting professionals to the financial health of the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industry. Bendel opens the event on Monday, May 18 at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the positive sales and expansion of the Habit Burger Grill, as well as the success of the brand’s IPO last year.
“With Mr. Bendel’s longstanding career in the restaurant industry, he brings a wealth of knowledge about the financial challenges and opportunities that restaurant business professionals face,” says John C. Metz, Convention Chair for NRA Show 2015 and CEO, executive chef, and co-founder of Marlow’s Tavern, Aqua Blue, and Sterling Spoon Culinary Management. “We feel that attendees of the 2015 Restaurant Finance Summit will benefit immensely from hearing about his experiences,passions and perspectives.”
The theme of the 2015 Restaurant Finance Summit is “Strategies for Growth and Liquidity.” In addition to Bendel’s keynote, the Summit will include presentations and panel discussions on topics related to current and projected market conditions, evaluating options and preparing for growth and/or liquidity, a deep-dive into private equity and stories of success and lessons learned from operators who have been through it. The complete list of speakers and session topics can be found here.
Before his work with the Habit Burger Grill, Bendel served as president and chief operating officer for The Cheesecake Factory, president and CEO of Mimi’s Café, president of Roy’s Restaurants, and more. Bendel’s accolades include: the Elizabeth Burns Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, UCLA’s Creative Partnership Award winner in 2005, and Orange County’s 2004 Restaurateur of the Year. He is also on the board of advisors for the Collins School of Hospitality Management at California State Polytechnic University where he currently serves as its chairman. In addition, he is director emeritus for the California Restaurant Association and served as its chairman from 2009-2010.
Registration for the Restaurant Finance Summit is $299 for operators and includes full access to all four days of NRA Show exhibit floor and programming, May 16-19, 2015. Participation in the Restaurant Finance Summit is limited, and certain qualifications apply. See here for details.
The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest annual gathering of restaurant, foodservice, and lodging professionals in the world. NRA Show 2015 will be held May 16-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago, and the 2015 BAR (Beverage Alcohol for Restaurants, formerly the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event), held in conjunction with NRA Show, will take place May 17-18. The events attract 65,000+ attendees and visitors from all 50 states and 100+ countries, and showcase the latest products, services, innovative ideas, up-to-the-minute information about trends and issues, and growth opportunities. For more information, visit the NRA Show and BAR websites at Restaurant.org/Show and Restaurant.org/BAR, and find the NRA Show on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, Instagram @NRAShow, YouTube, Flickr, and our year-round content hub Brainfeed.
