• Overcoming Adversity and Finding Purpose: A Conversation with Keith Sampson
    Oct 28 2024

    In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, co-host Jeremy interviews serial entrepreneur Keith Sampson, who shares his journey through the payments and fintech industry influenced by personal challenges such as his father's battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. Keith discusses his 'grow through it' mindset and passion for helping others achieve their potential, highlighting five key characteristics for growth: continuous learning, gratitude, resilience, humility, and confidence. The conversation delves into overcoming imposter syndrome, the importance of finding one’s ‘why,’ and the power of positive influences and consistency. With a special focus on embracing vulnerability and finding meaning beyond financial success, Keith reflects on impactful moments, including hosting a virtual sales conference during the COVID-19 pandemic. The episode concludes with insights on maintaining low expectations and Arthur Brooks' pillars of happiness: family, friends, faith, and meaningful work. Keith encourages listeners to contribute positively, find their medium of expression, and connect with him on LinkedIn, Instagram, and his website.

    00:00 Introduction and Guest Background
    00:39 Keith's Professional Journey
    02:19 Personal Growth and Resilience
    13:17 The Power of Influence and Legacy
    17:42 Weekly Video Journey and Future Goals
    18:14 The Origin of Consistent Content Creation
    19:05 Overcoming the Fear of Sharing
    22:02 The Journey to Public Speaking
    27:45 Virtual Events and Their Impact
    29:19 Encouragement to Share Your Unique Gifts
    34:13 Connecting with Keith Sampson

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    36 mins
  • Boosting Corporate Dining: Insights from Laura Wilbur of Dinova
    Oct 21 2024

    In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, host Jeremy Julian sits down with Laura Wilbur from Dinova to discuss strategies for attracting higher-spending corporate guests to restaurants. They delve into the benefits for both corporate diners and restaurant operators, including increased guest frequency, higher average check sizes, and loyal business relationships. Laura shares her professional insights on how Dinova helps bridge the gap between Fortune 1000 companies and high-quality dining establishments through tailored corporate dining programs. Key topics include restaurant vetting, managing guest experiences, and the specifics of business dining trends in today's economic climate.

    00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
    00:12 Meet Laura Wilbur from Dinova
    00:19 The Importance of Corporate Guests
    01:16 Laura's Background and Expertise
    02:23 Understanding Expense Account Diners
    03:44 How Dinova Connects Restaurants and Corporations
    05:50 Navigating the Dinova App
    07:31 Benefits for Diners and Corporations
    11:13 Advantages for Restaurants
    15:12 Ensuring Quality Experiences
    19:58 Balancing Family and Business
    20:26 Dining Out with Family vs. Business
    21:24 The Importance of Customer Relationships
    23:11 Challenges in the Restaurant Industry
    26:54 Corporate Dining Best Practices
    33:01 Engaging with Dinova
    35:42 Conclusion and Contact Information

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    37 mins
  • Mastering Restaurant Marketing with Rev Ciancio
    Oct 14 2024

    In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, Jeremy Julian talks with Rev Ciancio, a hospitality marketing consultant and CMO at Salad House and Handcraft Burgers Brew. They discuss effective restaurant marketing strategies, focusing on the importance of local search optimization, email marketing, and guest feedback. Rev shares insights on why social media isn't a primary driver for customer acquisition and emphasizes the value of CRM growth through regular, targeted email newsletters. They also delve into the significance of guest sentiment and how to incentivize repeat visits for improved customer lifetime value. The episode offers practical tips and real-life examples for restaurant operators looking to enhance their marketing efforts.

    00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
    00:48 Meet Rev Ciancio: The Marketing Wizard
    02:45 Rev's Journey from Music to Hospitality
    08:24 The Importance of Local Search for Restaurants
    08:57 Common Mistakes in Restaurant Marketing
    17:52 The Golden Metric: CRM Growth
    18:15 The Power of Weekly Newsletters
    19:45 Email vs. Social Media: The Debate
    22:09 Overcoming Content Creation Challenges
    25:45 Essential Tech for Restaurant Marketing
    29:08 Guest Feedback: The Key to Success
    34:15 Engaging with Rev Ciancio

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    36 mins
  • Revolutionizing Restaurant Tech with Santi Cuellar: Network Insights and Innovations
    Oct 7 2024

    In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Podcast, host welcomes Santi Cuellar, Senior Manager of Product Marketing for Fusion Connect and co-host of the Tech Unmuted podcast. Santi shares insights into the evolving role of technology in the restaurant and retail sectors, particularly focusing on network infrastructure and its criticality. The discussion covers the shift in network needs driven by the pandemic, the importance of robust and secure Wi-Fi networks, and the significance of omni-channel customer experiences. Santi emphasizes the necessity for restaurants to innovate not just for customer satisfaction but also for staff efficiency. He also provides a deep dive into network elements like routers, switches, and Quality of Service (QoS), explaining their impacts on operations. The episode underscores the importance of partnering with experienced technology firms to ensure seamless, secure, and efficient operations in today's digital age.

    00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
    00:47 Fusion Connect and Restaurant Tech Synergies
    01:26 Importance of Network in Restaurant Operations
    03:50 Understanding Network Components
    09:25 Omni-Channel Customer Experience
    15:57 Staff Expectations and Technology
    23:05 The Importance of Separate WiFi Networks
    24:43 Guest WiFi Splash Page Benefits
    27:29 Security Concerns with WiFi Networks
    31:40 Best Practices for Network Security
    37:03 Engaging with Network Security Providers
    42:07 Connecting with Fusion Connect

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    45 mins
  • Navigating the Future of Restaurant Technology: A Chat with NRN's Senior Tech reporter Joanna Fantozzi
    Sep 30 2024

    Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Restaurant Technology with Joanna Fantozzi

    In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, we are joined by Joanna Fantozzi, a senior editor at Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. Joanna shares her journey in the restaurant tech space, discussing her role in covering tech, legislation, and specific companies within the industry. The conversation delves into the current state of restaurant technology, emphasizing the importance of mastering basic tech functionalities, such as digital ordering and payment solutions, before embracing advanced technologies like AI and robotics. Joanna also highlights the critical role of loyalty programs, data analytics, and personalized guest experiences in today's market. The episode concludes with insights into upcoming industry events and ways to stay informed about the latest trends in restaurant technology.

    00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
    00:33 Joanna's Background and Career Journey
    01:22 Passion for Restaurants and Hospitality
    02:57 State of Restaurant Technology
    04:13 Challenges and Basics of Restaurant Tech
    05:53 Importance of Seamless Customer Experience
    17:59 Loyalty Programs and Customer Data
    27:24 Future of Restaurant Technology
    32:40 Events and Staying Connected
    35:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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    37 mins
  • Revolutionizing Restaurant Finances with Starfish AI: Insights from Jordan Silverman
    Sep 23 2024

    Revolutionizing Restaurant Finances with Starfish AI: Insights from Jordan Silverman

    In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, host Jeremy sits down with Jordan Silverman, co-founder and CEO of Starfish, a company dedicated to helping small businesses understand and manage their finances using AI. Jordan shares his journey, from early entrepreneurial endeavors to his passion for assisting small businesses in democratizing access to data and tools. The conversation delves into how Starfish leverages AI to analyze P&L data, identify cost-saving opportunities, and provide actionable insights to improve profitability. They discuss the challenges of the restaurant industry, the importance of understanding financial metrics, and the future potential of AI in streamlining back-of-house operations. Tune in to get inspired by Jordan's mission to enhance the financial health of small businesses in the hospitality sector.

    00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
    00:23 Jordan Silverman: Background and Passion
    01:32 Challenges of Entrepreneurship
    01:54 Helping Small Businesses with AI
    03:15 The Importance of Financial Understanding
    04:22 Sponsor Message
    04:59 Starfish: The Solution for Cost Management
    07:05 The Value of Actionable Data
    11:56 Real-World Impact of Starfish
    17:03 The True Cost of Small Business Ownership
    18:10 Leveraging AI for Business Efficiency
    19:07 AI in Action: Practical Applications
    21:47 Challenges and Solutions in the Restaurant Industry
    24:03 Normalizing Data Across Different Restaurant Models
    33:05 The Future of AI in Restaurant Management
    35:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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    37 mins
  • Family Bonds and Italian Beef: Inside Pops Italian Beef with Casey
    Sep 16 2024

    The Journey of Pops Italian Beef: From Family Tradition to Franchise Expansion

    In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, the host welcomes Kacie, a lifelong restaurant industry veteran and the daughter of the founder of Pops Italian Beef. Kacie shares her personal background, the history of Pops Italian Beef, and its transition from a family-owned business to a franchised brand with 16 locations. She discusses the unique challenges and successes of maintaining consistent quality and community connection while expanding. The episode also delves into the operational dynamics of Pops Italian Beef, the importance of family involvement, and the future growth plans for the restaurant. Kacie emphasizes the importance of community support, employee-family relationships, and preserving the integrity of their culinary traditions.

    00:00 Introduction and Welcome
    00:13 Meet Kacie: A Life in Restaurants
    01:05 The Story of Pops Italian Beef
    03:41 The Fast Casual Concept
    10:13 Challenges and Growth
    12:57 Community and Family Values
    16:47 Franchising and Expansion
    24:15 Personal Touch: Family Orders
    26:28 How to Get Involved with Pops
    28:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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    29 mins
  • Reimagining Restaurant Delivery: Insights from Meredith Sandland
    Sep 9 2024

    In this episode of the Restaurant Technology Guys podcast, the hosts welcome back Meredith Sandland, CEO of Empower Delivery. Meredith offers insights into the evolution of restaurant technology and the importance of efficient delivery systems. She discusses how her company, Empower Delivery, spun out from ClusterTruck, aims to streamline the delivery process for restaurants by offering an end-to-end order fulfillment system. The conversation delves into the challenges of third-party delivery services, the importance of first-party delivery to control guest experiences, and the concept of using gig workers as in-house delivery drivers. Meredith also shares her perspectives on the current state of delivery services and how restaurants can adapt to changing consumer behaviors and rising costs.

    00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
    00:26 Meeting Through the Book
    01:30 Empower Delivery and ClusterTruck
    04:52 First Party vs Third Party Delivery
    06:47 Challenges and Solutions in Delivery
    11:48 Current State of Delivery
    18:34 Reflecting on Purposeful Actions
    18:55 Three Types of Restaurants and Delivery Strategies
    22:11 Challenges and Solutions in Delivery
    25:05 The Role of Technology in Delivery Management
    29:32 Consulting and Onboarding for Restaurants
    33:57 Getting in Touch and Final Thoughts

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    36 mins