In our 2023 Restaurant Operations Report, respondents shared that stores are insufficiently staffed—either understaffed or overstaffed—for 38% of shifts in any given week. With the added challenges of complicated labor laws and minimum wage hikes, it’s no wonder that more than half indicated they plan to invest in labor scheduling technology in the coming year.
At the Restaurant Leadership Conference, April 14 - 17, 2024, in Phoenix, Ariz., we're hosting an Innovation Forum where three Crunchtime customers will share how they navigate these challenges and put themselves in a position to grow and succeed in today's complex labor environment. Our prestigious panel of operations leaders will share the best practices their organizations are using right now to manage minor laws, fair workweek laws, and overtime and penalty pay, all while optimizing schedules in order to compensate for rising labor costs and continued staffing shortages.
The Innovation Forum will be moderated by James Byrne, Enterprise Director for Crunchtime, and will take place at 11:30 a.m . on Tuesday, April 16th, in Grand Sonoran B.
Meet the Panelists
Beth Brewer
Executive Vice President
Burgerville (40 fast-casual locations in the Pacific Northwest)
Beth Brewer is currently the Executive Vice President of Burgerville, a Pacific Northwest icon famous for its local ingredients in their burgers, fries, and shakes. As the EVP, Beth works closely with all stakeholders in the company to ensure all available IT/Ops systems are integrated. As a career innovator, she takes care to ensure that implemented technology solutions empower employees to serve delicious food accurately and conveniently to the guests.
Josh Kern
Chief Executive Officer
SPB Hospitality (Logan’s Roadhouse, Old Chicago, Krystal, J. Alexander’s + 10 other brands with 500+ locations)
Josh Kern is an accomplished executive leader with over 20 years of experience in business leadership and operational management, specializing in the restaurant industry. Currently serving as the CEO of SPB Hospitality, he has demonstrated expertise in driving revenue growth through innovative sales, operations, and marketing strategies. Known for exceptional skills in strategic planning, tactical business execution, and brand development, Josh has a proven ability to inspire and lead high-performance teams, navigate complex organizational transformations, and foster a culture of agility and innovation. He has worked for such restaurant brands as Quiznos, Smashburger, American Blue Ribbon Holdings, and Outback Steakhouse.
Ross Groeneweg
Chief People & Strategy Officer
Pizza Ranch (220-location casual/family buffet dining chain in the Midwest)
Ross Groeneweg works for the people of Pizza Ranch as the Chief People & Strategy Officer. In this role, Ross enjoys working in a variety of areas but most predominantly in human resources and operations. Before beginning this role for the Pizza Ranch Restaurant Support Center two years ago, he directly managed several Pizza Ranches in various states. Ross is also proud to be a franchisee with Pizza Ranch, which has ownership in multiple locations.
Join us at RLC!
If you are attending the Restaurant Leadership Conference, please join us for this dynamic panel discussion and visit us in booth 222.