Leading Experts in Experts in the Leisure & Lodging Council

Jim McCloskey was until August 2005, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, a casual dining restaurant. Mr. McCloskey had oversight for all aspects of real estate, finance, human relations, franchise sales, corporate relationships, and technology development...

Thomas Mueller was President & Chief Operating Officer with Wendy's International until September 2005. Mr. Mueller had complete oversight for operations at more than 6,700 restaurants worldwide with annual sales in excess of $3.8B. Prior to his 2000 appointment to President & COO, he served as SVP,...

Mahendra Nath is Chief Executive Officer of Nath Companies, a Minneapolis-based firm specializing in real estate, restaurants, casual dining, and hotels where he has worked since January 1985. Nath Companies owns one Burger King Restaurant, 7 Denny's restaurants, and 9 Axel's Bonfire restaurants. Mr....

Laura Olguin is the Chief Executive Officer and Owner of CRT Partners, a Jack in the Box franchisee with 28 units in Southern Arizona. Ms. Olguin was Director of International Operations for Jack in the Box, directly reporting to the CEO. She served at Taco Bell (then a part of PepsiCo) and worked there...

Timothy O'Neil-Dunne is a Managing Partner at T2Impact Ltd. Mr. O'Neil-Dunne has over 30 years of experience in the travel and distribution technology industry. His expertise is broadly in all areas of the travel distribution and supply chain. Mr. O'Neil-Dunne is uniquely able to approach the market...

Anthony Paduano was the President of Lorraine Enterprises L.C., and owned 5 IHOP franchises in the greater Houston area. He was an IHOP franchisee for approximately 15 years and has been in the restaurant industry for 17 years, owning 20 Wendy's franchises prior to transitioning to the IHOP franchi...

Peyton Parker is a Gaming Researcher and Consultant at Gaming Research Services where he is working since November 2000. Mr. Parker conducts research which covers slot and table game equipment and it suppliers. He has over 20 years of experience in slot operations and has worked for various gaming manufacturers...

Eric Paul was most recently an Owner and Operator of 11 Ruby Tuesday franchise units. He has worked with Ruby Tuesday for more than 28 years. He began as a General Manager in Nashville and moved throughout the Southeast as an Opening Manager for Ruby Tuesday's corporate office. Mr. Paul also served...

Harvey Perkins serves as Senior Vice President at Spectrum Gaming Group, a full service international gaming consultancy firm with offices in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Bangkok, and Hong Kong, where he has worked since January 2004. Spectrum is fluent on domestic gaming matters as well as Asian gaming....

Michael Pollock is the Managing Director of Spectrum Gaming Group, an international gaming consultancy. He has expertise in many areas of gaming, including Atlantic City. Mr. Pollock is also the Founder and Editor of Gaming Industry Observer, an award-winning publication that tracks and analyzes financial,...

Glenn Postell is the Principal Operating Officer of Bear Group Inc., which is a developer of Bojangle's restaurants in the Eastern Tennessee area. Previously, Mr. Postell was the Director of Operations and minority Owner at Geneva Enterprises, a Hardee's franchisee, where he worked until September 2007....

Brian Price is the President of Purpose Consulting and Land Development, a consulting firm specializing in the restaurant and retail industry, with clients including franchisees of Applebee's, Famous Dave's, Del Taco, and Ruby's Diner's. Mr. Price has 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry....

Bobby Reynolds is currently the Owner of seven Red Robin restaurants in Texas. He has been a franchisee since 1999 and is currently serving as President of the Red Robin Franchise Business Committee. Mr. Reynolds plans to continue developing the concept. He is also the owner of a commercial real estate...

Jeffrey Ritson is an Executive Vice President of the Bistro Group, the second largest TGI Friday’s in North America totaling 31 restaurants in four states. The Bistro Group also owns and operates 5 McAllisters deli concepts. Mr. Ritson has over 21 years of experience in the casual restaurant industry,...

Richard Ruby is currently the Owner and Operator of Cedar Corporation, dba McDonald’s, operating 11 locations in Los Angeles County, California. He has been the Owner and Operator of restaurants since 1982. Mr. Ruby has experience in every aspect of the restaurant business and is actively involved in...

Jerry Ruta is the Owner, President and CEO of RT Minneapolis Franchise, Ruby Tuesday, operating 12 franchised restaurants, since 1998. His company employs 900 team members and generates annual sales of $29m. Mr. Ruta is responsible for the overall management of these restaurants. He has more than 29...

Jeffrey Segal is the Vice President of Culinary Research & Concept Development, VP of Operations at Riese Restaurants, where he has worked since 2000. Riese Restaurants are a multi-concept franchisee with over 150 units, located in the New York Metro area. Riese Restaurants is a franchisee of T.G.I...

William Sherlock was until recently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, a casino hotel. Mr. Sherlock has been a Board Manager at Foxwoods Development Company. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of Foxwoods Resort and Casino until January 2007. Foxwoods...

Joe Simone is the Owner/Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Food Group, operator of 16 Popeye's restaurants in Virginia since 1998. He has more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry. He was the Chairman of Washington Cancer Institute Board and Founder of the International...

Jared Smith is the Chief Executive Officer and one of the founding employees of TripLife, a social networking tool for frequent travelers, where he has worked since 2007. Previously, Mr. Smith was the President of iCruise, a leading online seller of cruise vacation travel and a provider of travel booking...