Small Business Forum: The Food Service Industry

Description

Join fellow professionals in the Food Service Industry for an engaging Small Business Forum focused on the Food Service Industry. This collaborative discussion provides an opportunity to explore current trends, challenges, and opportunities impacting restaurants, catering businesses, food suppliers, and other food service operators.

Participants will hear a panel who will engage in meaningful conversations with industry peers, and share insights on topics affecting the growth and success of food service. The forum is designed to foster networking, encourage the exchange of ideas, and strengthen connections within the community. 

Whether you are an established business owner, an entrepreneur, or a professional supporting the food service industry, this forum offers valuable perspectives and opportunities to stay informed and engaged. 

Agenda: 

• Introductions: Bob Nelson 
• Elected Official Finance Items Updates: Various 
• Mesa Chamber Board Updates: TBD 
• Chamber Updates: Bob Nelson
•  August Topic: Food Service Industry: Small Business Forum
•  Group Updates- Group 
• Next Meeting Review: Bob
• Close

Forum Moderator: TBD

Panelists:

Dylan Roberts

• Jimmy G's Mac and Cheese

Lauren Deja

• Lauren Deja is a business growth strategist who loves helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into thriving companies. She began her career building businesses from the ground up—developing strategic partnerships at Powered Relationships and helping launch Ryan's Play from concept to beta as COO. That entrepreneurial foundation shaped her approach to sales: understand the business first, then find the right solution. Over the past seven years, she's helped hundreds of small and mid-sized businesses grow through SaaS, payroll, HR, AI-powered marketing, POS, and commerce technology. Her passion is helping you deliver your passions more efficiently.

Liz Giannone

• Liz Giannone is a marketing and growth leader with over 9 years of experience helping businesses attract customers, build lasting loyalty, and grow revenue. With experience spanning restaurants, technology, and local businesses, she brings a well-rounded understanding of the challenges restaurants face in today’s highly competitive market.

  Liz’s restaurant industry experience began at Zenreach, where she helped businesses strengthen customer retention through email marketing and targeted customer engagement. At DoorDash, she partnered with restaurants to grow delivery and pickup revenue while maximizing brand visibility across third-party platforms. At CloudKitchens, she worked directly with restaurant operators on expansion, menu development, brand positioning, and logo creation to strengthen their concepts and increase average order value.

  She has also brought her marketing expertise to Uber Eats on a freelance basis and worked directly with local businesses, including Turquoise Wine & Food Bar, where she planned and hosted an influencer marketing event to build local awareness and increase digital brand visibility.

  Today, Liz draws on her experience across restaurant technology, digital marketing, customer retention, brand development, and local marketing to help restaurant owners build practical strategies for attracting customers, and driving revenue.