AGENDA

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping industries, but for many leaders and consultants it can feel overwhelming, overly technical, or disconnected from real business impact. In opening keynote, Dan Chuparkoff will take you up to the 10,000‑foot level to clearly explain what AI is, why it matters now, and how to think about it strategically—without getting lost in jargon or code.

Designed for FCSI members, this talk will focus on understanding AI’s role in today’s technology landscape, the opportunities it can create for you, and the questions you should be asking yourself as AI adoption accelerates.  You will walk away with a practical framework for talking about AI for your own firm as well as with clients and stakeholders, identifying where it delivers real value, and separating hype from reality.

Whether you are new to AI or looking for a clearer way to communicate its impact, this session provides the clarity, context, and confidence needed to navigate AI conversations at a strategic level.

For decades, the culinary world has worn exhaustion like a badge of honor. Long hours, relentless pressure, and silent struggles have been normalized — even celebrated. But at what cost?

This dynamic breakout session brings together three foodservice consultants to challenge outdated norms and reimagine what a thriving kitchen culture truly looks like.

Challenging the “Badge of Honor” Culture
Chris Acquilino will confront the long-standing glorification of overwork in hospitality and argue that sustainable excellence — not burnout — is the real marker of professional mastery. Attendees will explore how dismantling the culture of silence around mental health can unlock stronger teams, better performance, and long-term success.

Engineering a Healthier Kitchen
Frank Müller will demonstrate how thoughtful design can dramatically improve daily working conditions for chefs by lowering sensory stress and reducing physical strain and fatigue. Frank will share practical, design-forward ideas that enhance both productivity and well-being.

Building Systems of Support
Amelia Shuja will challenge the myth that self-care alone can fix a toxic workplace and will outline how leadership must take active accountability by building structural support into operations. Amelia will discuss the importance of integrating well-being metrics into performance evaluations, offering benefits that genuinely promote health, and implementing predictable scheduling and mandatory recharge periods to protect long-term team sustainability.

Effective foodservice planning rarely happens in isolation. It requires close alignment between the design consultant, operator, and planning consultant from the earliest stages of the process. This session uses the Colorado State University Dining Master Planning Study as a real-world lens through which to examine what genuine collaboration looks like, how it is built, and why it matters to the final outcome. The speakers will walk through how the three teams worked together to align operational needs, planning strategy, and design intent. They will reflect honestly on key lessons learned and offer practical insights for consultants looking to strengthen collaboration and deliver more effective foodservice planning and design solutions. Central to the work was a comprehensive Dining Services Master Plan built to address evolving student preferences and accommodate anticipated growth. The plan established a capital investment timeline for key dining facilities, including the Central Production Kitchen, and outlined a physical redevelopment and design strategy for the future.

Running a foodservice consulting firm brings unique rewards—and unique pressures. This open FCSI discussion explores the issues that weigh most heavily on owners’ minds today, with a focus on peer-to-peer insight.

We will be discussing three critical areas on many owners’ minds:

1. Ownership Transition & Succession Planning – How to prepare your firm for leadership continuity, business valuation, and navigating ownership transfer.
2. Culture & Relationships – How to keep your “brand” and transfer the relationships that are the lifeblood of your business during succession planning.
3. Operational Risk (IT & Liability) & Professional Management – From contracts, insurance, professional liability exposure to cybersecurity and data protection, and the governance, leadership structures, and management practices that ensure accountability and informed decision-making, we’ll address the operational risks that can quietly threaten stability and reputation.

Designed specifically for owners and principals of foodservice consulting businesses, this session encourages open dialogue, shared experiences, and actionable takeaways. Attendees will leave with clearer frameworks for protecting what they’ve built—while positioning their firms for sustainable growth and long-term success.  Bring your own “what keeps you up at night” discussion points!

In addition to creating great work product, one of the most important but difficult challenges for firms is employee retention.  This session explores how the path to both great design and a solid organization is similar.  Join us as we dive into the thoughts and steps of design and the correlation with building a solid organization.

Join us for an interactive open forum focused on navigating changes in commercial kitchen refrigeration. This session, facilitated by Richard Young, invites both consultants and industry partners to share experiences, challenges, and solutions related to evolving refrigeration standards, equipment upgrades, energy efficiency requirements, and regulatory impacts. Through collaborative discussion, participants will gain practical insights on implementation strategies, cost considerations, and maintaining food safety while adapting to new technologies and guidelines. Come prepared to ask questions, exchange ideas, and leave with actionable takeaways to support your operation.

For our breakout Dan will discuss how artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape how foodservice operations are planned, designed, and optimized. In this deep‑dive session, Dan Chuparkoff brings AI down to a practical, strategic level for foodservice consultants and their firms, focusing on what AI means for the future of kitchen design.

Rather than diving into code or buzzwords, this session explores AI from a systems and decision‑making perspective: how data, automation, and intelligent tools are influencing space planning, workflow optimization, equipment selection, labor modeling, and long‑term operational flexibility. Attendees will gain clarity on where AI is already impacting foodservice design, where it is headed next, and how consultants can prepare their firms to stay relevant as technology expectations accelerate.

Designed specifically for foodservice consultants, this talk provides a framework for evaluating AI‑driven tools and concepts through a design lens—helping you ask better questions, identify real value versus hype, and communicate AI’s implications clearly to clients, operators, and project teams. You’ll leave with a stronger understanding of how AI will influence the kitchens you design in the future, and how your role as a consultant evolves alongside it.

Drawing from the stories and insights behind his book A Bottomless Cup, Kevin Boehm shares a candid, engaging look at the people, moments, and lessons that shape great restaurants—and meaningful careers. Through a series of personal stories from the hospitality world, Kevin explores what it really takes to build enduring culture, lead with intention, and create experiences that resonate far beyond the table.

This session goes beyond food and restaurants to focus on universal themes of leadership, resilience, creativity, and human connection. Attendees will gain perspective on how small moments, thoughtful decisions, and a people‑first mindset can have an outsized impact on teams, businesses, and guests alike.

Whether you work in foodservice, hospitality, or any people‑driven profession, this session offers inspiration, practical wisdom, and a reminder that the most important lessons in business often come from listening, caring, and continually refilling the cup—for yourself and for others.

As we present ourselves to our clients as foodservice consultants, it is worthwhile to step back and consider what it means to be a quality consultant. We must consider the behavioral and attitudinal components of consulting that lead to lasting impact and success. Honing our business skills, our marketing strategies, and our company visions is critical. Just as critical is the development and application of human skills needed to build trusting and long-term client and industry relationships. Join veteran consultant, Karen Malody for this master class in consulting.

In foodservice environments, design does more than organize a space — it directly influences how people feel, interact, and make decisions. From spatial layout and kitchen visibility to lighting, circulation paths, and the narrative of the concept, every design decision can evoke emotions, shape behavior, and strengthen the connection with a brand.

This session explores how architectural design and kitchen operational planning influence both the guest experience and the performance of the working team. Through real examples from restaurant and foodservice projects, the presentation will demonstrate how space can become a strategic tool to build brand identity, improve operational efficiency, and create memorable dining experiences.

Participants will gain practical insights on how to integrate architecture, operations, and user experience to design foodservice environments that not only function better, but also generate a positive emotional impact on the people who use them.

What happens when depression forces you to drop out of school?  Do you give up or do you fight?  In Ben’s case, he got together with his friends to create the worlds greatest bucket list, borrowed an old RV and set out to travel North America to accomplish the list. However, their pact was for every item checked off their list, they needed to help a stranger accomplish their dream.  From playing basketball with President Obama and having a beer with Prince Harry to reuniting a father and son after 17 years and surprising a young girl with a much-needed bionic arm, Ben’s message of radical possibility has inspired millions to unlock their true potential.

Ben will remind you that it’s never too late to start your list and leave your lasting impact on the world. Ben’s message will help you:

• Learn how to accomplish seemingly impossible goals (5 Steps to Make the Impossible Possible).
• Identify the #1 thing that holds you back from accomplishing your goals.
• Learn his method to unbury your dreams and keep them unburied.
• Develop a plan of action to drive you forward towards your goals.