2019 International Pizza Expo

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Sessions (72)

W01 So, You Want to Open a Pizzeria? Part I: Getting Your Dream Off the Ground ($250) (Room N109)

03 Mar 19
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Michael Shepherd
If you’re planning on opening a pizzeria, this workshop is a vital first step. Veteran pizzeria owner and consultant Michael Shepherd will sh... More...

W02 Restaurant Business Essentials, Part I: Critical Systems for Success ($250) (Room N101)

03 Mar 19
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Fred Langley
Great leaders are made by great systems. Proper systems force valuable communications among staff and ensure profitability. They enable a restauran... More...

W03 Pizzeria Marketing Essentials for 2019 & Beyond ($250) (Room N102)

03 Mar 19
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Clayton Krueger
Do you have a strategic marketing approach and thoughtful branding that fosters an emotional connection with your customers? Clayton Krueger leads ... More...

W04 Proven Ways to Increase Sales and Profits ($250) (Room N103)

03 Mar 19
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Mike Bausch
If you’re looking for more revenue and profit, you’ve come to the right place. Mike Bausch, founder of Andolini’s in Tulsa, Oklah... More...

W05 Employee Management Crash Course, Part I: Setting Up for Success – Hiring the Best ($250) (Room N110)

03 Mar 19
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Let’s face it: Labor is half the prime cost of your business and studies suggest that every new hire costs up to $4,000 to train to full ... More...

W06 So, You Want to Open a Pizzeria? Part II: Planning for Profitability ($250) (Room N109)

04 Mar 19
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Speaker(s): Michael Shepherd
Many pizzeria operators don’t take the time to build out financial projections and plan their profit potential. Veteran pizza operator and co... More...

W07 Restaurant Business Essentials, Part II: Quick-Start Guide to Controlling Your Food & Labor Costs ($250) (Room N101)

04 Mar 19
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Speaker(s): Fred Langley
Operating a restaurant has not changed much fundamentally over the years, but running a profitable restaurant has. In this second part of Restauran... More...

W08 Employee Management Crash Course, Part II: Keeping the Best – Building A High-Performance Team ($250) (Room N110)

04 Mar 19
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Let’s face it: Labor is half the prime cost of your business, and studies suggest that every new hire costs up to $4,000 to train to full... More...

W09 The Million-Dollar Pizzeria ($250) (Room N102)

04 Mar 19
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The pie-in-the-sky number for years has been that elusive $1,000,000 in sales. Is it easier or more difficult to reach today? What steps do you nee... More...

W10 All Things Dough: Learn from the Dough Doctor ($250) (Room N103)

04 Mar 19
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Speaker(s): Tom Lehmann
Don't miss this opportunity to participate in an expanded session with Tom Lehmann/The Dough Doctor. Bring your note pads and a sharp pencil to... More...

My Never-Ending Search for the Perfect Pizza (Room N113)

04 Mar 19
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Speaker(s): Peter Reinhart
Peter Reinhart shares highlights of his journey in search of pizza perfection, via his blog and television series, Pizza Quest. In addition to inte... More...

Menu Creativity (Room N111)

04 Mar 19
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Speaker(s): Mike Bausch
The sky is the limit with your menu offerings. Why hold back? Professional creative experimenter extraordinaire Mike Bausch will show you how to mo... More...

Proven Restaurant Systems (Room N113)

04 Mar 19
1:45 PM - 3:00 PM
Speaker(s): T.J. Schier
A restaurant company without systems in place is a nightmare waiting to happen. In order to achieve your full potential, you must have proper syste... More...

Where I See Pizzerias Fail (Room N111)

04 Mar 19
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Speaker(s): Scott Wiener
As America’s Pizza Customer — fanatic and tour operator Scott Wiener is in pizzerias daily. He sees the good, the bad and the ugly. Her... More...

Staying Current in Technology (Room N113)

04 Mar 19
3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Speaker(s): Clayton Krueger ; Jacque Farrell ; Mike Rutledge
Technology changes fast. Keep up or fall behind! In this session, veteran pizza company leader Jacque Farrell will walk attendees through the syste... More...

Panel Discussion: Achieving Longevity (Room N111)

04 Mar 19
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Giovanni Cesarano ; John Arena ; Scott Anthony ; Tony Troiano
In a cutthroat business where most fail within six months, what factors allow certain operators to stay open and financially viable for decades? Ve... More...

Taking on Investment Money (Room N113)

04 Mar 19
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Speaker(s): Doug Ferriman
Sometimes the key to growth resides in your ability to acquire capital from outside investors. Sometimes investors come looking for you, but their ... More...

Keynote 1 - Chris Bianco (Room N251)

05 Mar 19
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Speaker(s): Chris Bianco
When Chris Bianco started Pizzeria Bianco in the back corner of a Phoenix grocery store in 1988, he had no idea that he would become a driving forc... More...

W11 Making Pizzas with Tony Gemignani, Part I ($185) (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

05 Mar 19
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Speaker(s): Tony Gemignani
Nobody has more expertise and experience with a vast array of pizza styles than Tony Gemignani. In Part I of his workshop he’ll lay the found... More...

Getting Ready for the Fight — Training to be a Restaurant Owner (Room N103)

05 Mar 19
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Speaker(s): Pasquale Di Diana
Boxers train for matches … why wouldn’t you train to open your next pizzeria? If it were easy, anyone could do it. And restaurants wou... More...

Boot Camp Part I (Room N101)

05 Mar 19
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
No matter the style, if you don’t have a good crust for your pizza, you don’t have a quality, great-tasting pizza. Pizza Crust Boot Cam... More...

Breaking Up is Hard to Do — When it’s time to part ways with a manager or team member (Room N102)

05 Mar 19
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Pizza Expo has the session you’ve all been asking for!  This session will help you part ways with team members and managers who just are... More...

Building a Team of Top Performers (Room N113)

05 Mar 19
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Speaker(s): T.J. Schier
To succeed in this business, your employees need to execute at a high level. Since winners are made, and not born, it is up to you to consciously b... More...

Building Lifetime Loyalty with the Gluten Free Consumer (Room N109)

05 Mar 19
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Speaker(s): Vincent Rotolo
So, you have a great Gluten Free recipe, now what? In this seminar, Vincent will share his insight on how to train your teams to better understand ... More...

Ignore Your Customers (And They’ll Go Away) (Room N111)

05 Mar 19
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Speaker(s): Micah Solomon
Customer service consultant and restaurant mystery shopper Micah Solomon delivers the secrets of five-star customer service and building repeat cus... More...

Demo: Vegan Recipes (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

05 Mar 19
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Speaker(s): Scott Sandler
The growing vegan market comprises a prime opportunity for pizzeria operators to appeal to a new demographic. It’s easier than you think to c... More...

Demo: Menu Favorites (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

05 Mar 19
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Speaker(s): Chris Bianco
Legendary pizza maker Chris Bianco will double down his Pizza Expo commitment by following his opening keynote address later in the day with a demo... More...

Demo: Roman Pizza (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

05 Mar 19
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Speaker(s): Tony Gemignani
The next big pizza wave? You guessed it — Roman. In this informative demonstration, the one and only Tony G. will show you how to get it righ... More...

Demo: Creating Menu Winners (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

05 Mar 19
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Speaker(s): Mike Rutledge
Most menus have winners and losers. We’re after only winners here, baby! Sit in and get some ideas to grow your offerings, appeal and profita... More...

Building a Better Beer List (Room N111)

05 Mar 19
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Speaker(s): Nick Bogacz
Beer enthusiasts will seek you out if you provide a worthy beer list they can’t get around the corner. Let Nick Bogacz of Caliente Pizza &... More...

Connecting with Employees: Inspiring High-Performance Team Members (Room N110)

05 Mar 19
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Speaker(s): Ann Farrell
The key to a happy healthy work crew is clear expectations, well defined roles, and honest communication!  In this session you will learn stra... More...

Demo: Appetizers (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

05 Mar 19
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Speaker(s): Mike Bausch
Apps appeal to a high percentage of customers and offer the opportunity to grow sales. Mike Bausch will walk you through some unique appetizers tha... More...

Q&A with the Dough Doctor (Room N103)

05 Mar 19
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Speaker(s): Tom Lehmann
Have dough questions? Of course you do. And the Dough Doctor has the answers! Sit in on this Q&A and ask our resident dough expert what’s... More...

Restaurant Math (Room N109)

05 Mar 19
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Speaker(s): Scott Sandler
What’s the secret formula to restaurant profitability? Scott Sandler of Pizza Head in St. Louis says there may not be a magic bullet, but he&... More...

Third Party Delivery (Room N113)

05 Mar 19
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Speaker(s): Rachel Cope
Should you loathe or embrace third-party delivery? Why? In this seminar, veteran pizza entrepreneur Rachel Cope will share tips for getting the mos... More...

Video Marketing (Room N102)

05 Mar 19
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Speaker(s): Clayton Krueger
If you aren’t in on the video game, you’re behind. Plain and simple. Learn how to produce and publish videos to a variety of outlets th... More...

Exhibitor Presentation Segment Demo: Over-promised & Under-delivered - How to Assess the Value of Your POS Provider (Room International Pizza Challenge Area #2)

05 Mar 19
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Speaker(s): Larry Fiel
POS systems are the lifeblood of restaurant enterprises, yet many of these systems are anemic when it comes to generating sustainable profitability... More...

Boot Camp Part II (Room N101)

05 Mar 19
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Bill Weekley ; Tom Santos
No matter the style, if you don’t have a good crust for your pizza, you don’t have a quality, great-tasting pizza. Pizza Crust Boot Cam... More...

Demo: The Science of Yeast (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

05 Mar 19
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Renown Italian Pizza Chef and World Champion Pizza Maker Michele Croccia and Chicago Master Pizza Maker and Instructor Leo Spizzirri will compare n... More...

Community Roots (Room N102)

05 Mar 19
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Scott Anthony
Sometimes, the best way to flourish is to become a pillar of your community. It has worked well for Scott Anthony over the years, and he’ll s... More...

Flour Blends (Room N110)

05 Mar 19
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): John Arena
The hottest trend amongst progressive pizza makers today? Blending flours. Here, dough expert John Arena will show attendees how to experiment with... More...

Menu Pricing (Room N111)

05 Mar 19
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Michael Shepherd
Do you blindly set prices based on the competition? If so, you’re in trouble. Let former operator-turned-consultant Michael Shepherd walk you... More...

Panel DIscussion: Couples (Room N109)

05 Mar 19
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Eric Rickman ; Giovanna Di Diana ; Melissa Rickman ; Pasquale Di Diana
Going into the restaurant business with your spouse is no easy task — you’re together 24/7, often in high-stress situations. Here, coup... More...

The Science of Employee - Scheduling for the Maintenance of Proper Labor Costs (Room N103)

05 Mar 19
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Hassi Sadri
Create the employee schedules based upon the needs of your establishment according to your revenue rather than fulfilling the needs and hours reque... More...

W12 Scotts Las Vegas Pizza Tour ($250) (Room Bus Slot #13)

05 Mar 19
5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Speaker(s): Scott Wiener
Here's your chance to take a bus tour of the three top Las Vegas pizzerias hosted by Scott Wiener, famous for his New York Pizza Tours. Attende... More...

Keynote 2 - Sammy Mandell (Room N251)

06 Mar 19
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Speaker(s): Sammy Mandell
Sammy Mandell is a visionary entrepreneur. He opened his first pizzeria when he was just 23 years old in 2007, bringing a slice concept to a late-n... More...

W13 Making Pizzas with Tony Gemignani, Part II ($185) (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

06 Mar 19
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Speaker(s): Tony Gemignani
After you have the foundation from Part I, Tony will spend the second session delving into the nuances and techniques it takes to master New York, ... More...

Catering Success (Room N103)

06 Mar 19
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Speaker(s): Michael Attias
Catering offers restaurateurs a great opportunity to grow sales without impacting dine-in service. If you are looking to add a component that will ... More...

10 Customer Service Touchpoints (Room N111)

06 Mar 19
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Speaker(s): Micah Solomon
You better be known for your food — that’s the price of admission in today’s restaurant scene. But, can you also be known for you... More...

Boot Camp Part I (Repeated) (Room N101)

06 Mar 19
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
No matter the style, if you don’t have a good crust for your pizza, you don’t have a quality, great-tasting pizza. Pizza Crust Boot Cam... More...

Panel Discussion: Tinkering with Your Crust (Room N113)

06 Mar 19
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Speaker(s): Brian Spangler ; John Arena ; Peter Reinhart
Peter Reinhart, author and host of Pizza Quest, moderates a panel discussion with two legendary dough masters, Brian Spangler of Apizza Scholls, an... More...

Panel Discussion: Young Guns (Room N109)

06 Mar 19
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Speaker(s): Ali Haider ; Bob Wagner ; Denise Greer ; Rachel Cope
Pizza Today associate editor Denise Greer interviews some of the industry’s brightest young pizza stars. These are the entrepreneurs that are... More...

Systems for Growth (Room N102)

06 Mar 19
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Speaker(s): Mike Bausch
So you may think you’ve heard it all about restaurant systems after the first few days … but you haven’t! Here, Mike Bausch will... More...

Demo: Creative Ravioli Fillings (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

06 Mar 19
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Speaker(s): John Gutekanst
The sky’s the limit when it comes to ravioli fillings. From pumpkin to pesto to everything in between, there are just so many ways to customi... More...

Demo: Detroit-Style Pizza (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

06 Mar 19
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Speaker(s): Jeff Smokevitch
With all apologies to Motown music, Detroit-Style pizza might be the best thing to come out of the Motor City. Jeff Smokevitch has made his living ... More...

Demo: Working with Cheeses (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

06 Mar 19
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Speaker(s): Laura Meyer
How you blend and use cheeses can make a major difference in your pizza and pasta dishes. Learn how a variety of cheeses can work in concert to ene... More...

Demo: Working with Sourdough (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

06 Mar 19
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Speaker(s): Scottie Rivera
Sourdough provides more than natural leavening — it also gives pizza dough unparalleled flavor. Working with it can be a little finicky initi... More...

Demo: Desserts (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

06 Mar 19
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Speaker(s): Theo Kalogeracos
Think desserts have to be mundane and lag in sales? Think again! Chef Theo Kalogeracos is coming all the way from Australia to show you how to live... More...

Lunch Sales (Room N103)

06 Mar 19
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Chances are the overwhelming percentage of your sales occur after 5 p.m. Many pizzerias don’t even bother opening for lunch. That’s a m... More...

Management Incentives (Room N110)

06 Mar 19
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Speaker(s): Dan Collier
A well-incentivized management team can work wonders for your pizza business. In this seminar, Dan Collier will tell attendees how they can structu... More...

Managing Millenials (Room N102)

06 Mar 19
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Speaker(s): Ashira Prossack
Millenials sometimes get a bad rap from the older generation, but the fact is that they are comprising your workforce today and you need to meet th... More...

Panel Discussion: Women in Pizza (Room N109)

06 Mar 19
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Speaker(s): Ann Farrell ; Jacque Farrell ; Melissa Rickman ; Rachel Cope
Women occupy an ever-growing place in the pizza industry, we’re proud to say. In this panel discussion, veteran entrepreneur Ann Farrell talk... More...

Exhibitor Presentation Segment Demo: Using New Technology to Increase Revenue and Eliminate Outages (Room International Pizza Challenge Area #2)

06 Mar 19
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Speaker(s): John Scully
If your phone lines are from your Internet provider, they generally both fail every time your Internet goes down.  Even if you have analog pho... More...

Boot Camp Part II (Repeated) (Room N101)

06 Mar 19
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Tom Santos
No matter the style, if you don’t have a good crust for your pizza, you don’t have a quality, great-tasting pizza. Pizza Crust Boot Cam... More...

Young Entrepreneur's Award (Room N111-114)

06 Mar 19
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Speaker(s): Alex Koons ; Mitchell Rotolo ; Rita Halkias
Hear the Finalists Speak and Vote for the Award Winner Free for All Registered Attendees. Join the crowd on Wednesday afternoon as Pi... More...

Creating a Destination (Room N103)

06 Mar 19
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Melissa Rickman
No matter the size of your city, you can turn your pizzeria into a destination establishment. Melissa Rickman has done that in her town, and now sh... More...

Marketing Mix (Room N102)

06 Mar 19
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Scott Anthony
While technology is great and highly effective, sometimes it’s important to mix in some old-school marketing techniques. Scott Anthony has do... More...

Millennials as Customers (Room N110)

06 Mar 19
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Micah Solomon
How can you serve and profit from the largest generation of customers in history? What strategies that worked for Baby Boomers and other generation... More...

Restaurant Design Trends (Room N109)

06 Mar 19
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Speaker(s): Darren Tristano
Join industry expert Darren Tristano as he identifies restaurant design trends that impact consumer patronage and support sales growth. These trend... More...

Demo: Thin & Crispy Pizzas (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

07 Mar 19
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Speaker(s): Anthony Falco
World pizza traveler Anthony Falco wowed the crowd with a keynote address at Pizza & Pasta Northeast in Atlantic City last October. And now he&... More...

Demo: New York Slice Dough (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

07 Mar 19
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Speaker(s): John Arena
One pizza type that will never lose favor: New York Style. Our dough expert John Arena will show you how to make an authentic New York dough that w... More...

Demo: Stromboli Done Right (Room Show Floor Demo Area)

07 Mar 19
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Speaker(s): Melissa Rickman
Pulling off a great strom can make all the difference when it comes to menu expansion. You already have all the ingredients you need on hand. Why n... More...