Anthony Lambatos, CEO, Footers Catering & Events

Cater staff hours are long and the demands are brutal. As soon as the excitement wears off, the job gets real. To your staff, it seems that the next company is always offering a little bit more money with slightly shorter hours. Most catering business owners lose an employee every few months. How do you attract and keep a great catering staff?

• How to hire the best candidates in your area
• Create a culture teams can thrive
• Motivate employees and retain new hires

Margaret Brower, CEO & Founder, Rainmaker Sales & Marketing Group

It takes more than good food and creative menus to fill your calendar. The most profitable catering businesses only have one thing in common… good sales skills. Learn the best recipe for sales success.

• Shorten your catering sales funnel
• Sales words to use and avoid
• Appointments and tasting - yay or nay

Rebekah Ontiveros, Owner, Hive Cake Shop

You always save the best for last. Wedding cakes and desserts represent fun, delight, and celebration. They are an expression of not only flavor but also the personality of the wedding couple. Get inspired with the latest wedding cake and dessert table trends.

• Modern techniques for cake design
• Splurge vs Save dessert looks
• Cake and dessert trend report

Roy Porter, Activities Director, Engage Works
Syd Sexton,COO, Catering by Design

Successful event catering requires a great deal of thought and organization. But the rising cost of food and labor has taken a toll on the catering industry. Get expert advice from this panel of catering industry leaders.

• Eliminate the nine wastes in catering
• The best ways to audit
• Should you lower your inventory levels

Syd Sexton, CEO, Catering By Design

Rich cuisine and design pairings go together like Beyonce and Jay-Z or Tom and Gisele. The right catering presentation can create an aesthetic more delicious than any power couple.

• Innovation food presentations
• Creative rendering process
• Catering and design portfolio

Roy Porter, Activities Director, Engage Works

It’s not how much you sell. It’s how much you keep. Profit margins and overhead make all the difference. Are you just getting by? Or are you saving enough to take a vacation, send your kids to college, and build your retirement?

• Resource guide for caterers
• Tools to increase catering profitability
• Analysis of catering company margins

Fausto Pifferrer, Co-Founder, Blue Elephant

Couples use their wedding day menus to share their story and connect with their guests. From their childhood favorites to their first date meal, incorporate meaningful food experiences for the couple and their guests.

• Fresh wedding menu ideas
• A new shake on cocktails
• Latest in reception food trends