Liz Seelye

CEO

Liz Seelye, CEO and brand wayfinder of StarryEyed Strategy, has proven why brand purpose matters and how restaurants can leverage it to lead their categories. For 20 years, Liz has helped brands, big and global (Starbucks, Cinnabon, Chick-fil-A, CAVA, FAT Brands), small and local (Legacy Pie Co., Pancho & Lefty’s, The Post) find their North Stars to move their businesses forward fast.

Gerry O'Brion

Author

Gerry O’Brion is a marketing keynote speaker and author who translates big brand strategies into knowledge that any business can use to win in the marketplace. Gerry’s presentations drive growth with companies of all sizes from small businesses to billion dollar brands. Gerry built his career growing big brands and distills that experience into creating strategies and real ideas that are actionable immediately.

After earning his MBA at the University of Michigan, he worked with Procter & Gamble on brands such as Crisco, Tide, Mr. Clean, and Spic & Span. Next, at Coors Brewing Company he managed Coors Light, a $2 billion business. He was then VP of Marketing for the $1.5 billion Quiznos restaurant chain. Gerry was most recently VP of Marketing for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, a $1 billon brand.

Gerry works to first understand your unique goals and challenges, and then to deliver a presentation that delivers maximum impact for every dollar you invest.

Jeannie Amerson

Executive Consultant, W. Capra Consulting

Anita Bichsel

Senior Marketing Manager, Break Time

Dan Dillon

Vice President of Marketing, Olga's Kitchen

Mike Ferretti

Former CEO, Board Member

Mark Foulds

Vice President of Digital Marketing & Consumer Engagement, Walk On's Sports Bistreaux

Courtney Kociemba

Senior Director of Customer Strategy & Lifecycle Marketing, CAVA

Jeff Lee

IT & Operations Support, SPIN! Pizza

Olga Berkovich Lopetegui

Restaurant Loyalty Specialists

Andrea Neorohr

Vice President of Marketing, Coen Markets Inc.

Erin Newkirk

Chief Brand & Marketing Officer, Caribou Coffee

Eric Rush

Director of Marketing

Jimmy Vanvalkenburg

Head of Digital Marketing & Loyalty, PDQ Chicken

Jennifer Bell

Chief Marketing Officer

Jennifer Bell is the CMO at Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants. Jennifer's contributions have been instrumental in the remarkable growth of our marketing department, both at the store and corporate levels. As a visionary leader, she skillfully oversees and manages all aspects of marketing, including PR, the highly successful Frequent Diner loyalty program, gift cards, data insights, digital and email marketing, social media, web, and graphic design.

Jennifer's journey with Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants started over 25 years ago when she began as a server at Maggiano's. Armed with a Mass Communications degree from Winona State University, through dedication and hard work, she quickly advanced through the ranks within the marketing department, showcasing her talents and passion for the restaurant industry.

Not only does she have a deep passion and a strong knowledge of the restaurant industry, but she has also been a thought leader and mentor in the marketing department, growing a strong team of creative thinkers. One of Jennifer's most remarkable achievements has been in bridging technology and marketing to elevate the guest experience. She takes pride in upholding Lettuce's reputation, fostering customer loyalty, and expanding our digital footprint. Jennifer's hunger for personal growth is evident as she continuously seeks knowledge and learning opportunities. Recently, she completed two Executive Education courses at Kellogg, delving into Crisis Public Relations and Digital Marketing Strategies.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Jennifer actively gives back to the community as a Board Member for Culinary Care, a non-profit organization with a noble mission of nourishing as many cancer recoveries as possible.

She resides in Evanston with her husband Mark, their son Gus, and their dog Rocky. Gardening, cooking, and dining out are among the delightful activities that bring joy to her everyday life.

Kristin Brody

Senior IT Business Analyst

Kristin has been with Global Partners for 6 years as a Senior IT Business Analyst. She works primarily with the Marketing department at Global and played a key role in launching both the Alltown Fresh and Alltown Neighborhood Perks mobile applications and loyalty programs. The Alltown Fresh launch also included the integration of the Paytronix Online Ordering system with the Verifone POS systems at the Global Alltown Fresh sites. Kristin has a son who is a junior at UMass Amherst University and a daughter graduating high school this year. She enjoys spending time with them along with playing golf and traveling with her fiancé.

Brian Buck

IT Director, National Coney Island

Brian Buck grew up dining as a kid and then later with his own family regularly at National Coney Island. Never did he think he would have gone on to join the chain. He has dedicated over 10 years of his career to National Coney Island. As the IT Director, he wears multiple hats, seamlessly managing accounting, marketing, and technology initiatives.

Brian’s impact extends beyond his office walls. He spearheaded the implementation of the Paytronix loyalty program at National Coney Island, enhancing customer engagement and retention. His expertise in Point of Sale (POS) management led to a successful full conversion to a new system in 2019-2020. This implementation was a key to seamlessly integrating Online Ordering and Third-Party Delivery into National Coney Island’s operations.

Outside work, Brian spends time on a variety of hobbies. Some of which include meticulously detailing his car, tinkering under the hood, or racing on the track, he thrives on adrenaline. And when the day winds down, you’ll find him exploring the world of craft beers and bourbons, always on the hunt for new flavors to savor.

Reed Daniels

CEO, Red's Savoy Pizza

Reed Daniels fell in love with the Red’s Savoy Pizza brand in 2012 when he began working with the brands' founder, Red Schoenheider, as a marketing consultant. Daniels was presented with the opportunity to buy the brand in 2019 which he has grown to 22 franchise locations Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota. Daniels is passionate about deploying turn-key systems, processes, and technology that elevate the Red’s Savoy Pizza franchisee experience and ultimately allow franchisees to focus on the important aspects of their business – that all Red’s Savoy guests have an awesome experience however they interact with the brand.

Mike Ferretti

CEO, Great Harvest Bakery Cafe

Mike Ferretti is the Chairman and CEO of Great Harvest Bread Co. and has been since 2001. He also was President through 2015. Great Harvest bakes and sells whole grain-focused bread and goodies that are made from scratch by hand every day in every location. Mike led the transformation of Great Harvest from a bread-focused bakery to a bakery that also sold sandwiches and then completed the evolution of the brand to a full-scale bakery cafe.

In his 20-plus years as CEO, Mike oversaw a transformation of the brand that has grown from about $60 million in sales to almost $120 million today. At the same time, he never lost sight of our Mission Statement and embraced what it says in terms of how to run a business. Before joining Great Harvest Mike was the CFO and then COO of a deli franchise in North Carolina. He started his career with Price Waterhouse as a tax consultant specializing in financial institutions. In his spare time, he enjoys being with his wife and their two sons and daughters-in-law. He is an avid cyclist and runner who takes an occasional swim for fun.

Natalie Fudge

Director of Lifecycle and Growth Marketing

Natalie Fudge is the Director of Lifecycle and Growth Marketing at Papa Murphy’s Take ‘n’ Bake Pizza where she oversees the full digital customer experience including loyalty program, email & SMS marketing, website and mobile app experiences. In her 4 years at Papa Murphy’s, Natalie has focused on optimizing the digital and loyalty experience for customers leveraging advanced segmentation, predictive audiences and data driven content to drive value for customers and the business through increased frequency, average order value, and customer acquisition. Natalie graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in communications and lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and 2 kids.

Adam Golomb

CEO, Primanti Bros

Adam Golomb is Chief Executive Officer of Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar. He was named CEO, of the iconic restaurant chain, in January 2023. Prior to being named CEO Adam served as Primanti Bros President and Chief Marketing Officer. Adam was born into Primanti fandom. He grew up eating the iconic French-fry topped sandwiches with his dad – an honor he now shares with his three daughters.

With a background in strategic leadership in both the restaurant and grocery industries – Adam is responsible for driving Primanti’s growth strategy.

Prior to joining Primanti Bros Adam was with Giant Eagle, a $10b grocery and convenience retailer, in various marketing and product development roles including mostly recently running their $1 billion gift card marketplace.  Prior to joining Giant Eagle, he worked for Eat’n Park Hospitality Group in various marketing and e-commerce roles including being responsible for launching Smileycookie.com.

He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hospitality Management from Johnson & Wales University and a Master’s Degree from Pennsylvania State University. 

Adam was awarded the American Marketing Association retail marketer of the year and most recently was recognized by Nation’s Restaurant News as one of the most influential restaurant executives in the United States.

He lives in Pittsburgh with his wife Dana, a Psychologist, and their three daughters.

Peter Ingram

Retail & Payments Technology Consultant, Socket Commerce

Peter is a roll-up-the-sleeves executive with over 35 years of experience, primarily dealing with Fortune 500 companies in retail and fintech strategy, development and optimization.  He is a recognized expert in the convenience store and gas station industry and has launched and advises a number of technology companies focused on this vertical (and others).

Trisha Irwin

Senior Manager, Loyalty

Trisha Irwin is the Sr. Manager of Loyalty at Potbelly Sandwich Works where she oversees the Potbelly Perks loyalty program, campaign strategy and messaging. Throughout her 4 years at Potbelly, Trisha’s focus has been on driving digital and loyalty adoption and engagement. In 2021, she led the design of the brand’s custom website and apps, including the launch with Paytronix. She recently managed Potbelly’s loyalty program redesign, launching a new program structure, visual design, and user experience earlier this year. 

Denise Jenkins

VP Marketing, Insights, Loyalty, United Dairy Farmers

Denise Jenkins oversees marketing strategy for United Dairy Farmers' C-stores and retail fuel business, multiple ice cream brands (including innovation pipeline projects), consumer insights, the U-Drive Plus loyalty program, and new product innovation.

Jenkins has led numerous new platforms for UDF, the current UDF mobile app, the Hi-Five Guest Experience and plant-based Homemade Brand Dairy Free ice cream. Her current priorities are growing a new super-premium ice cream brand, Main Avenue Creamery, evolving the loyalty program to best-in-class with new U-Drive Plus and omnichannel expansion.

Robert Lane

Ike's Love and Sandwiches

Robert Lane is currently CMO at Ike’s Love and Sandwiches, where love always comes before sandwiches. A graduate of Indiana University with a focus in business and fine art, he has extensive experience in advertising and restaurant marketing. Robert previously served as CMO for Southern California based fast casual concept Burger Lounge. Robert’s style is a thoughtful combination of art, science, and disruption. “The best ideas are the ones that get people talking.” Howard Gossage.

Olga Berkovich Lopategui

Restaurant Loyalty Specialist

After 15 years in brand marketing and international franchise marketing at Pizza Hut, KFC, and TGI Fridays, Olga noticed that restaurant chains were getting proficient at collecting customer data, yet the skill of using that data for marketing seemed to be lacking in many organizations. Restaurant Loyalty Specialists, a boutique loyalty consulting firm, was founded right then.

We offer expertise in Loyalty and CRM for restaurant chains. The key principle is simple: find out what your guests already like, then give them more of that - at scale - to drive sales. Our clients range from 20 to over 800 locations. We work with any modern loyalty and CRM platforms, although most clients utilize Punchh, Paytronix, or Personica.

Olga was born in Moscow, Russia, and has lived and worked in Europe, Asia, and the US in the course of her career. She holds a Harvard MBA and a Georgetown LLM.

Thierry Lyles

Digital Marketing Manager, Family Express

Thierry Lyles is an Indiana-based marketing professional with over 14 years of experience creating innovative solutions that drive engagement while delivering against business objectives. During his tenure as Digital Marketing Manager at Family Express Corporation, he has implemented and overseen their best-in-class Loyalty Program, Mobile App, Online Ordering, Subscription Programs, and more. He has an unrelenting passion for optimizing the customer’s experience through data-driven insights, technology, and individualized content.

Erin Newkirk

Chief Brand & Marketing Officer, Caribou Coffee

Erin Newkirk is an award-winning innovator with rich leadership in tech, food, retail, consumer packaged goods, and healthcare; spanning start-ups to growth companies to billion-dollar brands. She currently serves as the Chief Brand & Marketing Officer for Caribou Coffee. Erin and her team hold themselves accountable for how Caribou's brand comes to life across all touchpoints while keeping team, guests, and global responsibility as central guideposts.                                                                  

Erin’s brand-management career began at General Mills, after earning an MBA at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. In 2005, Erin co-founded Red Stamp, a digital correspondence app. With over 2 million users and 10 million cards sent, Red Stamp was best known for its award-winning mobile app and was acquired in 2013 by Taylor Corporation, one of the largest privately held companies in the United States. Erin, who stayed on as Red Stamp’s CEO until 2016, recalls multiple meetings and strategy sessions at her local Caribou Coffee while launching that venture.                                  

After leaving Red Stamp and before coming to Caribou Coffee, Erin served as the founding chief marketing officer at Minneapolis-based health insurance startup Bright Health, advised local food company Local Crate on their 2018 retail transformation, and supported passionate founders of startups on how to work their best life through her consultancy, Satya. She is an active speaker, mentor, advisor (ModernWell, Omnia Fishing), and board member (TurnSignl).

Eric Rush

Director of Marketing, Tri Star Energy

Eric Rush is a 20+ year veteran of the convenience industry with experience in all aspects of the business with stops in operations, engineering, IT and Marketing. Tri Star Energy is located in Nashville TN and includes c-store brands including Twice Daily, Sudden Service, Southern Traders, Little General and premiere coffee brand White Bison.

As Director of Marketing Eric focuses heavily on getting guests in the door, adding to their basket, and through loyalty, learning what motivates them to keep coming back and being as loyal to us as we are to them.

Eric and his wife and 4 children enjoy exploring all that our new state has to offer. As a foodie, Eric hosts supper clubs at his home.

Jackson Tolk

Loyalty and Mobile App Manager, Tri Star Energy

Jackson Tolk is the Loyalty and Mobile Application Manager at Tri Star Energy, overseeing the effective functioning of the company’s multiple mobile apps and loyalty programs. While at Tri Star, the loyalty programs have consistently grown in their loyalty penetration percentages, with loyalty and rewards becoming a part of the company’s DNA. In conjunction with coordinated marketing and operations efforts, he facilitated an increase in online ordering sales by 225% in 2023 and played a key role in launching the Sudden Rewards program for the company’s Sudden Service stores.

Jackson streamlined Tri Star Energy's apps transition to the Paytronix Mobile Experience Builder format, providing app environments that align more closely with each brand while enhancing the user experience. He earned a Master of Marketing degree from the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management and an undergraduate degree in Communications (Emphasis: Public Relations) from Brigham Young University.

Renay Barresi

Manager, Customer Success

Renay Barresi is a Customer Success Manager at Paytronix, where she plays a pivotal role in ensuring the long-term success and growth of her clients. With a proactive, hands-on approach, Renay partners closely with 15 enterprise accounts—both in-person and remotely—to help them maximize the value of their Paytronix solutions at every stage of their post-implementation journey.

Passionate about building strong, strategic relationships, Renay works closely with executive stakeholders and day-to-day contacts to align business goals, drive adoption, and unlock new opportunities for growth. She leads the development of Strategic Business Reviews and Success Plans, equipping clients with the insights and tools they need to thrive in an evolving industry. Additionally, as a member of the Paytronix Client Conference committee, she actively recruits and showcases client success stories that inspire and educate others in the industry.

With deep expertise in customer engagement, industry trends, and solution-driven strategies, Renay is a trusted advocate for her clients—helping them navigate challenges, optimize their programs, and drive measurable success.

Brittany Bell Dalphond

Digital Customer Success Manager, Customer Success & Support

Brittany Bell Dalphond joined the Paytronix team in the summer of 2023. As Digital CSM, she is focused on creating scalable engagement that empowers all customers. She leads initiatives that provide clients with the knowledge and tools they need to maximize their use of the Paytronix platform. Prior to joining PX, Brittany honed her skills in client success, operations, and program management in the healthcare sector - and moonlighting as a bartender. Now, she spends most of her free time trying to keep up with her two young sons.

Mark Donnellan

VP Onboarding & Implementation Services

Mark leads our Implementations team of project managers and technical consultants, who are responsible for safe and successful onboarding with our solutions. He is passionate about partnering with our clients to understand how we can best deliver value and help meet ambitious goals for their own business growth. Mark’s focus outside work is with his wife and three young children, usually building legos and training for T-Ball season.

Ali Evers

Mobile Product Manager

Ali Evers is the Mobile Product Manager at Paytronix, driving innovation and development for branded mobile apps. With a B.S. in Marketing from Sacred Heart University, Ali brings over a decade of experience collaborating with development teams to craft compelling digital experience

Aubrey Giasson

Product Manager

Ray Gibson

Product Manager, Online Ordering

Ray Gibson is the Product Manager of Online Ordering at Paytronix. His extensive experience positions him at the forefront of the ever-evolving online ordering landscape. His passion for user experience and deep understanding of the hospitality industry enable him to develop solutions that streamline operations, enhance guest engagement and satisfaction, and drive revenue growth for businesses.

Jeff Hoover

Director of Strategy & Analytics

Kimberly Hunter

Strategist, Strategy & Analytics

Kristin Lynch

Senior Director of Restaurant Strategy & Analytics

Mark Donnellan Ian Quintana

Restaurant Loyalty Strategist, Strategy & Analytics

Ian Quintana is a Restaurant Loyalty Strategist on Paytronix’s Strategy & Analytics team. With over five years at Paytronix, Ian partners with restaurants to develop data-driven loyalty strategies that enhance guest engagement and drive results. Outside of work, you’ll find Ian cheering on Boston sports teams, hitting the gym, or listening to the latest Bad Bunny album.

Chris Weber

Senior Solutions Consultant

Adriana Zeman

VP of Customer Success & Support