Confidential Bulletin

Ever wonder why you’re paying licensing fees to play great music that set the vibe in your restaurants? Listen to Grammy Award winning songwriter Tim James tell his fascinating story and how royalties support his family, followed by Dan Spears VP of Industry Relations at BMI who talks about how licensing fees are essential the craft and the unknown songwriter. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c...

This month's guests are Dan Spears, VP of Industry Relations at Broadcast Music Inc, (BMI), and Grammy Award-winning songwriter Tim James. Listen to Dan answer questions about the restaurant industry on the fly! Full episode next week. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

When disaster struck, the California Restaurant Foundation didn’t wait. In this mini episode, Fred Glick, VP of Brewpubs @ Karl Strauss and incoming CRA Board  and  Foundation Chair, and Alycia Harshfield, CRF President, share how their team mobilized fast to support restaurants and workers impacted by the LA fires. Hear how the hospitality community rallied together, where the donations...

Jump back in with Guy Fieri and Jot Condie talking philanthropy and being a force for positive change. From supporting the California Restaurant Foundation helping workers and educating teens to working with the CRA to promote and affect positive change for the industry, Guy continues to lift up everyone around him. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at h...

Get to know the infamous Guy Fieri as we know him, an amazing philanthropist and humanitarian force for good. He’s raised tens of millions of dollars for restaurant industry workers in need all over the country, fed thousands of first responders and people impacted by disasters, supported educational programs for kids, and shed light on issues that restaurants and their workers face every day. See...

Get to know May's Confidential Bulletin guest, Guy Fieri, the Mayor of Flavortown, and one of the most dynamic personalities in the restaurant industry. This month he joins Jot Condie to discuss his philanthropic efforts, and much much more! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In this second mini-episode, Legal Partner Vance Piggot, with CRA Legal Center Partner Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard, covers California State laws on immigration and how restaurants can be compliant while also following federal laws. Don't forget to visit  https://info.calrest.org/immigration-resources  for white papers, webinars, and legal partner resources to help you prepar...

The CRA's new mini-episode series to answer your burning questions. Leslie Teague asks Vance Piggot, with CRA Legal Center Partner Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard, about following federal immigration laws and what to do when ICE comes to your location. Visit  https://info.calrest.org/immigration-resources  for white papers, webinars, and legal partner resources to help you prepa...

Chris Thornberg, Ph. D. is back with CRA president + CEO Jot Condie to dig into the latest job loss data for QSRs in California and how AB 1228 has played a role. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Get to know April’s Confidential Bulletin guest, Chris Thornberg, Ph. D. and founding partner at Beacon Economics. This month he joins Jot Condie to discuss the latest BLS jobs numbers showing that California has lost thousands of quick-service jobs. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

This conversation explores the intricate relationship between lobbying and the restaurant industry, focusing on Rick Berman's career as a lobbyist and his influence on political engagement within the sector. The discussion highlights key figures like Norm Brinker, who catalyzed political advocacy in the restaurant industry, and examines the evolution of corporate involvement in public policy over...

This conversation explores the intricate relationship between lobbying and the restaurant industry, focusing on Rick Berman's career as a lobbyist and his influence on political engagement within the sector. The discussion highlights key figures like Norm Brinker, who catalyzed political advocacy in the restaurant industry, and examines the evolution of corporate involvement in public policy over...

In this episode, we dive into the critical impact of wildfires on workplace safety and air quality in California. Join CRA Legal Partners Christine Long, Partner at Berliner Cohen LLP and Vance Piggot, Senior Counsel at Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedmann & Girard as they engage in a discussion of compliance with wildfire smoke regulations and explore effective strategies employers can implement to p...

This conversation explores the current state of the restaurant industry in Seattle and San Francisco, focusing on the impacts of the pandemic, urban dining challenges, safety perceptions, tourism trends, legislative hurdles, and the future outlook for the hospitality sector. Both Brian Walsh and Bob Donigan share insights from their experiences, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of the...

Three prominent women in California’s restaurant industry who now head their family restaurants sit down to discuss the importance of their Mexican heritage, how they have continued and grown their families’ legacy, and their work advocating for others in the industry. Host: Lorraine Salazar, Sal’s Mexican Guests: Christy Vega, Casa Vega and Dolores Jackson, Lolita’s Mexican Food See Privacy Polic...

Bob Spivak sits down with Alycia Harshfield, executive director of the California Restaurant Foundation, to talk about stories and lessons from his new book, Saved by a Hot Blonde and a Chicken Pot Pie. Bob started as the co-founder of The Grill on the Alley and became the CEO of Grill Concepts, Inc. with multiple famous restaurants, including Public School and Daily Grill. See Privacy Policy at h...

Special guest Chris Thornberg, Ph. D., a founding partner at Beacon Economics, joins CRA president + CEO Jot Condie to discuss his latest whitepaper,  California’s Minimum Wage and the Long-Running Consequences for the State’s Youth . For a decade California has increased the minimum wage year over year with promises to close the income inequality gap and lift people out of poverty, but what...

Governor Newsom just signed two Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) reform bills decades in the making. Fisher Phillips, CRA’s legal partners and legal counsel during PAGA negotiations, are hosting this episode to break it all down! Regional Managing Partner Alden Parker and Partners Benjamin Ebbink and Lonnie Giamela sit down to dissect the PAGA deal being finalized this week, how we were able t...

As of July 1, restaurants are required to have finalized their Workplace Violence Prevention Plans and have procedures in place, and CRA’s partners at Zaller Law Group are here to demystify the process. In this mini episode, ZLG partner, Anthony Zaller and Senior Council and expert, Veenita Raj walk you through the process to successfully create your plan and train your staff. Click this link&nbsp...

A podcast-on-podcast conversation with Jot Condie, CRA president + CEO, and  The Working Lunch podcast hosts, Joe Kefauver and Franklin Coley who are partners at Aligned Public Strategies out of Florida. They manage public affairs efforts in other parts of the country for the restaurant and hospitality industry and have fantastic insight into the intersection of hospitality and politics. The...

We continue our deep dive from episode one on how PAGA, the “sue-your-boss-law” in California, ever came to be. President + CEO Jot Condie sits in as host for the discussion. You’ll hear directly from Benjamin Ebbink, the former Assembly labor consultant who wrote the analysis, and David Lanier, the former Secretary of Labor under Governor Jerry Brown who was able to get minor reforms. Make sure y...

These first two debut episodes are a deep dive on how PAGA, the “sue-your-boss-law” in California, ever came to be. President + CEO Jot Condie sits in as host for the discussion. You’ll hear directly from Benjamin Ebbink, the former Assembly labor consultant who wrote the analysis, and David Lanier, the former Secretary of Labor under Governor Jerry Brown who was able to get minor reforms. Don’t m...

Introducing the Confidential Bulletin from the California Restaurant Association. Welcome to Confidential Bulletin, the essential podcast for the members of the California Restaurant Association (CRA) members and all professionals within California's vibrant restaurant and hospitality industry. Brought to you by the CRA, this monthly podcast series is your go-to resource for expert insights, advic...