Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast with Zack Oates

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder how top restaurant brands create a guest experience that keeps customers coming back for more? Prepare to be enlightened as we sit down with Donna Josephson, CMO of Shipley's Donuts, a seasoned marketer who has worked with big names such as Chick-fil-A, Applebee's, Wendy's, and McAllister's. Donna lays bare the common pitfalls marketers often stumbl...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered about the inner workings of the restaurant industry? Sam  Oches is an award-winning editorial director of Informa's Restaurant and Food Group. Sam Oches has had his eye on the industry for quite some time and has developed an eye for exploring the factors shaping this dynamic landscape.  On this episode, you'll learn from Sam about:  Labor availability Rise...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready to uncover the mysteries behind the success of Groucho's Deli, an iconic restaurant that's stood the test of time for 80 years. Deric Rosenbaum, the president of this thriving chain, joins us on the show to share his insights on a two-fold approach to innovation and the significance of open platforms.  On this episode, you'll learn from Deric about: Custom...

Send us Fan Mail Are you ready to revolutionize the way you perceive restaurant marketing? Join us as we turn the tables with the brilliant author and consultant, Chip Klose. We pick his brain about his game-changing book, 'Restaurant Marketing Mindset.' This is not just another marketing guide; it's a deep dive into the psychology of your potential customers. On this episode, you&a...

Send us Fan Mail Ready for a story of resilience and innovation in the restaurant industry? Join us as we sit down with Andrew Simmons, the dynamic CEO of Mama Ramona's Pizzeria. Andrew shares his rollercoaster journey, from buying the business right before the pandemic, navigating through the crisis, to coming out stronger. He gives us insights into how he has revolutionized the restaurant&a...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to lead successful brands like Red Robin, Torchy's Tacos, California Pizza Kitchen, and Texas Roadhouse? G.J. Hart, current CEO of Red Robin, breaks it down for us, stressing the importance of remaining true to the essence of the brand while testing changes to keep it attractive to customers. G.J.'s insights are a treasure trove for anyone involved in t...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how plant based food can serve the growing global demand for burgers? Join Zack Oates as he sits down with Benjamin Kaplan, co-founder and CEO of Plant Burger, who shares his fascinating journey into the world of plant-based cuisine. From his personal switch to a flexitarian diet to the creation of Plant Burger, a food haven designed for all food enthusiasts...

Send us Fan Mail Andy Freivogel is the Co-Founder and CEO of Science On Call, a restaurant tech platform that provided 24/7 support with either a call or text.  On this episode, Andy unveils the magic of technology - from POS to delivery platforms - that simplifies restaurant operations and paves the way for a smoother guest experience. Tune in and explore the tech that is shaping the restaurants...

Send us Fan Mail Danny Snow is part of a Disney-centric family with extensive experience at Walt Disney World perfecting his customer loyalty expertise. After earning an MBA in Business, he became the Director of Marketing at Snow & Associates, Inc., contributing to its growth as a leading customer service speaking/training company globally. He's known as a "customer service champ&qu...

Send us Fan Mail Priyam Saraswat stands as the Co-Founder of Voosh, a testament to his innovative spirit and commitment to revolutionizing the restaurant industry. His relentless drive to push the boundaries of what's possible in the restaurant industry, combined with his strong technical acumen, has set him apart as a trailblazer in the realm of restaurant technology. On this episode, you&ap...

Send us Fan Mail Mark Brezinski has been a longstanding expert in the restaurant industry for over 40 years with experience working with industry giants such as YUM! Brands and Pei Wei. Now with his book, ForkFight, Brezinski opens up about his successes and failures in the restaurant world, by chronicling the stories collected through traveling the globe to create great restaurants and working al...

Send us Fan Mail Mark Kelnhofer has spent 20+ years in managerial cost accounting and an additional seven years in restaurant cost management refining his methods. Now as President and CEO of Return on Ingredients,  Mark has successfully combined these two methodologies to create an air tight strategy for increasing profits and mitigating loss.  On this episode, you'll learn from Mark about:...

Send us Fan Mail We are kicking off our 250th episode with Hamed Mazrouei, the Founder and CEO of Milagro Corp, a customer acquisition and retention platform for multi-location restaurants.  With expertise in the telecommunications, software, and restaurant industries, Hamed excels in driving revenue growth, optimizing operations, and achieving outstanding results. On this episode, you'll lea...

Send us Fan Mail Lisa Miller has 30 year of experience under her belt working in consumer insights and innovation for industry giants such as Quaker and Pepsi Co.. Now as a President of LWM & Associates, Miller focuses on providing integrated strategic insights and plans to unlock and activate business growth. On this episode, you'll learn from Lisa about: How connection is a two way stre...

Send us Fan Mail Ken Bott is the definition of an expert in customer loyalty. Having worked for top brands such as Darden Restaurants, Bloomin’ Brands, Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), and Continental Airlines, Ken has perfected his approach to developing strategies, organizations, and integrated marketing plans, focused on driving the bottom line. How does Ken do it? By not losing sight of th...

Send us Fan Mail Jennifer Kaminski is a seasoned marketing pro with over 20 years under her belt  underscored by her trendsetting work in social media for over 15 years.  As Founder and Managing Director of Social Thinking, Kaminski works with businesses to create and execute marketing and branding strategies utilizing Digital Marketing, Social Media, and PR.  On this episode, you'll learn fr...

Send us Fan Mail Brandon and Zane Hunt are brothers who have shaken and shaped the pizza industry since they opened Via313 in 2011. Brandon and Zane began Via313 out of a trailer in Detroit determined to expand and serve everyone up a slice. Now as a multi-unit brand, Via313 continue to serve delicious deep dish pizza all while perfecting their guest experience. On this episode you'll learn f...

Send us Fan Mail Patrick Pleiss is the Co-Founder and Head of Operations at Hyperlocology. Hyperlocology is a a marketing platform that enables franchise brands to centrally control local advertising, across the most powerful digital channels, for their hundreds or thousands of locations. On this episode you'll learn more about:  Helping locations help themselves First impressions (digital an...

Send us Fan Mail This week's episode welcomes on Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, a company utilizing AI to automate demand planning. If you've ever wondered how to balance profitability and the guest experience, tune in to Matt's expertise on predictive analytics.  On this episode, you'll learn from Matt about: Forecasting and customer satisfaction Welcoming chan...

Send us Fan Mail Julie Wade is the Senior Director of Marketing at Taziki's, a cafe with a fresh take on the Mediterranean diet. On this week's episode of Give an Ovation, Julie brings her extensive marketing expertise (strategy, product development, brand, etc.) to the table. Tune in to hear how her marketing utility belt has helped her master the food and beverage industry.  On this ep...

Send us Fan Mail Mike Snow is a 14 year entrepreneur whose most recent venture, Ocavu, is shaking up the restaurant industry. Ocavu has changed the way we approach ordering a menu item in a restaurant by placing a true to life size, high-fidelity scan in the consumer's life. This creates a better experience for the customers by aligning their expectations with reality. Tune it to learn more a...

Send us Fan Mail This week's episode of Give An Ovation welcomes on Nick Petrocci, current Director of Off Premise for the fast-casual brand, Zaxby’s. Nick lead an Off Premise Growth team focused on the health of digital ordering channels including the custom-built, proprietary Zaxby’s mobile apps and website alongside the 3rd party delivery marketplaces.  On this episode you'll learn fr...

Send us Fan Mail Many of you know him from the wrestling ring, but whether he's delivering a total smackdown or instructing a DDP Yoga course, Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) is a prime example of  transforming and chasing your passions. Now as the Founder and CEO of DDPY (Diamond Dallas Page Yoga), Diamond continues who help others achieve their true potential and rebound from life's blows. ...

Send us Fan Mail Dan Posner is the VP of business development at Big Leap. Big Leap is an award-winning digital marketing agency founded on trust, focused on relationships, and motivated by your long-term success. While Dan is unarguably well versed in SEO and reputation management, his passion for sales and connection is evident throughout this week's episode. Tune in to learn how it can ben...

Send us Fan Mail Gary Chaglasyan is a restaurateur and serial entrepreneur with over 25 years experience launching 65+ hospitality projects. Gary is an expert in automation and helping businesses becomes more efficient while still maintaining a sense of control over those critical tech touchpoints. On this episode, you'll learn from Gary about: The evolution of off-prem Utilizing ghost/dark k...