2026 Education Program

The workforce has already changed.

The real question is whether your leadership has kept up.

Today’s hospitality leaders are running teams that span generations, cultures, lived experiences, and expectations, often all on the same shift. What motivated teams five years ago does not work anymore. Holding on to outdated leadership playbooks is costing operators talent, trust, and performance.

Join Professor Brian Connors as he cuts through the noise and gets to what is actually happening inside today’s workforce. This session unpacks the demographic, behavioral, and psychographic shifts reshaping hospitality teams and shows how those shifts directly impact engagement, retention, culture, and the guest experience.

Key Takeaways

• How today’s workforce is truly segmented and why it matters on the floor.
• What motivates multigenerational and multicultural teams right now.
• How to build trust, alignment, and accountability across differences.
• Why leadership is no longer optional and how it shows up operationally.

Bonus Panel Discussion | Final 15 Minutes

The keynote closes with a candid panel conversation moderated by Professor Connors, featuring industry leaders examining how workforce shifts are reshaping decision-making across hospitality:

• Patrick Renna, Chief Financial Officer of Proof of the Pudding will speak on labor economics, financial pressure, and cost realities.
• Gabriel Urrutia, Bevprenuer-in-Residence at Florida International University will speak on beverage culture, behavior shifts, and evolving guest expectations.
• Missy Varao, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Business, Tourism & Hospitality at Salve Regina University will speak on execution, operations, and team performance.
• Dale Gomez, Associate Teaching Professor at Florida International University will speak on technology adoption and workforce enablement.

Built for restaurant and hospitality leaders who know the workforce has changed and are ready to lead differently.