In restaurant operations, the gap between a “great plan” and consistent execution is often a manager buried in administrative tasks, disconnected systems, or manual processes that slow teams down and create costly blind spots.
That’s why leading restaurant brands are shifting their focus toward practical AI: tools that proactively support teams, simplify decision-making, and remove friction from the daily ops lifecycle.
To explore what this transformation looks like in practice, Crunchtime is bringing together operational and technology leaders from across the industry for the next Ops Innovators webinar, "The AI-Driven Restaurant: Modernizing the Daily Ops Lifecycle."
When: Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT
During this session, leaders from Logan’s Roadhouse, JRI Hospitality, and SSP America will share how they are approaching operational intelligence, supporting frontline teams, and building more resilient restaurant operations with AI-assisted technology.
Todd Kaufman
Chief Information Officer, SSP America
Todd Kaufman is an accomplished technology executive with significant experience in restaurant and hospitality IT. As the Chief Information Officer, he leads SSP America's technology strategy, focusing on delivering innovative solutions that enhance the guest experience, streamline operations, and support the company's growth throughout North America. Before joining SSP America in 2008, Todd held various technology leadership positions at IHOP (now part of Dine Brands), ACG Texas, and MICROS Systems. At each organization, he played a key role in implementing enterprise-wide POS and digital solutions. Todd graduated from the University of Maryland and is a native of the Washington, D.C. area.
Bo Fairbank
Vice President of Analytics & Technology, JRI Hospitality
Bo Fairbank is the Vice President of Business Intelligence & Technology at JRI Hospitality, a premier multi-brand restaurant operator with a portfolio of over 145 locations nationwide. A data-driven leader with a deep footprint in restaurant tech, Bo oversees the enterprise data strategy and technological infrastructure required to power JRI's aggressive expansion. Most notably, he is driving the technological and systems integration following JRI's 2026 acquisition of HCI Hospitality, which added 43 Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers locations to the company's portfolio.
Bo’s unique professional background bridges restaurant real estate management and advanced data analytics. He spent over six years at Freddy’s corporate, scaling from a Real Estate Coordinator to Data Analytics Manager—a journey that gave him a holistic understanding of the critical role data analytics plays in managing a successful restaurant organization.
Michael Matos
Senior Director of Ops Services, Logan’s Roadhouse
Michael Matos is the Sr. Director of Ops Services at Logans Roadhouse. Responsible for overseeing Crunchtime integration at several brands over the past 5 years, he brings 30+ years of restaurant operations experience in casual and upscale casual dining. In addition to Crunchtime, Michael leads Logan's cross-functional team in the deployment of key initiatives to the field. He currently lives with his wife and two dogs in Beavercreek, Ohio.
Together, the panel will explore how restaurants can move from fragmented operational processes to more connected, AI-assisted workflows that help teams execute with greater speed, consistency, and confidence. The discussion will be moderated by Tim Busa, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Crunchtime, who works closely with restaurant operators to understand the evolving challenges facing multi-unit brands.
In this webinar, attendees will gain practical insights into how restaurant brands are:
As AI adoption accelerates across the industry, the restaurants seeing the greatest impact won’t necessarily be the ones with the flashiest technology. They’ll be the ones using AI in practical, operationally relevant ways that help teams execute better every day.
Join Crunchtime and leaders from across the restaurant industry for a conversation focused on what operational AI actually looks like in practice and how it can help modernize the daily ops lifecycle.
Register now to save your seat for the June 17 webinar.
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