Winners to be Selected by Attendees at 2026 Ops Summit Conference
BOSTON, JANUARY 22, 2026–Crunchtime today announced the finalists for its 2026 Ops Excellence Awards: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Gong cha, MSC Cruises, Panini Kabob Grill, and P.F. Chang's.
Representatives from each finalist company will present their success stories at the Ops Summit, March 16-18, 2026 in Arlington, TX. Following the presentations, Ops Summit attendees will vote on the winner, who will be announced live during the conference.
The 2026 finalist presentations will be delivered by:
- Dennis Ogaard, Senior Manager, Operations Services at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: Showcasing how the premium cinema-eatery manages complex multi-course scratch-made menus alongside global film operations.
- Rebecca Kahn, Senior Director of Master Franchising Operations for North America at Gong cha: Detailing the operational scaling of an international beverage franchise with over 2,200 global locations.
- Patrick Apostolo Business Transformation Director at MSC Cruises: Explaining the logistics of maintaining high-quality dining and service standards across a modern fleet of over 20 global cruise ships.
- Mike Rafipoor, CEO at Panini Kabob Grill: Highlighting how their "true scratch kitchen" maintains efficiency and freshness for Mediterranean cuisine across its growing multi-unit footprint.
- Edward Kulik, Food & Beverage Systems Manager at P.F. Chang's: Discussing the integration of tech-driven solutions to support their world-renowned wok-cooking and guest experiences.
“The Ops Excellence Awards are a testament to the incredible resilience and ingenuity of our community;” said Cassandra Clark, Vice President of Marketing at Crunchtime. “Seeing these finalists push the boundaries of what’s possible through technology is more than exciting, it’s becoming a blueprint for the entire industry. These awards celebrate the leaders who aren’t just managing locations, but are actively redefining the guest experience through operational precision and a commitment to growth.”
This year’s finalists represent a powerful cross-section of the global hospitality landscape, showcasing how operational excellence transcends diverse segments and cuisines. This group features an extraordinary mix of scale and specialization, from the maritime complexity of MSC Cruises and the global franchise reach of Gong cha to the premium cinema-eatery experience of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and the scratch-kitchen precision of P.F. Chang's and Panini Kabob Grill. While the Ops Summit agenda features deep dives into critical pillars like inventory, labor, kitchen display systems, and operations execution, the core of the conference is dedicated to celebrating these industry leaders who are redefining the guest experience across thousands of locations worldwide.
In addition to this year’s finalists, Ops Summit will bring over 30 influential voices from across some of the most respected restaurant foodservice brands and organizations, including:
- Brenda Almengor, Director, Global Inventory for Royal Caribbean Group
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- Scott Burton, Director of Operations Services for P.F. Chang’s
- Tiziana Capponi, Head of IT Services Support Functions for MSC Cruises
- Ian Davis, Brand Standards Analyst for Wingstop Restaurants, Inc.
- Leon Davoyan, Chief Technology Officer for Dave’s Hot Chicken
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- Jarrod East, Chief Technology Officer for Lazy Dog Restaurants, LLC
- Christopher Hatt, Director of Learning & Development for Miguel’s Jr.
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- Geoff Herrera, Sr. Director of Strategic Ops Services for GoTo Foods
- Lance Hoiby, Vice President of Information Technology for Fox Restaurant Concepts
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- Kimberly Johnson, Senior Instructional Designer for Golden Corral
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- Ali Kazemi, Vice President of Operations for Panini Kabob Grill
- Jason Lechner, Director of Training & Development for Pizza Ranch
- Jyoti Lynch, Chief Information Officer for Smoothie King
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- Peter McDonough, Sr. Manager, Technology Operations for Dunkin’
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- Logan Middleton, Point of Sale Administrator for Fazoli’s
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- Barry Milinsky, Sr. Director of Operations Strategy & NSOs for Dave & Buster’s, Inc.
- Krista Mitchell, Operations Systems Manager for Zaxby’s
- Craig Moore, Product Owner, POS & KDS for Chili’s (Brinker International)
- Danielle Neal, Assistant Director, Business Systems for DMCP Group LLC (Dunkin’ Franchisee)
- Dennis Ogaard, Senior Manager, Operations Services for Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
- Gabriella Parck, Franchise Business Consultant for Gong cha
- Matt Patridge, Program Manager for Dave & Buster’s
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- Andrea Sgueglia, IT Procurement and Logistics Manager for MSC Cruises
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- Chad Steves, Director, Technology Operations for Buffalo Wild Wings
- Craig Story, Director of Training for Ascent Hospitality Management
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- Bob Surbeck, Vice President of IT for The Cheesecake Factory
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- Adam Tekiela, Senior Systems Analyst for Caffè Nero
- Kevin Truong, Director of IT, New Store Openings (NSO) for Torchy’s Tacos
- Andrea Viorel, Director of Training for Silver Diner
- Chris White, Senior Director of Inventory and Menu Systems for OTG Management
- Brian Wise, Chief Operating Officer for Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
About Crunchtime: Crunchtime helps multi-unit restaurants operate every location like their best one. Trusted by 850+ brands across 150,000+ locations worldwide, Crunchtime connects the full operations management lifecycle across inventory management, labor and scheduling, kitchen management, and operations execution, in the industry’s only complete, AI-powered suite. Top operators, including Jersey Mike’s, Five Guys, Smoothie King, Wingstop, and Chili’s, rely on Crunchtime to achieve profitability and deliver great guest experiences every day in every store. To learn more, visit Crunchtime.com.
Media Contact: Julie Rudder, Senior Director of Marketing
jrudder@crunchtime.com