Know where to sell this week.

Ed Rensi is the former president and CEO of McDonald’s USA, where he led a period of extraordinary growth, doubling U.S. sales to more than $16 billion and expanding the brand from nearly 6,600 to more than 12,000 restaurants. During his tenure, he helped spearhead innovations including Chicken McNuggets, the McRib, drive-thru expansion, fresh-tossed salads, and Extra Value Meals.

Today, Ed brings decades of restaurant operations, franchising, small business development, and localized marketing experience to RiplyTable’s Advisory Board. He is the co-founder of Rensi Consulting Group and has held leadership and advisory roles with Famous Dave’s, FAT Brands, Great Wolf Resorts, LeaseCake, Bite Ninja, Clocked In, EnergyBox, and other emerging companies. A respected speaker and commentator, Ed offers invaluable insight into restaurant growth, sales, workforce development, and the practical realities of building profitable hospitality businesses.

Christian P. Árkay-Leliever, renowned hospitality designer, has received international recognition for his creative lead in the fields of product, exhibit, and hospitality design. His imagination and inspirations transform brands into experiences. He crafts an emotional connection between the consumer, brand, and environment in which they exist, through creativity, innovation, and hospitality.

Ren Ostry has spent nearly 15 years getting chefs excited about sustainable seafood and the local alternatives hiding in plain sight. Featured in Vogue, Forbes, and Inc, she has brought regional seafood to farmers markets and kitchens across NYC, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. Her passion is to move chefs beyond the expected menu staples and toward seafood that is local, responsible, and worth talking about.

Mike Harrington is the Sr. Manager Organizational Learning & Development at Boston Beer Company. He has been at BBC for 18 years in positions such as National Sales Training Manager, Sales Trainer, District Sales Manager, and Brewery Representative. He and his team are responsible for driving engagement, education, and development while improving the skill sets of all BBC coworkers. The team conducts instructor-led training classes, heads up organizational leadership initiatives, and partners cross-functionally to provide solutions to BBC development opportunities. Mike can answer your questions regarding product and program sales and merchandising, scaling distribution, and strategically driving results through an organization.

With more than 17 years of sales and leadership experience in the beverage industry, Chad has worked on both the distributor side and supplier side with some of the world’s most successful beverage companies, as well as legacy family-owned businesses and rapid-growth startups. Chad’s expertise spans commercial strategy, partnership development, and B2B beverage sales. He is passionate about helping hospitality companies create solutions that strengthen operations, accelerate growth, and deliver measurable value to operators and partners.

Harry has had a lifelong passion for restaurants, culture through food, and overall hospitality.

Coming from entrepreneurial blood, Harry founded Drinks2Go in 2023 in response to post-Covid trends in the F&B world. Harry and his team continue to focus on ways to make the end-consumer experience better, prioritizing convenience without compromising quality, and he enjoys working closely with operators of all different types.

Drinks2Go currently services over 800 establishments, anywhere from your local bagel shop or cafe through sports stadiums, multi-unit chains, and entertainment facilities.

Harry holds his BA from the University of Wisconsin, is a big NY area sports fan, and will always be interested in trying a new restaurant.

Katie Sullivan Geelan is an award-winning sales leader with more than 15 years of experience building and scaling go-to-market strategies. After holding multiple leadership roles at EF Education First, she transitioned to Toast, where she has spent the past two years consistently exceeding quota, earning President’s Club recognition, and becoming one of the company’s top-performing Account Executives. Selling directly to restaurants every day has given Katie firsthand insight into the challenges of prospecting and the competitive advantage that comes from finding the right intelligence at the right time. She is passionate about helping sales teams uncover meaningful insights, build stronger relationships, and win more business across the hospitality industry.

Joseph “Chef Joe” Armstrong is an award-winning chef, restaurant executive, and entrepreneur with over 30 years of hospitality experience. Founder of The Angry Tomato and The New Englander Kitchen Consulting, he has owned and operated multiple restaurant concepts and specializes in operations, strategic sourcing, purchasing, cost control, and business development. He has also developed a branded line of specialty sauces, dressings, rubs, and seasonings. Chef Joe brings hands-on industry experience and a strong understanding of restaurant purchasing, product development, profitability, and growth strategy.

Lauren James is a Social Media Strategist specializing in influencer marketing, brand partnerships, and event execution, working across a variety of luxury wine and spirits brands. Her experience combines creative storytelling with relationship-building to create engaging content and memorable brand experiences. Lauren is passionate about connecting brands with their audiences through authentic, impactful marketing and bringing creative ideas to life.