Agenda – 2023
Agenda 2023
Monday // December 4, 2023
| Registration
All attendees, sponsors and speakers must check in at the registration desk and pick up a name badge. Please wear your badge at all times during the Summit.
| Exhibits
Spend some time in our tech pavilion, where you'll learn about products and services dedicated to improving your company's operations.
| Welcome & Opening Remarks
Host
Cherryh Cansler
VP of Events
Networld Media Group | Opening Keynote
As consumers seek more engaging forms of entertainment, the amusement industry has been on an upswing, thanks in no small measure to self-service technology. Mike Abecassis, owner of the Florida GameTime family entertainment chain, shares his inspiring journey in his multi-faceted gaming operation. Gain insights into the challenges he faced, the strategies he devised, and the innovations that have propelled him to the pinnacle of success. Discover how one man's vision and dedication have paved the way for a new era of self-service technology, offering a roadmap for success that that transcends industries and inspires us all.
Keynote Speaker
Mike Abecassis
Founder & CEO
GameTime & General Vending Service
| Networking Event
Join us at the start of the Summit for a chance to network with attendees, speakers and sponsors over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
Tuesday // December 5, 2023
| Breakfast
| Keynote Session
Today’s travel experience is vastly different than it was 20 years ago thanks to digital initiatives that can remove friction and barriers nearly every step of the journey. Travelers have become accustomed to the convenience of booking and managing their trips, requesting rideshares, checking in to hotels, and more — all via their smartphone. They have significantly more control over their experience, and the next frontier of this innovation is airport dining. Learn how kiosks, mobile order and pay, and vending are transforming how and where travelers eat while on the move.
Keynote Speaker
Neil Thompson
VP, Digital
HMS HostPresenters
Steven MacArthur-Brooks
Director, Non-Traditional Development, Burger King, U.S. & Canada
Restaurant Brands International
Morgan Petty
Interactive Experience Account Director
Frank MayerPresented by Frank Mayer – Kiosks and Displays
| Break
| Kiosk Focus
The growth of check-in kiosks in recent years has drawn a host of new equipment and technology players to the market. User verticals have expanded beyond travel, health care, hotels, lobby, and hospitality to include many types of businesses and organizations. How does an organization determine what capabilities they need for a check-in kiosk, and what qualities should they seek in a provider? This session will offer some insights.
Panelists
Ray Bonneau
VP of Client Solutions
Virdee
Roxann Favors
Assistant Aviation Director/Chief Revenue Officer
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Harikrishna Patel
Board Director
Asian American Hotel Owners AssociationModerator
Jeremy DuPont
VP of Product & Marketing
Kiosk Information SystemsPresented by KIOSK Information Systems
| Vending Focus
Customer preferences nowadays are more diverse than ever, with calls for gluten-free, sustainability, functionality and more. How can a convenience services operator know what products will meet the needs of a diverse and demanding customer? What resources are available? A panel of experts weighs in on the process.
Panelists
Jeremy Cauble
Director of Strategic Innovation
Canteen North America
Ray Friedrich
CEO
East Street Business Advisors
Drew Munro
Co-Founder & CEO
UpMeals
Danelle Russell
Senior Director of Brand Marketing
Five Star Food ServiceModerator
Ryan McWhirter
VP of Product Management
365 Retail MarketsPresented by 365 Retail Markets
| Lunch
| Kiosk Focus
As the “phygital” economy has expanded, self-serve kiosks are playing an important role in allowing brands to combine digital and physical venues to offer an omnichannel shopping experience. How does a brand ensure the same level of customer satisfaction from self-serve touchpoints as attended environments? This panel explores available technology options.
Panelists
Sean Albertson
Founder & CXO
CX4ROCKS
Sassan Rahimzadeh
President
ARYA Cleaners
Alejandro Rodriguez
Founder & CEO
Amerikiosks Corp.Moderator
Elliot Maras
Editor
Kiosk Marketplace & Vending TimesPresented by friendlyway
| Vending Focus
Micro markets continue to expand at a fast pace across the customer landscape, offering more variety than ever. One challenge that continues to undermine the micro-market experience from the operator’s perspective is product shrink. A panel of veterans explores what strategies work best to overcome this challenge.
Panelists
Bridger Keally
Sales Director
Panoptyc
Ryan McWhirter
VP of Product Management
365 Retail Markets
Zachary Oliver
President
Dependable Break Room Solutions
Jeff Ping
Operations Excellence Manager
Aramark RefreshmentsModerator
Wayne Vandekraak
Chief Sales Officer
OptConnectPresented by OptConnect
| Refreshment Break
| Kiosk Focus
Artificial intelligence, machine learning and 5G telemetry are just some of the technologies bringing new capabilities to the self-service market. What new innovations are setting progressive actors apart in today’s self-service playing field? How does a brand or retailer find technology resources? A panel of experts weighs in.
Panelists
Randy Chilton
Chief Marketing Officer
National Entertainment Network
Phil Deckers
Director of Technical Solutions
Sodexo InReach
Glen Ryniewski
Owner
Soaring Strategies
Manuela Zoninsein
CEO & Founder
KadeyaModerator
Mitul Patel
Director of OEM Sales – North America
Zebra TechnologiesPresented by Zebra Technologies
| Vending Focus
New capabilities continue to emerge for micro markets and vending machines. How does a convenience services operator ensure the technology is reliable, user-friendly and accessible to customers with different levels of technical aptitude? A panel of experts weighs in on the process.
Panelists
Andrew Kartiganer
President
Professional Vending Services
Mickal McMath
VP of Retail Operations
Five Star Food Service, Inc.
Patrick Sheehan
President
Sheehan Brothers Vending
Christopher Smith
Operations Manager - Vending Services
Coca-Cola Beverages FloridaModerator
Pete Carmain
VP of National Accounts
NayaxPresented by Nayax
| Refreshment Break
| Kiosk Focus
In today's fast-paced world, cashless payments have revolutionized the way we conduct transactions, providing convenience and efficiency. This session will delve into the crucial elements that drive success for cashless payments in unattended self-service devices. Join us as we explore the key strategies, security measures, and user experience enhancements that businesses need to implement to ensure seamless and secure cashless transactions. Learn how to leverage the power of technology and consumer preferences to optimize your self-service devices and stay ahead in the rapidly evolving digital payment landscape. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock the full potential of cashless payments and drive growth for your business!
Panelists
Mike Abecassis
Founder & CEO
GameTime & General Vending Service
Marcos Acuña
Founder & CEO
QU!CK Scan&Go
Gary Arwin
President
Gator Refresh
Arne Saupe
VP of Technology
Farmer's FridgeModerator
Bruce Rasmussen
Director of Sales
IngenicoPresented by Ingenico Inc.
| Kiosk Focus
At every stage of a self-service deployment, issues can and do come up. Be it integrating different software systems, integrating hardware and software, logistics and delivery issues, connectivity problems, partner and customer relations, etc. In this session, you will hear from implementation experts from Esper and others who have traveled these trails how they addressed real world deployment issues. Their experiences can better prepare you for your own self service journey.
Panelists
Bhavin Asher
Founder & Chief Technology Officer
GRUBBRR
Mike Melton
Consultant, formerly of Refreshing USA
Bill Nulf
VP of Sales
MicroTouch
Lonnie Talbert
CEO
ATM Industry Association (ATMIA)Moderator
Keith Szot
SVP & Chief Evangelist
EsperPresented by Esper
| Break
| Keynote Session
The integration of artificial intelligence makes Kodak Moments more efficient and allows it to successfully tap into different markets. The company has been the trusted partner to retailers and entertainment leaders to prevent the loss of customers due to non-operating kiosks, thanks to tiered services.
Keynote Speakers
Daniel Parker
Technical Services Manager
Kodak Moments
Rick Welch
Sr. Client Services Manager
Kodak MomentsPresented by Honeywell Safety & Productivity Solutions
| Awards Presentation
The Automation & Self-Service Awards (formerly Self-Service Innovation Awards) are the official awards of the Self-Service Innovation Summit and AutomationAndSelfService.com. The awards honor innovators who are leading the way in the advancement of automation and self-service technologies, including vending, kiosks, robotics and AI.
The annual Automation & Self-Service Awards program aims to inspire and educate companies on how automation and self-service technologies can enhance productivity and profitability while optimizing both the customer and employee experience.
Categories include:
- Best Vending Solution
- Best Kiosk Solution
- Best Mobile Solution
- Best Use of Robotics
- Best Use of AI
- Accessibility Award
- Influencer of the Year
Hosts
Cherryh Cansler
VP of Events
Networld Media Group
Dave Wurm
Chief Sales Officer
Networld Media Group
| Networking Event
Join us on the 9th floor Event Lawn, complete with panoramic views of downtown Coral Gable, for an evening of cocktails and dinner as well as magic, mentalism and mystique featuring Magician Comedian Johnny Pizzi, who has been doing comedy for over 30 years. He's been a fixture not only on the Boston Comedy Scene but, all over New England and the East Coast and is also the unofficial Magician of The New England Patriots! Be sure to catch one of his sets and check out some of his close-up magic!
Free to all attendees, speakers and sponsors.
Wednesday // December 6, 2023
| Breakfast
| Kiosk Focus
Today’s technology offers more ways than ever to engage with consumers, but new innovations bring new challenges. Brands and retailers first need to have employees on board when introducing new technology. Veterans offer their insights.
Panelists
Jenifer Brinkman
Director of Business Services
Nova Southeastern University
Achal Kothari
Co-Founder & VP - Business
Bytebeam
Kurt Pahlitzsch
VP of Operations
Doherty EnterprisesModerator
Melanie Endres
CEO
Code Factory SLPresented by Code Factory SL
| Vending Focus
Consumers are looking for more hot foods, but affordable, high-quality options are limited, especially in vending and micro-markets. Micro-markets and vending locations have an advantage over food delivery for the convenience and cost, but many operators lack the technology, product SKUs and data to offer hot meals.Panelists will share lessons learned around technology adoption, product selection and marketing to drive top-line and bottom-line results.
Panelists
Mike Alkurdi
Resident District Manager
Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services
Jason Fitch
Director of Auxiliary Service
Nova Southeastern University
Yang Yu
Founder & CEO
KitchenMateModerator
Elliot Maras
Editor
Kiosk Marketplace & Vending TimesPresented by KitchenMate
| Break
| Closing Keynote
As we wrap up the Summit, this heavy-hitter panel of industry thought leaders will comment on a variety of topics when it comes to self-service and the customer experience.
Panelists
Sean Albertson
Founder & CXO
CX4ROCKS
Marc Crocquet
VP of Business Services
Nova Southeastern University
Steve Lieber
VP of Franchise Development
BurgerFi
Ashye Marcus
Senior Business Development Leader
Just Walk Out tech by Amazon
Neil Thompson
VP, Digital
HMS HostModerator
Bill Stutzman
Director of Strategic Initiatives
VentusPresented by Ventus
| Summit Concludes
Become A Speaker
If you're an experienced restaurant executive who is open to sharing insights with peers from other brands, we'd love to have you join us as a speaker or panelist.