On Tuesday, April 15, local restaurant owners and industry professionals gathered at Crust Pizzeria in Tempe for What Now Media Group’s latest Accelerate event. The event provided a valuable opportunity for restaurant operators to network, share insights, and discuss the latest trends and opportunities in the Phoenix restaurant scene.
Crust Pizzeria, located at 1120 E. Baseline Road in Tempe, hosted the free event, bringing together over two dozen representatives from businesses featured on What Now Phoenix. This included local restaurants and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Attendees networked while enjoying delicious bites and beverages before participating in a presentation focused on strategies for growing and succeeding in today’s competitive market.
The event was hosted by Caleb Spivak, Founder and CEO of What Now Media Group, and featured a range of notable restaurateurs and business owners. Among those in attendance were Mike Mariotti, a partner at Crust Pizzeria, Ricky Williams, a franchisee of Fozzy’s Bar and Grill, and Jin Zhang, founding partner of Ricemill, a modern Asian concept known for its creative takes on traditional dishes.
Other notable attendees included Chuan Lu, co-owner of SONO Kitchen and Boba, and Ulysses Verdugo, owner of Cien Fuegos Restaurant, which serves delicious Latin-inspired cuisine with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Also in attendance were Daradee Olson and Paul Norris, franchise owners of JINYA Ramen Bar, as well as Phuong and Kevin Barth, franchise owners at Russo’s New York Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen.
Eric Zuniga, co-owner of La Michoacana The Ice Cream Spot, and John and Sue Gilbert, franchise owners at Sweet Paris Creperie, also attended, contributing to a dynamic mix of voices from different segments of the restaurant industry.
Among the preferred partners at the event were industry leaders such as Melanie Butcher from E HPS Heartland, which helps restaurants streamline operations through financial technology solutions. Also in attendance were William Cashion, Maria Possemato, and John Navarro from Easy Ice, who provide reliable ice machine subscriptions for restaurants to ensure they never run out of ice during peak hours. Susan Nagi and Dave Cox from Our Town America, which offers direct mail marketing services to help local businesses grow their customer base, also attended the event.
SpotOn, represented by Jake Olsen and Lizette Pohlmeyer, is another partner that attended, offering point-of-sale systems designed to help restaurants increase sales, improve customer service, and optimize operations. Additionally, Vinny Branciforte from Prudential Overall Supply, which provides uniform and facility services to help restaurants maintain professionalism and cleanliness, was in attendance.
The restaurant owners and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners shared valuable insights, operational highlights, and expert advice, creating an engaging and informative evening that was both enriching and beneficial for all attendees.
This led Caleb Spivak to carry the conversation even deeper by discussing critical business points, such as having an exit plan and efficiently managing operations after expanding to multiple locations. After Caleb and the guests shared their tips, knowledge, and concerns, everyone became quickly interested in learning more about their businesses and how they could help one another.
This event served as a valuable platform for both restaurant owners and industry partners to collaborate, brainstorm, and form new connections. It’s clear that the Phoenix restaurant community is eager to continue innovating and evolving, and What Now Media Group’s Accelerate events provide the perfect space for these conversations to take place.
What Now Media Group shares restaurant opening news in 33 cities across North America, breaking news, and provides timely insight into yet-to-open brick-and-mortar businesses. The platform shares news of thousands of openings across all 33 cities annually.
The industry-leading experts in What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners help new businesses open and existing businesses grow.
Stay tuned for future Accelerate events from What Now Media Group in 2025. For more details, see the Accelerate page here.
For a complete list of our partners and to learn more about how to become a preferred partner, click here.
