A variety of Orlando restaurateurs and industry professionals gathered for an “Accelerate” event hosted by What Now Media Group at Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen and Cocktails. The event provided a valuable opportunity for Orlando’s restaurant community to connect and share ideas on navigating the competitive market.
Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen and Cocktails, a contemporary restaurant located at 1336 N Mills Avenue, hosted the free event, bringing together dozens of representatives from businesses featured on What Now Orlando. 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 Mariah Medley, Director of Events and Partner Engagement at What Now Media Group, and featured a range of notable restaurateurs and business owners. Attendees included local restaurant owners such as Devyn Weasel, general manager of Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen and Cocktails, Yensid Adorno, owner of Açai Island Breeze, a fast-casual spot bringing healthy, fruit-forward menu items to Orlando, and Bosco Junior and Adriana Bosco, co-owners of Brave Burger, a fast-casual burger concept planning a third location in 2026.
Other participants included Michelle Sverisson, co-owner of Terra Play Center, a cafe and play center concept; Ricardo Panneflek, owner of Oduro Hashi / Fortuna Bakery, a sushi and bakery concept in Kissimmee; and Tatiana Anderson, owner of Charcuterie Chateau, a pop-up ghost kitchen specializing in meats and cheeses. Additional attendees included Seth Hunter, owner of Bear Hug Brewing Company, set to open a craft brewery in the coming year, Candy Krueger, co-franchisee of Rainbow Cone, and Seraina Hug, franchisee of Wonder Waffle, who is bringing a German waffle franchise to Florida’s coast.
The Accelerate event also welcomed several of What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners, who offered their expertise to support restaurant growth. Representatives from Global Payments, including Jose Saint-Esteben, shared POS solutions tailored for the hospitality industry, while Heartland specialists Randy Pumputis provided guidance on payroll and back-office management. Thomas Duke from Liquid Environmental Solutions Corporation discussed cooking oil recycling solutions to reduce operational costs, and Zach Craver of Easy Ice offered insights on efficient ice supply for foodservice businesses. From SpotOn, Kurt Hayden and Luis Lora Garcia provided advice on POS systems and customer management tools.
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 Mariah to take the conversation even deeper, 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 Orlando restaurant community is eager to continue innovating and evolving, and What Now Media Group’s Accelerate events provide the perfect space for these conversations.
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.
Click here for a complete list of our partners. To learn more about becoming a preferred partner, click here.
