A diverse group of Austin restaurateurs and hospitality professionals came together for an “Accelerate” event hosted by What Now Media Group at Industry on Tuesday, December 16. Held at the East Austin venue at 1211 E 5th St., Ste 150, the event provided a meaningful opportunity for Austin’s restaurant community to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss growth strategies in an increasingly competitive market.
Industry hosted the free event, bringing together dozens of representatives from businesses featured on What Now Austin. The evening featured local restaurant owners alongside industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners, with attendees networking before a presentation focused on scaling operations and long-term success.
The event was hosted by Mariah Medley, Director of Events and Partner Engagement at What Now Media Group, and featured a strong mix of emerging and established Austin-area concepts. Attendees included Harlan Scott, owner of Industry, who welcomed fellow operators to the East Austin space. Pablo Vidal Arean, owner of The Fresh Monkee, attended to support the brand’s expansion of better-for-you smoothie concepts in Texas.
Several growing restaurant groups were represented, including Maria and Kirk Risenberg, co-franchisees of Clean Eatz, which is preparing to open its first Austin-area location focused on balanced, health-driven meals. John and Liz Formica, co-owners of Pluto’s Wine Bar, were also in attendance as they plan the opening of their Bastrop wine-forward concept.
The guest list also included Terrell “TJ” Williams, owner of Rosewood Social Club, alongside chef Kendrick King, as the team prepares for a 2026 debut blending dining, culture, and community. From Ugly Dumpling, Adam Geissinger, general manager, attended with chef Guadalupe Gonzalez and assistant GM Tonie Prego, representing the Shanghai street-food-inspired restaurant set to make its Austin debut.
Additional restaurant owners included Kevin Richardson, owner of Rowdy Cowboy, which is bringing a bold, Western-themed concept to the greater Austin area, and Chris Rios, owner of The Vegan Nom, a plant-based favorite preparing to open in North Loop. Also attending were Marcos Barragan, co-owner of Chapala Fiesta, and Gianbattista “Gianba” Vinzoni, Marlo Vinzoni, and Dante Scarano from Cinque Terre / Ciccio Bomba, as the acclaimed California team readies its first Texas project.
More than a dozen Preferred Partners were on hand to support operators with expert guidance. Dan Schrobilgen of Our Town America discussed direct-mail strategies that help restaurants reach new movers in their communities. Kristina Conner from Auris shared insights on payroll and HR solutions designed specifically for hospitality teams.
From Global Payments – Genius Point of Sale, Sherry Willis and Nathan Ralls spoke with restaurateurs about flexible POS technology that supports multi-location growth. Meredith Miller of OpenTable connected with operators about optimizing reservations and guest management, while Mark Rowlands of Prudential Overall Supply highlighted uniform and linen programs that help restaurants maintain consistent brand standards.
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 prompted Mariah to take the conversation deeper by discussing critical business points, including developing an exit plan and managing operations efficiently after expanding to multiple locations. After Mariah and the guests shared their tips, insights, and concerns, everyone quickly became interested in learning more about their businesses and how they could help one another.
This event provided a valuable platform for restaurant owners and industry partners to collaborate, brainstorm, and build new connections. It’s clear that the Austin restaurant community is eager to continue innovating and evolving, and What Now Media Group’s Accelerate events provide the ideal 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 2026. 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.
