A variety of Houston restaurateurs and industry professionals gathered at Barbacana for an “Accelerate” event hosted by What Now Media Group. The event provided a valuable opportunity for Houston’s restaurant community to connect and share ideas on how to navigate the competitive market.
Barbacana, a modern dining concept located at 907 Franklin Street, hosted a free event on Thursday, June 11, 2026, bringing together representatives from businesses featured on What Now Houston. This included local restaurants and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Attendees networked while engaging in meaningful conversation and participating in a presentation focused on strategies for growth and long-term success in today’s evolving hospitality landscape.
The event was hosted by Marian Ebhamen of What Now Media Group, who guided discussions throughout the evening and welcomed a diverse group of restaurant owners, operators, and partners.
Attendees included a range of Houston-area restaurant concepts, including Christian Hernandez, Owner of Barbacana, who hosted the evening at his downtown concept. Also in attendance were Jacob Wolfe and Bailey Hull of Brassica, an emerging dining concept expanding in the Greater Houston area.
Victoria Elizondo and Robert Lopez of Cochinita & Co joined the event, sharing insights on their growing Mexican concept. Bobby Teamer and Jenny Teamer of Pudgy’s Fine Cookies were also present.
Additional attendees included Alfred Clemesha of Tacos Frontera, as well as Sanaa Atkins of Tifa Chocolate & Gelato – Houston. Dayo Seton and Funto Seton of Auntie Anne’s also attended.
Representatives from What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners were also present to provide expertise and resources for operators looking to scale and optimize their businesses.
From Global Payments, Marvin Smith and Gregory Edwards shared insights on restaurant payment systems and POS solutions. Amy Laughlin of ARF Financial LLC offered guidance on lending solutions for restaurant growth.
Lucy Whittington of Auris provided HR and payroll expertise, while Melinda Hudson of PREP highlighted shared kitchen spaces. Ali Sepehri and Thomas Pham of SLIQUE Media discussed digital marketing strategies, while Beth Hussey and Cassidy Tucker of Shifty shared insights on training and scheduling tools.
The restaurant owners and industry experts shared valuable insights and advice, creating an engaging and informative evening for all attendees.
This led Marian Ebhamen to discuss more in-depth business topics, such as exit planning and multi-location operations. The conversation encouraged attendees to explore opportunities for collaboration and shared growth.
This event served as a valuable platform for collaboration, brainstorming, and networking. The Houston restaurant community continues to show strong interest in innovation and growth.
What Now Media Group shares restaurant-opening news across 33 North American cities, providing timely insights into new brick-and-mortar businesses.
The industry 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.
Houston Restaurateurs and Industry Leaders Gather for What Now Media Group’s Accelerate Event at Barbacana
