A variety of South Florida restaurateurs and industry professionals gathered for an “Accelerate” event hosted by What Now Media Group at Kitchen 57. The event provided a valuable opportunity for Miami’s restaurant community to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss strategies for navigating an increasingly competitive market.
Kitchen 57, a chef-driven dining destination located at 7301 SW 57th Ct STE 100 in South Miami, hosted the free event on Thursday, May 28, bringing together representatives from businesses featured on What Now Miami. This included local restaurant operators and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Attendees networked and built new relationships before participating in a presentation focused on strategies for growth and long-term success in today’s restaurant landscape.
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 leaders from across South Florida. Attendees included Michael Altman, chef-owner of Kitchen 57, whose South Miami concept is known for its chef-focused approach and neighborhood appeal.
Other attendees included Fernanda Bruna and Erjon Musaj, partners at The Daily Focaccia, and Diego Bruna, operations partner for the concept. The upcoming restaurant is preparing to bring authentic Italian focaccia and café culture to West Palm Beach.
Additional restaurant owners included Corey Barden, franchise owner of EggBred, and Jacqueline Barden, co-owner of the brand. EggBred is preparing to debut its first South Florida location, introducing its breakfast-focused menu to the region.
The event also welcomed Pranav Vankawala, co-franchisee of Barrio Burrito Bar, along with Ross Constandse, head of the brand. The growing concept continues to expand its footprint throughout the region with its fast-casual Mexican-inspired offerings.
Another notable attendee was Daniel Figueredo, Sanguich’s partner. The acclaimed sandwich concept has earned significant recognition for its Cuban-inspired menu and continues to grow throughout South Florida.
Representatives from several of What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners attended to provide expert guidance and support. Randall Pumputis, territory manager at Auris, shared insights into HR and payroll solutions that help restaurant operators streamline workforce management and administrative tasks.
Also in attendance was Jason Courville, outside sales rep at Auto-Chlor System, who discussed sanitation and operational solutions that help restaurants maintain efficiency and cleanliness. Ozzie Zamora, regional sales manager at A Head for Profits, spoke with operators about the installation, maintenance, and optimization of draft beverage systems.
From Eazy Grease, Bradley Scott, sales associate, and Danielle Femat, administrative assistant, connected with attendees about used cooking oil recycling programs and sustainability initiatives designed specifically for restaurants. Meanwhile, Carlos Rodezno, sales exec. at Restaurant Technologies, discussed cooking oil management systems that help operators improve consistency and reduce labor demands.
Restaurant technology solutions were also a major topic of discussion throughout the evening. Carlos Pompei and Guillermo Gongora, hospitality specialists with SpotOn, shared information about point-of-sale and merchant service solutions designed to help restaurants improve guest experiences and streamline operations. Richard Viana, SRM at Global Payments, spoke with operators about payment processing and restaurant technology tools that support business growth.
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 Medley 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 Mariah 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 Miami 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 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.
