A variety of Washington, D.C. restaurateurs and industry professionals gathered for an “Accelerate” event hosted by What Now Media Group at Via Roma. The event provided a valuable opportunity for the DMV’s restaurant community to network and exchange ideas on how to grow and thrive in a competitive market.
Via Roma, a contemporary Italian restaurant located at 2606 Connecticut Ave NW, hosted the free event, bringing together over two dozen representatives from businesses featured on What Now Washington DC. This included local restaurants and industry-leading experts from What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners. Attendees enjoyed bites and beverages while participating in presentations focused on strategies for expanding operations, optimizing growth, and navigating the fast-paced 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 owners. Attendees included local restaurant operators such as Biagio Cepollaro, managing partner of Via Roma; Alaina Hallmark, marketing director of Playa Bowls, known for their vibrant, healthy smoothie bowls; and Alayna Jackson, VP of operations at Playa Bowls.
Other notable participants included Chris Amendola and Jennifer Chung of Amendola Restaurant Group LLC, creators of Forged, a contemporary sit-down restaurant bringing culinary innovation to DMV diners; business representatives from Dogfish Head Alehouse and Clarity; and Mackenzie Ryan, marketing director for Copperwood Tavern, both chain franchises that are adding to the local dining scene. Darya Yekta, location manager of Kusshi Sushi, which specializes in modern Japanese fare, and Ashley Blake, owner of Prim’s Cafe, a bright new coffee shop in the area, also attended. Stephanos Andreou, owner of Gigi’s Pasta, rounded out the diverse restaurant group, along with Sam Gray and Becky Gray, co-owners of Bunnyman Brewing, which brings craft beer and casual dining to Fairfax.
The event also hosted representatives from seven of What Now Media Group’s Preferred Partners, who shared industry insights and operational expertise. Scott Sawyer from A Head For Profits provided guidance on draft beer equipment and installation. Howard Joseph of Auris discussed HR and payroll solutions for growing restaurants. Bill Wang and Stephen Berry from Global Payments – Genius Point of Sale offered insights on streamlining restaurant payment systems. Megan Friedman of OpenTable shared strategies for leveraging reservations technology to increase customer engagement. Ken Black from Restaurant Technologies, Inc. spoke about automated cooking oil management systems to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Additionally, Ben Fox and Brad Quint from SpotOn highlighted POS solutions and operational support for restaurants looking to scale.
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 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 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 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.
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.
Photo: Official
