Steve Mitrione from Cintas and FastCasual.com editor Valerie Killifer prepare to start the day. Cintas was a Platinum sponsor of the Fast Casual Executive Summit, held in Chicago Oct. 10-12.

Elaine Ashcraft worked check-in duty for food tour participants. Pictured left, Andrew Hunter, an event speaker and founder of Culinary Craft.

A view from above shows the crowd building in the lobby of the Sofitel in Chicago. Day one of the Summit included a fast casual food tour and opening cocktail reception.

Platinum sponsor MonkeyMedia provided bananas for registrants.

Michael Fagen with Duke Marketing (left) visits with Peter Truitt of Truitt Brothers, a Gold sponsor of the Fast Casual Executive Summit.

The Fast Casual Executive Summit has been billed as a "party with purpose." From left: Tim Hug and Brian Bailey from Old Carolina Barbeque Company, and Mark Peebles and Jason Sheets from OinkADoodleMoo Smoky BBQ.

From left are Ralph Gamberdella and David Williams, franchisors of OinkADoodleMoo Smoky BBQ; and Mark Peterson, Integrated Control Corp.

The Fast Casual Industry Council used the occasion for a board meeting. Pictured (from left) are David Wolfgram, Paul Barron, Louis Basile, George Green, Linda Duke, Ed Frechette, Don Fox, Larry Reinstein and Husein Kitabwalla.

The first night included a sponsor reception. Dick Good (second from left), CEO of FastCasual.com, spent time with reprensentatives from Platinum sponsor MonkeyMedia. They were (fron left) Chad Penner, Jay Zimmerman, Danielle Wolf and Erle Dardick.

Josh White (left), from Silver sponsor ReadyTalk, shared a drink with Thomas Dentice, co-founder of Tom and Eddie's.

Kirk Michelson from sponsor Service Management Group enjoyed the complimentary drinks with Lori Walderich from Idea Studio.

Ed Rensi, founder of Tom and Eddie's and former CEO of McDonald's, discussed the event with FastCasual.com's Jason Ashcraft.

Ruth Cooley, a representative from Platinum sponsor NEC, spoke with a fellow attendee.

Amy Rockmore, Jeanne Wolff and Joe Saunders attended from Silver sponsor BrandStand group.

Thomas Dentice (left), co-founder of Tom and Eddie's, met up with Dave Brewer from SpinFresh.

Bobby Renaud, with FastCasual.com, showed appreciation to Mo Asgari. Mo is with Platinum sponsor MonkeyMedia.

Dave Brewer and David Moore, from Gold sponsor SpinFresh, listened while colleague Rory Milliken addressed the reception.

Rory Millikin, right, adjusted a SpinFresh, a centrifuge that spins fat content from food.

Larry Stewart, lead singer for Restless Heart, headlined the Summit's opening reception.

Stewart played to a crowd that enjoyed his music as background for mingling and munching.

Craig Dunaway, president of Penn Station East Coast Subs, sampled some reception fare.

Paul Barron, chief digital brand manager for Ghengis Grill, and his date, Darice Wiegel.

Dan Pittard (Rubio's), Russ Bendel (The Habit Burger Grill) and Linda Duke (Duke Marketing).