Sam Eppehimer

Blas Escarcega

Connect with Blas:

Kelly Esten

Connect with Kelly:

Somia Farid Silber

Somia Farid Silber serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Edible® Brands, a role she assumed in October 2024 after a transformative tenure as President. As CEO, Somia is dedicated to guiding her family-owned business into its next phase of creativity and expansion, steering the strategic direction for Edible® Brands and its subsidiaries, Edible Arrangements®, edibles.com, and Roti Modern Mediterranean, with a focus on innovation, growth, and expanding the brand’s market presence.

Connect with Somia:

Chen Feller

Chen Feller is Digital Marketing Manager for GKI Group. GKI Group is a home for technologies and innovations, bringing even the craziest and most ambitious ideas to life. With a strong team of engineers, marketers, and years of experience in the startup business, the group owns, manages, and founded over 16 companies, scaling from patent-pending technologies to robotics to single malt whiskies.

Connect with Chen:

Kate Finley

Kate Finley is the founder of Belle Communication, a best-in-class PR and creative strategy firm that helps brands think bigger for now + next. The firm has partnered with more than 100 brands, including Shake Shack, First Watch, The Halal Guys, Nestlé, and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

Connect with Kate:

Alexander Florio

Alexander co-founded Swob in 2017, driven by a passion to transform the job searching experience. His background as a Senior PR and Marketing Associate has fueled Swob’s innovative approach to recruitment. Alexander’s strategic vision has been integral in steering the company towards significant milestones, including the launch of the platform and its recognition in entrepreneurial contests. His dedication to improving job access reflects in Swob's continued growth and influence in the recruitment industry.

Connect with Alexander:

Marlo Fogelman

Since opening its doors in 2004, the agency has won more than 30 communications industry awards for excellence across public relations, communications, digital and social media. Marlo has also received numerous accolades and distinctions, including being recognized as one of Boston’s “40 Under 40” by the Boston Business Journal in 2006. She is a member of the 2007 class of the Emerging Leaders Program at the UMass – Boston, and was named one of the seven most innovative Bostonians by BizBash magazine in 2011. In 2019, Marlo was awarded the Pinnacle Award for Achievement in Entrepreneurship from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and was selected as one of the 28 notables in Boston magazine’s cover story “The Powers That Will Be” in 2019.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Marlo is a graduate of Boston University School of Law and holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Boston University’s College of Arts & Sciences.

Connect with Marlo:

Jason Fry

Jason is intimately familiar with state and federal tax programs affecting employers, and also focuses on compliance and risk mitigation for workforce regulatory issues. Earlier in his career, Jason worked for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Georgia State University’s College of Law, the Clayton County Solicitor General’s Office and a private civil litigation law firm. Jason received his law degree from Georgia State University and is a member of the State Bar of Georgia.

Connect with Jason:

Nick Fryer

Nick Fryer has over a decade of experience in the logistics industry, spanning marketing, public relations, sales enablement, M&A and more at 3PLs and 4PLs including AFN Logistics, GlobalTranz, and Sheer Logistics.

Connect with Nick:

CJ Gaffney

CJ Gaffney is VP, Group Strategy Director at Partners + Napier, where he leads brand strategy that connects cultural insights with business impact. His experience across fast food, health, and travel has made him an expert in finding the emotional tension behind everyday decisions — from dinner rush cravings to carving out time in the family calendar to moments that matter in care. He's a 4x Effie winner and 2x Jay Chiat winner, working with brands like Smashburger, Checkers & Rally's, Applebee's, BurgerFi, Jack Daniels, MD Live, and Delta Vacations.

Connect with CJ:

Robin Gagnon

Robin Gagnon, co-founder and CEO of We Sell Restaurants, a brand that has carved an unparalleled niche in the industry as the nation's leading and only business broker franchise focused on restaurants. Under Robin’s leadership, We Sell Restaurants has grown to 45 states where it dominates the restaurant space for sale marketplace and franchise resales, delivering on the founder’s vision to Sell More Restaurants Than Anyone Else.

Connect with Robin:

Eric Galkin

Eric Galkin was recently promoted to Chief Supply Chain Officer for Paris Baguette North America bringing with him thirty years of proficiency in high-end procurement and supply chain operations. He spent the last three years as VP of Supply Chain Management successfully solidifying the strategy to help the organization reach its goal of 1000 cafés opened by 2030.

Connect with Eric:

Doug George

Doug George is the Senior Vice President of Project Management for the Institutional Segment for Duke Manufacturing, a privately held, global foodservice equipment manufacturer. 

John Gilbert

John is the owner of Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café at Scottsdale Quarter, which will be opening in November 2024. He brings with him 30 years of cross-functional sales, marketing and operational management experience, including over 10 years of franchise experience, owning multiple franchises in the food industry alongside his wife Sue, where his primary focus is management and financial oversight.

Connect with John:

Kyle Gordon

Kyle Gordon is the visionary behind Dillas Quesadillas, a premier fast-casual brand serving up Texas-style quesadillas since 2013. The business actually began as a business plan Kyle wrote back in his college days at the University of Texas in the early 2000s. To prepare for business ownership, he spent seven years learning the ropes at Raising Cane’s, climbing the ladder from shift supervisor to Managing Partner. That hands-on experience instilled a deep passion for great restaurant culture and efficient systems. Today, Kyle runs the business alongside his wife and co-founder, Maggi.

Connect with Kyle:

Jason Graf

Connect with Jason:

Julie Gregg

Julie Gregg has more than a decade's worth of insights and data experience, researching various sectors and consulting significant companies.

Connect with Julie:

David Greschler

David Greschler is a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience building and leading successful tech ventures, including Softricity (acquired by Microsoft). As CEO and co-founder of NomadGo, he is transforming inventory management through AI, spatial vision, and augmented reality to make the process faster, more accurate, and easier to use. Known for his strength in product strategy and go-to-market execution, David holds seven patents and has a track record of launching category-defining innovations that simplify complexity and drive real-world impact.

Connect with David:

Jill Griep

I pride myself on building strong client relationships, leading high-performing teams, and delivering creative, strategic solutions under tight deadlines and budgets. Skilled at problem-solving and managing multiple priorities, I thrive on helping clients achieve measurable results while fostering collaboration and trust. I also enjoy fully immersing myself in all aspects of my clients’ businesses, recognizing that marketing is just one slice of the whole pie.

Connect with Jill: