Contributors
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jason Graf
Jason Graf is the Vice President of Product Management – Secure Edge Networking at Netsurion. He has spent 20+ years in IT and cybersecurity. In 2018, he joined Netsurion to ensure business needs are met by the edge networking technology platform and services.
Julie Gregg
Julie Gregg has more than a decade's worth of insights and data experience, researching various sectors and consulting significant companies.
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.
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.
Kelly Grogan
Kelly Grogan is a seasoned hospitality leader with expertise in driving revenue, scaling businesses, and optimizing catering and marketing programs. Known for creative problem-solving and a hands-on approach, Kelly has collaborated with major restaurant brands to enhance visibility and profitability. Specializing in business development, team leadership, and operational excellence, Kelly helps brands build community connections, drive growth, and unlock untapped revenue potential.
Alex Hager
Alex Hager is the Beverage R&D Manager for TOUS les JOURS' US locations. She started as a Barista in Seattle Washington 15 years ago, before earning her Master's in Korean Language. Alex worked in cinema in Korea before returning to the US to bring her creative passion for food, drinks and exceptional hospitality to her current role. In 2022, she became the first US Coffee in Good Spirits National Champion to compete at the World Championships in Milan, Italy. Outside of work, Alex enjoys exploring national parks by bike, ski, and on foot.
Joe Hannon
Joe Hannon is the General Manager for Inventory and Sales at Restaurant365. He works with the product team to drive the vision for the operations side of the software. He cut his teeth in the industry, managing restaurants for 11 years before switching to the tech side. After a few years of implementing software, Joe decided he wanted to help build it and moved to the product team. Joe loves movie and game nights with his wife and two kids and can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under 90 seconds.
Patrick Hardy
Patrick Hardy is Americas Disaster Planner. He's a Certified Emergency Manager®, Certified Risk Manager® and a FEMA Master of Exercise Practitioner®. He is the only person in the world who holds all three of these important disaster management certifications.
Morgan Harris
Harris has worked in accounting since 1998 and earned his CPA license while working with PriceWaterhouseCoopers. In 2011 as software was moving to the cloud, Harris, John Moody, and Tony Smith decided to focus on the restaurant industry and Restaurant365 was born. In his role at Restaurant365, Harris supports large accounts, strategic partnerships, and works on executive level sales. Harris is passionate about software its potential to help growing restaurant businesses.
Daniel Hawes
Dan is a writer, producer, academic researcher, and technology entrepreneur. His portfolio encompasses an array of creative and technical works: he has developed and produced twelve television series, nine films, over fifty games, and pioneered applications in Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality. Dan’s work marries the worlds of technology, design, and academic research. As an adjunct research professor in the School of Information Technology at Carleton University, he explores the use of advanced technologies to optimize cognition within immersive learning environments.
Will Hernandez
Will Hernandez is a media strategist for BackBay Communications, a Boston-based public relations firm that specializes in fintech companies. Prior to BackBay, Will was a bank technology reporter for American Banker. Will previously served as the editor of Mobile Payments Today for five years.
