8:30-9 AM Networking/Registration
9- Welcome from Think Local First- Nizam Ali/Stacey Price
9:20-10:30- Panel: Nuts and Bolts of Getting Started
Moderator: Keith Sellars- WDCEP
Speakers:
- ABRA Representative
- DCRA Representative
- Geoff Dawson- Riot Act/Ripple/Rocket Bar
- Noah Karesh- Blind Dog Café
- Nizam Ali- Ben's Chili Bowl/Ben’s Next Door
10:30-11:30- Panel: Financing, Leases and Build Out
Moderator: Nizam Ali- Ben's Chili Bowl/Ben’s Next Door
Speakers:
- Bill Bonstra, Bonstra Haresign Architects LLP
- Jeff Banks- Bank of Georgetown
- Orestes del Castillo- OdC Studio & Interiors LLC
- Frank White- Leasing expert
- Ty Neal- Matchbox
11:30AM-12:30PM- Panel: Creating, Branding and Marketing Creative Concepts
Moderator: Raj Aggarwal- Provoc
Speakers:
- Anthony Hesseslius – Linda Roth and Associates
- McKee Floyd - Sweet Green
- Geoff Dawson- Riot Act/Ripple/Rocket Bar
- RAWDC Representative
- Perry Smith- Matchbox
- Joe Engler- H Street
12:30- Lunch/Break
12:45-1:45- Panel: Greening Your Restaurant Plan- On and Off the Plate
Moderator: Steve Ma-Live Green
Speakers:
- Andy Shallal- Busboys and Poets
- Addie Spahr Kim- Green Living Consulting
- Alan Lamb- Drink Well
- Dawn Montcrief- A Well Fed World
- Adrienne Edmands- Fat Worm Composting
- Ron Rodriguez- Clean Currents
- Sheliyah -Sweet and Natural
1:45-2:45- Panel: The Food: Where You Get It and Who Cooks It
Moderator: Andy Shallal- Busboys and Poets
Speakers:
- Ellen Gray- Equinox
- Aman Ayoubi- Local 16
- Seth Cooper- White House Meats
- McKee Floyd - Sweet Green
2:45-3:45- Panel: How to Hire the Attract and Retain the Right Staff
Moderator: ROC-DC (PANEL PROVIDED BY ROC-DC)
3:45-4:45- Doing Business Locally
Moderated: Stacey Price- Think Local First DC
Speakers:
- Andy Shallal- Busboys and Poets
- Nizam Ali- Ben's Chilibowl, Ben’s Next Door
- Aman Ayoubi- Local 16
- Geoff Dawson- Riot Act/Ripple/Rocket Bar
4:45- Closing Remarks
