3 Must-See Events at the NRA Show

If you’re going to the National Restaurant Association’s big show in a week or so, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for what sessions you’d like to attend. It is, to say the least, a large and potentially vertigo-inducing affair, and ferreting out the nuggets of info that are valuable to quick-service can be a challenge. In the May issue of QSR, we covered a number of events that we think are worth your time; in this space, we present three at the top of the heap.

A David Among Quick-Serve Goliaths Wins---How You Can Do the Same!

Thom Crosby, president and CEO of Pal’s Sudden Service, is certainly a David amongst the giants of quick-service. Pal’s, a 20-unit burger chain, consistently beats the competition in every measurable service arena. Pal’s is the first and only foodservice company to earn the ultra-prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce, and its simple “Excellence” approach to customer service and performance is likely to amaze you. Crosby will explain how Pal’s has become the market leader in customer satisfaction, employee retention, food quality, speed of service, and profitability, and he’ll point you in the right direction for improving your own operation. When Crosby spoke last year at Dine America, attendees appeared to be literally stunned by what he had to say.

Saturday, May 21, 2:00pm

Drive-Thru Excellence

Since drive-thru performance is critical to quick-service success, you know QSR has to point you to the best drive-thru info out there. TJ Schier, president of Incentivize Solutions and long-time contributor to QSR, promises that you’ll learn 30+ operational secrets to unlock the power of S.H.A.Q.---TJ is a big fan of the catchy mnemonic; this one stands for “speed, hospitality, accuracy, and quality”---in your drive-thru operation. Those secrets come in the form of tools, tips, tricks, incentive programs and the like that some of the top-performing drive-thrus use. TJ is also great in front of an audience.

A shameless plug: If you can’t make it to Chicago to catch TJ live, you can also purchase a copy of his Drive-Thru Excellence video by visiting www.qsrmagazine.com/store/. Heck, even if you do go to Chicago, you might want to pick up a copy...you know, sort of like buying the album before you see the concert.

Monday, May 23, 2:00pm

Creating Companies Where Women Thrive

The restaurant industry has historically been, and in practice often still is, a boys club. There is, however, a compelling and results-based case for promoting women into the senior ranks of foodservice companies, and this is a good place to hear about it. Former KFC president Cheryl Bachelder, now with the Sunflower Network, will share ways for leaders to advance women, and a panel will address how women contribute to better organizational performance. You’ll also hear what specific steps a chief exec can take to create an environment where women can thrive. An exclusive research partnership between two highly respected groups---the Women’s Foodservice Forum and The Gallup Organization---is behind all of this, so it promises to be good.

Tuesday, May 24, 10:00am

Stop by the QSR booth and say hello, too! We’re in the Franchise Pavilion in booth number 4861.