Speaker Series
The Kitchen Counter at the LRA Showcase
Presented by Ecolab
Located right on the show floor, we invite you to gather around The Kitchen Counter—a dynamic, educational speaker series designed to provide restaurateurs with cutting-edge insights and actionable strategies. This engaging series serves as a knowledge hub for the modern restaurateur, offering a refreshing break with timely topics that are shaping the industry today.
Whether you’re seeking innovative solutions or tips to boost your profit margin, The Kitchen Counter delivers key takeaways that can be immediately applied to your business. Join us for expert-led discussions that will help you stay ahead of the curve and turn challenges into opportunities. Ready to elevate your restaurant’s success? The Kitchen Counter is the place to be.
Saturday, July 25
State of the Restaurant Industry & Economic Outlook
Sponsored by the National Restaurant Association
12:15 - 1 p.m.
Restaurant operators face mounting challenges as rising costs and more cautious consumers put pressure on profitability. Meanwhile, the broader economy and consumer spending reflect a mix of resilience and uncertainty. This session delivers a data-driven analysis of current trends shaping the restaurant and foodservice industry and explores what lies ahead for 2026 and for 2027—helping operators anticipate opportunities and prepare for potential risks in a rapidly evolving market.
Chad Moutray, Ph.D., CBE, is Senior Vice President of Research & Knowledge and Chief Economist at the National Restaurant Association, where he leads economic analysis and provides data-driven insights shaping strategy across the restaurant and foodservice industry. He is a widely recognized voice on economic trends, regularly advising business leaders and contributing to national media and industry discussions.
His career includes senior economist roles at the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Small Business Administration, along with academic leadership experience, giving him a rare depth across government, industry, and higher education.
Restaurant HR Potpourri: Policies, Pitfalls & People with Michelle Anderson
Sponsored by Fisher Phillips
2 - 2:45 p.m.
Michelle Anderson is a Partner with Fisher Phillips and serves as General Counsel for Labor and Employment for the Louisiana Restaurant Association. With more than 25 years of experience in workforce development, executive management, and employment law, she helps employers navigate workplace challenges, mitigate risk, and maintain compliance with federal and state employment laws.
Michelle represents businesses in matters involving discrimination, harassment, wage and hour compliance, disability and leave issues, workplace safety, and labor relations. She also advises employers on policies, handbooks, workplace investigations, training, and human resources best practices. A frequent speaker and trusted advisor, Michelle works closely with business leaders and HR professionals to develop practical solutions that support both operational success and legal compliance.
Sunday, July 26
Keeping Restaurants in Business: Financial Strategies Every Owner Should Know
Sponsored by Accounting Services Unlimited
11 - 11:45 a.m.
Running a successful restaurant takes more than great food and exceptional service, it requires a strong foundation. Join Thomas Fontes, owner of Accounting Services Unlimited, for a discussion on the financial strategies that help restaurants stay profitable, organized, and prepared for growth. In this session we will uncover the financial blind spots that quietly eat away restaurant profits, discover how successful operators track food and beverage costs, monitor vendor pricing, and know when to repair, replace, or lease equipment. You'll also learn how to evaluate labor costs, identify inefficiencies, and use your financial reports to make better business decisions.
Plus, let's see how your restaurant compares to others in the industry. What are top-performing restaurants doing differently? Where are others leaving money on the table? Walk away with practical strategies to improve profitability, strengthen operations, and uncover opportunities hiding in plain sight.
Risky Business: How to Bulletproof Your Restaurant
Sponsored by Johnson, Yacoubian & Paysse
12:15 - 1 p.m.
Alan J. Yacoubian is a partner at Johnson, Yacoubian & Paysse and serves as General Counsel for Business and Government for the Louisiana Restaurant Association. Based in New Orleans, he is a top-rated attorney recognized for his extensive experience in defense litigation, including personal injury defense, insurance coverage, transportation and maritime law, workers’ compensation, class actions/mass tort defense, and general litigation. He has been selected to Super Lawyers annually from 2018 through 2026, reflecting consistent peer recognition for professional excellence and legal expertise.
Alan earned his Juris Doctor from Tulane University Law School in 1985 and was admitted to the Louisiana Bar the same year. Over his career, he has built a strong reputation for his advocacy, legal insight, and commitment to representing clients in complex and high-stakes matters across Louisiana’s business and insurance sectors.
KEYNOTE SESSION: Futurist Shawn DuBravac
Sponsored by New Orleans & Company
2 - 2:45 p.m.
Dr. Shawn DuBravac is a futurist and keynote speaker known for helping Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and startups make sense of complex and rapidly changing trends. He specializes in translating emerging economic and technological shifts into clear, actionable strategies that help leaders navigate uncertainty and drive innovation with confidence.
He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Digital Destiny: How the New Age of Data Will Transform the Way We Work, Live, and Communicate, which examines how the widespread adoption of digital technologies is reshaping business, healthcare, finance, transportation, and culture.