Elaina Morris is the Founding Partner, President, and CEO of Ascend Hospitality Group, which delivers world-class hospitality and culinary experiences across the Pacific Northwest. As an accomplished business owner and community leader, Elaina has over 20 years of experience developing concepts and creating value in various industries. She serves as a trustee for the Washington Hospitality Association's Education Foundation, Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, Samena Club, and Rainier Athletics.

Join Chad Franzen of Rise25 in today's episode of the SpotOn Series as he chats with Elaina Morris, Founding Partner, President, and CEO of Ascend Hospitality Group, about achieving entrepreneurial success in the restaurant industry. Elaina shares how Ascend expanded following a major setback, how she launched Ascend and its various brands, and the lessons she learned as a franchisee.

Karl Goodhew is the Chief Technology Officer at BurgerFi, one of the nation's fastest-growing premium, fast-casual restaurant concepts with 116 locations. As a proven engineer and product leader, he has over 15 years of experience in software development, with more than six years spent managing and overseeing enterprise-level programs.

In today's episode of the SpotOn Series, join Chad Franzen of Rise25 as he sits down with Karl Goodhew, Chief Technology Officer at BurgerFi, to talk about innovative restaurant concepts. Karl discusses BurgerFi's innovative technologies, the importance of innovation in the food service industry, and his transition from retail to restaurants. Tune in!

Brandon and Zane Hunt are the Co-founders and Co-owners of Via 313 Pizzeria, which serves Detroit-style pizza from three brick-and-mortar locations and two customized trailers in Austin, Texas. They are investors in Better Half, Sold Out, Lil Nonna, Parma Pizza, and several other restaurants.

Join Chad Franzen in today's episode of the SpotOn Series as he welcomes Brandon and Zane Hunt of Via 313 Pizzeria to discuss creating authentic products for a restaurant brand. Together, they share the history of Detroit-style pizza, the factors influencing Via 313's growth, and advice for aspiring restaurateurs.

Jem Bourouh is a 24-year-old serial entrepreneur from Germany and the CEO and Founder of Adcubator. Jem's business acts as a marketing agency-cum-venture capital. Jem uses his gained experience, knowledge, and creativity to assist e-commerce businesses in converting their ideas into multimillion-dollar successes. In addition to Adcubator, Jem helped co-found eCom Incubator, an education-focused entity designed to mentor students.

As you reflect on your younger years, what dreams do you recall? Did your circumstances influence your career goals?

Many of us grew up determined to make a better life for ourselves. Some of us even dreamed of becoming wealthy. But those kinds of dreams often do not evolve into fruition. Achieving greatness involves more than just a dream — it takes goal setting, planning, perseverance, and action. Jem Bourouh had a dream, set a plan in motion, and succeeded. But what else accompanied his journey to success along the way?

In this episode of Top Business Leaders, Jem Bourouh of Adcubator sits down with Chad Franzen to discuss his serial entrepreneurial journey. In this discussion, Jem breaks down what motivated him to not only be an entrepreneur but why he aspired to be a millionaire. In his journey, however, he learned that part of being successful meant surrounding himself with a strong community, being disciplined, and treating everyone with respect.

Micha Magid is the Co-founder of Mighty Quinn's BBQ, a fast casual barbeque with 13 locations. He oversees finance and marketing strategies alongside the brand's PR and social media teams. Micha began his career on Wall Street performing mergers and acquisitions for J.P. Morgan before investing in Mighty Quinn's.

In today's episode of the SpotOn Series, join Chad Franzen of Rise25 as he sits down with Micha Magid, Co-founder of Mighty Quinn's BBQ, to talk about franchising his restaurant brand. Micha shares how he co-founded and expanded Mighty Quinn's, his key to success in operating multiple locations, and his ideal franchisees.

Michael Oshman is the Founder and CEO of the Green Restaurant Association (GRA), a national nonprofit organization created to shift the restaurant industry toward ecological sustainability. He has been featured in Time Magazine, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and hundreds of other local and national media outlets. Through the GRA's notable press coverage, Michael has been a keynote speaker and guest lecturer at conferences in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Asia.

In today's episode of the SpotOn Series, Chad Franzen talks with Michael Oshman, Founder and CEO of Green Restaurant Association, about how eateries can implement ecological practices. Michael shares the Green Restaurant Association's mission, how to become a certified green restaurant, and the benefits of sustainability in the food service industry. Stay tuned!

Jim Laube is the Founder and CEO of RestaurantOwner.com, a restaurant consulting firm that has helped thousands of aspiring and struggling restaurant owners succeed and make their dreams a reality.

In this episode of the SpotOn Series, Chad Franzen speaks with RestaurantOwner.com Founder and CEO Jim Laube about how they help new restaurateurs succeed. Jim launched RestaurantOwners.com in 1998, when the internet was still in its infancy. Jim and his team have helped over 65,000 independent restaurant operators achieve their dreams worldwide.

Kevin Suto is the CEO of Zachary's Chicago Pizza, which currently operates five locations in Northern California. He began working at Zachary's as a dishwasher and has been with the company for 38 years. Kevin has assumed many roles, including president and CFO.

In this episode of the SpotOn Series, Chad Franzen sits down with Kevin Suto, CEO of Zachary's Chicago Pizza, to discuss how the company maintains a positive culture and impeccable reputation. Kevin shares Zachary's early history and the company's development, its local and national awards, and how the business supports its employees' growth.

Jeff Tolke is the CEO of Compaction Technologies, providing restaurant automation for touchless handling of waste. Jeff has been with Compaction Technologies for nearly 14 years, helping reduce the volume of waste and divert it from landfills to be a viable resource. Jeff holds an MBA in marketing from Washington University in St. Louis.

In this episode of the SpotOn Series, Chad Franzen speaks with Compaction Technologies CEO, Jeff Tolke, about how touchless automation and compaction are changing how high-volume industries handle waste management. As a child living on a farm, Jeff's experience with zero-waste living shaped his vision for sustainability. He uses his experience and passion to make dirty jobs easier for workers while reducing landfill waste.

Fred Langley is the owner and CEO of Restaurant Systems Pro, a complete operating system for restaurants including organization, hands-on training, apps and software, and more. Fred has been in the service industry since he was 12 years old and opened his first restaurant at age 27. Fred holds an associates degree in Business Administration from Santa Rosa Junior College.

In this episode of the SpotOn Series, Chad Franzen speaks with Restaurant Systems Pro Owner and CEO Fred Langley about how complete operating systems can help restaurants improve profits. Fred started as a client with Restaurant Systems Pro and moved up the ranks to where he is now. He uses his decades of experience as a chef and restaurateur to help build sustainable systems for operating profitable restaurants.