What's with the Pineapple?

After a longer than usual delay (with few noticing frankly), Justin and Emily are back to discuss MRLA Capitol Day, the emotional return of the statewide ProStart competition, why cabbage is a St. Patrick’s Day loser and what’s happening around the Capitol during a very busy legislative session. We then searched the world for the best possible guest and found him right down the hall! MRLA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, John McNamara, joins the pod to share insights from the lobbyist trenches, how he stumbled into this profession and why he came to love it. Finally, we give the people what they want – the oral history of how Johnny came to star in the quirkiest restaurant commercial ever to grace mid-Michigan airwaves. Check it out HERE. Trust us.  

In the newest episode of What’s with the Pineapple? Justin and Emily take listeners up north, onto a ferry (or plane, or ice bridge), across Lake Huron and onto Michigan’s most treasured tourism destination: Mackinac Island. Liz Ware joins the podcast from her family-owned Mission Point Resort property to share the unique experiences that come with operating on an island, her thoughts on H-2B visas, the importance of not standing on the sidelines, and much more. They also cover the important topics such as what to eat during the Big Game, what’s going to happen at the Half Time show, a budget analysis of the Governor’s proposed $74 billion in spending, new national data on the State of the Industry, the launch of the Hospitality Training Institute of Michigan – or is there just a new guy named Tim in the office? - and even feature their first ad read. Have they figured out a title for the Current Events segment yet? You’ll have to listen to find out.

In our third episode we welcome Align Public Strategies founding partner Joe Kefauver and managing partner Franklin Coley for a deep dive into the quickly changing landscape around labor organizing in the hospitality sector. We analyze the ubiquitous NLRB filings tied to Starbucks (including Michigan) and debate whether this recent trend will create a tectonic shift that will forever change the industry or something more ephemeral and less significant in nature. Emily and Justin also quickly go around the horn on the MRLA’s grassroots effort to secure a second round of RRF funding, recap the governor’s State of the State address, review the state of Restaurant and Hotel weeks across Michigan and brace for the potentiality of a Snowpocalypse in Michigan this week.

Emily and Justin are back against all odds for a second episode to discuss how Omicron is “like a swift kick to the *&^% “ according to one brutally honest operator quoted in Restaurant Business magazine. They also discuss a big advocacy win for the MRLA that will help afflicted restaurants and hotels, the possibility of yet another ballot proposal seeking to eliminate the tip credit in Michigan and the appropriate cut off date for wishing someone “Happy New Year”. Then, Restaurant Business magazine Editor in Chief, Jonathan Maze, joins the pod to discuss 2022 industry trends, the marketability of Detroit-style pizza and who owns the rights to most tortured fan base – Minnesota Vikings or Detroit Lions fans. It was an insightful, but also very fun conversation with a national guest. We told you we’d get better! Enjoy. 

MRLA's Justin Winslow and Emily Daunt launch the first-ever podcast from the Association, curiously entitled "What's with the Pineapple?". In this inaugural episode listeners learn the origins of the name, why it is critically important to get it right and then Justin and Emily provide an industry and government affairs update. Then, visionary restaurateur, Jeremy Sasson, of Heirloom Hospitality shares his experience navigating his business through COVID-19 shutdowns, what sets Heirloom Hospitality apart and where he sees the industry going in the years ahead. Listener Note: It's our first episode. We'll get better. We promise.