About the Marketing Executives Group (MEG)

The Marketing Executives Group (MEG) is the signature event for the Marketing Expert Exchange Community, a community of restaurant marketing professionals who are connected 365 days a year and come together every May in Chicago preceding the National Restaurant Association Show. MEG raises the level of industry excellence by connecting, inspiring, teaching and challenging each other through the exchange of ideas, thought leadership and best practices.

The MEG 2023 Conference will be held May 17-19, 2023, at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago. Register today! Questions? Contact MEG Program Manager, Jaclyn Sanford at jsanford@restaurant.org. 

2023 Sponsors

Our call for sponsors begins! We invite Industry members to sponsor, support, and participate in our events. Industry members (also known as Allied companies) are defined as industry suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, commodity groups, and other non-restaurant operator companies within the restaurant and foodservice industries to support MEG. We’re delighted to offer a suite of custom package opportunities in addition to custom and a la carte sponsorships and activations that will raise awareness and add tremendous value to MEG. 

If you are an Industry (Allied) member company, you must sponsor the conference to attend. Contact Mia Roberts at partnerships@restaurant.org for available opportunities. 

MEG Steering Committee

Dan Bejmuk
CEO & Co-Founder
Dreambox Creations

Lauren Berg
Brand Manager
The Capital Grille & The Capital Burger

Brandy Blackwell
Senior Director, Marketing
Another Broken Egg Cafe

Alonso Castaneda
Vice President, Brand Development & Strategy
Savory Management

Annica Conrad
Chief Brand Officer
City Barbeque, LLC

Kaffee Hopkins
Director, Brand Marketing
Sterling Culinary Management, Marlow’s Tavern, the Woodall

Timmy McCarthy
Franchise Owner
Cara Zale

Pamela Nedwetzky
Director, Marketing
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

Cassie Pinckney
Director, Marketing
Velvet Taco

Ken Ruff
Head of On-Premise
Demeter & Co.

  • FAQs

    When does MEG meet?

    MEG will take place in-person May 17-19, 2023, at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago.


    Who attends the MEG conference?

    MEG connects individuals who serve their restaurant or hospitality industry company at the highest levels. Professionals active in MEG include Chief Executive Officers, Chief Marketing Officers, Presidents, Marketing and Sales Officers, as well as EVPs, Vice Presidents, Directors and Managers of Brand Marketing, Corporate Communications, Creative and Marketing.


    What companies attend the conference?

    Be among some of the industry's most successful: Bahama Breeze, BarFly Ventures, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Black Bear Diner, Bud's Chicken & Seafood, California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, Captain D’s, Chick-Fil-A, Inc., Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants, Country Cookin, Darden, Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, Dickie Brennan and Co., Eat'n Park Hospitality Group, FAT Brands, Inc., First Watch Restaurants, Focus Brands, Golden Corral, Times Restaurants Inc./Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Inspire Brands, Isaac’s Restaurants, Jason's Deli, Lettuce Entertain You, Marlow’s Tavern, Mellow Mushroom, Movie Tavern, Olive Garden, Pizza Luce, Portillo's, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, Ram International, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group LLC, Salsarita's Franchising, LLC, Schlotzsky’s, Sheetz, Inc., The Signature Room at the 95th, Texas de Brazil Churrascaria, Tiki's Grill & Bar, Tim Hortons Inc., Velvet Taco, Village Inn & Bakers Square, The Wendy's Company, Yard House, Zaxby's and many more.

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