TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES

Fred is the managing partner and co-founder of Results Thru Strategy. His expertise in strategic planning, leadership development, and business development has assisted numerous companies in increasing sales and profits.

His areas of expertise include strategic planning, organizational development, executive coaching, performance management, marketing strategy, and the enhancement of technology-based systems. Fred’s four decades in the hospitality industry include stints as COO, CEO board member, and President of a number of hospitality and technology brands, including Flat Rock Grille, Ruby’s Diner, Fishbowl Marketing, and Louise’s Trattoria. Inc. Magazine featured his admirable turnaround for Louise’s, which included design, concept development, food production, IT systems, and operational executions.

Virginia Allen is a highly accomplished accounting and finance professional with over two decades of extensive experience. Her expertise lies in optimizing end-to-end accounting integration, demonstrating a proficiency that enhances both operational and financial efficiencies. Beyond traditional accounting, Virginia’s strategic leadership emphasizes the critical importance of integrated systems and processes that seamlessly align with organizational objectives. This strategic approach not only contributes to enhanced profitability but also ensures the success of key financial initiatives.

With a proven track record of success, Virginia has played instrumental roles in supporting franchisees such as Papa John’s Pizza and Wahlburgers, and has collaborated directly with renowned brands including Tijuana Flat’s and the local Orlando establishment, Zaza Cuban Comfort Food. In each role, she has showcased a remarkable ability to navigate complex financial landscapes, consistently delivering results that positively impact the bottom line.

Virginia Allen holds a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of South Florida, further underscoring her commitment to excellence in the field.

Briana Benson’s focus is in competitive and market analysis, database creation, cataloging and organization, as well as business development. This includes providing on-site and virtual data collection, competitive research analysis, background information, as well as administrative support as needed for the partners and clients at RTS.

Briana has worked on a variety of projects at Results Thru Strategy with clients such as Goldco, Which Wich, Brugger’s Bagels, Brixx Wood Fired Pizza, Xenial, Fishbowl Marketing, Walk On’s, and The TAO Group.

She has a Bachelor’s in History from Western Carolina University, and a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Studies from University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

• 10+ years of client service in multiple positions across various professional industries.
• 5+ years with focus on client experience and management, schedule maintenance, and workflow troubleshooting.
• Deep retail experience with consumer products and hospitality across a wide spectrum of environments and applications.

Jessica has been working in client services for the entirety of her career. She has experience in various industries, most recent being Veterinary Medicine and animal wellness. Her time spent client-facing across a vast number of industries has bolstered her ability to meet client needs while fostering sustained, positive professional relationships. This allowed her to explore her penchant for finding creative solutions to questions and issues at hand.

Couple this with a year of experience assisting with professional social media marketing, and two decades of social media experience from the scope of a ‘Very Active User’, Jessica is a noteworthy addition to supplement the needs of any team.

Mike Lukianoff is an expert in data science and predictive analytics in the industry. Many of his patented inventions, processes and methods have become industry standards particularly related to pricing, menu management and site forecasting.

As founder of predictive analytics firm Czar Metrics, he blended econometrics, consumer research, big data, social media and predictive analytics to change how the industry captures and analyzes data. In 2015 Czar Metrics was acquired by Fishbowl, where he served as Chief Analytics Officer until June 2019. He and his companies have advised many of the industry’s largest and most innovative companies including 6 of the top 10 restaurant brands. Mike is also on the board of Bite Kiosk, a leader in self-ordering touchscreen kiosks with facial recognition.

Mike is an active Alumnus of the Cornell Hotel School, where he is a frequent guest lecturer.  He is also a Fellow of the Culinary Institute of America and advisory board member of the Financial Leadership Exchange.  He also sits on several private advisory boards.

James McGehee is responsible for the financial services practice of RTS. He specializes in the creation and implementation of scalable, non-proprietary financial and information technology systems that align with each client’s specific needs.

McGehee’s project work includes arranging a private placement for a small, fast-casual chain seeking a financial sponsor. James has held positions from Senior Financial Analyst to Vice President of Finance to CFO, and has worked for a broad spectrum of hospitality brands, including Hamburger Hamlet, El Gallo Giro, Ruby’s Diner, Pasta Pomodoro, Una Mas Restaurants, and Chevy’s Mexican Restaurants. Among McGehee’s talents are strategic planning, financial controls, cash flow management, accounting processes, financial analysis, and insurance and payroll systems. His strengths lie in integrating systems, streamlining operations, and eliminating wasteful overhead.

As a restaurant industry veteran with more than 30 years’ experience, Brenda Parker has held IT leadership roles with several brands, such as CKE Restaurant Holdings, DineEquity, El Pollo Loco, Denny’s, Taco Bell, Sizzler and Gloria Jeans.   She led the Information Technology department for Great Circle Management, a Krispy Kreme and Noodles and Company franchise organization, awarded a Nations Restaurant News IT Innovation Award and a Murtec IT Project of the Year Award.

Brenda has managed large projects, system rollouts and infrastructure upgrades; built and trained IT support teams; helped companies establish steering committees, project management offices and organized cross functional teams; consulted for franchisors and franchisees of such brands as: Burger King, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, McAlisters, Grill Concepts, Peet’s Coffee and Tea, just to name a few.  Brenda is a change management professional with deep roots in operations providing her with the ability to translate technical processes into understandable operation-centric applications.

Brenda is a past steering chairman of the NRA’s MIS Study Group, has served on technology advisory boards and was awarded a Committee Contributor of the Year Award by Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF).

Christopher Sebes provides technology strategy to operators, private equity owners and technology companies. He was most recently President of Xenial (formerly called Heartland Commerce), a major player in restaurant and retail management technology.

Prior to his role at Heartland Commerce, Christopher founded XPIENT, which was sold to Heartland Payment Systems in 2014. Christopher was also the co-creator of Twenty20 Visual Systems, the first Microsoft Windows point-of-sale company.

He received a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in England and has managed hotels and restaurants in Europe and the U.S.

Ariel is a systems expert with special knowledge of Compeat RADAR, robust software that integrates various back-office functions.

Ariel launched her career while still in college, working as a catering manager for regional powerhouse Knights Catering in San Francisco. She gained more catering experience as she climbed ranks at two other firms before becoming Catering Director at Copia, the prestigious center for food and wine in Napa Valley.

In 2008, Ariel joined CTUIT, a technology firm, and began providing restaurants with solutions for problems relating to general ledger, sales, AP, inventory, recipe prep and recipe scaling.  She had the privilege of being a trusted, influential strategic technology consultant to many exceptional, enterprise restaurant groups.  She also directed the account managers team for professional services and provided daily support for client accounts representing $8.5 million in ARR in RADAR.

Ariel holds B.S., in Hospitality Management and Commercial Tourism from San Francisco State University.

Michael Walters is a hospitality industry executive with thirty years of experience in both corporate and franchise operations. His expertise in building operational systems and processes, leadership development, franchising, and strategy has helped companies to improve operations along with sales and profits.

He has worked in a variety of restaurant concepts, including full service, quick service, and fast casual operations. Michael has held COO roles with Pokeworks, Roti Modern Mediterranean, and Fast Sandwich, LLC. Prior to his executive roles, Michael filled Vice President roles with Potbelly Sandwich Shop as VP of Ops and VP of Franchising during his fifteen years with the company. During his tenure at Potbelly, Michael helped the company grow from 6 company locations to over 350 corporate and franchise locations. In his earlier years Michael started his career working for Houston’s Restaurants where he learned how to execute exceptional service and operations.