GLI Made Easy: Unlocking the Power of Guest Feedback in Qualtrics

Understanding and using GLI data in Qualtrics to improve guest experience and store performance.

Stephanie Gesink, Jamey Heal, Roman Stokes

Session A – Room 304/305

Session B – Room 304/305

Executing a Top Performing Buffet

This breakout session is for anyone involved in overseeing buffet operations on a day-to-day basis.  We will discuss food quality and the overall guest experience.  You will leave this session inspired with tangible ways to elevate the buffet experience in your restaurant.  We can’t wait to spend time with you in Des Moines.

Chris Anderson, Greg Hill, Schuyler Noteboom

Session A – Room 308-310

Session B – Room 308-310

Session C – Room 308-310

Inevitability – the War Against Depreciation Refresh/Remodel/The Secret Weapon

There is a quiet war going on within your restaurants and the enemy opponent is depreciation.  Most people think of depreciation as a tax qualification, but it is something much more.  Depreciation is a very real expense that lowers the value of your restaurant over time and the long-term return on investment.  Most rarely engage in this warfare and as a result must concede in surrender to this long-term battle.  This presentation will give you the tools to prepare for and combat the long-term enemy we call depreciation and empower you to fight in this war towards long term return on your hard-earned investment.

Jed Harding, Rory Larsen

Session C – Room 314/315

Session D – Room 314/315

1% Better In your Fun Zone – Running High Impact FunZone Shifts

In this breakout session, discover how applying the “1% Better Every Day” mindset can lead to big results in your FunZone. Inspired by the British Cycling Team’s transformation through small, focused improvements, you’ll learn practical ways to elevate guest experience, game uptime, and team impact. Walk away with simple, actionable strategies to create a high-performing FunZone—one shift at a time.

Stephen Hasara, Joe Vander Stelt

Session A – Room 316/317

Session B – Room 316/317

FunZone Guest Conversions: Turning Dining Guests into Players

In this session, Restaurant General Managers and Franchisees will learn key best practices from top operators driving successful FunZone conversions. Discover proven strategies that transform diners into engaged players, boosting both revenue and guest satisfaction. Walk away with actionable tactics to elevate your FunZone’s performance and drive greater profitability.

Shannon Raser, Joe Vander Stelt

Session C – Room 316/317

Session D – Room 316/317

Cleanliness is an Attitude: Creating the best environment to help achieve a clean restaurant!

In this interactive presentation, we’ll review tools to help efficiently achieve a high level of cleanliness in your restaurant. Then, we’ll discuss some best practices around prioritizing cleanliness including addressing the labor factor. We’ll also include conversations with some top operators running clean restaurants.

Chris Peterson, Julie Andrew, Scott Parrill

Session A – Room 306/307

Session C – Room 306/307

Income Statement 101 for Managers

This is a class for beginner managers to learn about Income Statements.  We will be exploring the basic parts of the Income Statement (sales, food costs, labor, etc.).  Come ready to ask questions, we will walk through the Income Statement together and learn from each other.

Dean Kooima

Session A – Room 314/315

Financial Statement 101 for Franchisees

This is a class for franchisees that want to learn more about their financial statements.  We will take a beginner view of the Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Key Ratios.  You will leave knowing more about a financial statement along with the key numbers to look at as an owner.

Dean Kooima

Session B – Room 314/315

The Slice is Right: Cutting into Your Labor Waste

Come to learn and understand more about labor and its impact on the restaurant. The tools provided will drive efficiency and dollars back into your workplace.

Brady Groeneweg, Roman Stokes

Session C – Room 304/305

Session D – Room 304/305

Revel-ution! POS Knowledge for the People

Join the Revelution! Reduce frustrations and take the future by storm learning more about the Revel POS System.

Ben Boice, Tristan Coy

Session B – Room 306/307

Session D – Room 306/307

Getting Community Impact Fundraisers back on track

This breakout with explore practical strategies to revive, refresh, and re-engage your community through Community Impact Fundraising events.  Learn from the best – not just the basics, but also fresh ideas how to boost participation and connect with local organizations.

Jordan Harmelink

Session A – Room 312/313

Session B – Room 312/213

Spanish 101: En El Restaurante

Attendees of this session will be delighted to join our fiesta (party) as we provide Spanish-themed treats and raffle prizes that will help create a positive learning culture. Every attendee will learn by speaking the Spanish words and phrases, not just listening to the presenters speak Spanish as if it were a YouTube video. The focus of this session is to have attendees leave knowing a handful of key restaurant phrases and words in Spanish, as well as proper verb conjugation that will help build confidence in the manager and culture in the restaurant.

Emily Sievers, Jason Lechner

Session D – Room 312/313

Play to Win… and Learn!

Shall we play a game? Tired of the same old training breakout session where they talk, and you listen? Then come check out this 100% hands-on, activity-based breakout session. Attendees will learn to improve their communication skills with their new hires, co-managers and workers, their District Managers and owners, and the Pizza Ranch Support Center. Additionally, the vital leadership skills of reflection, critical thinking, team building, and cultural differences will be learned through the art of doing.

Jason Lechner

Session A – Room 302/303

Session B – Room 302/203

Manager-in-Training in the Digital Age

As Pizza Ranch has grown, so has the engagement in our Manager-in-Training (MIT) program. We continue to see record-setting numbers in annual completions of this program. Yet, the digital age has captured us! In an effort to allow better speed and service of the program as well as convenience for the learner we are moving away from the heavy (and expensive) three-ring binders to having the program 100% online. Come to this session to learn from the Pizza Ranch Inc. experts on how to facilitate MIT training in the digital age!

Jael Miller, Phil Kuiken, Lea Walters

Session C – Room 302/303

Session D – Room 302/203