Improving Restaurant Operations and Financial Performance Through Management & AI

The Village of Skokie Economic Vitality Division invites you to learn practical strategies to strengthen your restaurant business at this interactive panel discussion led by experienced SCORE mentors with decades of expertise in restaurant operations, marketing and technology. Topics include financial performance, guest experience, AI-powered business tools, digital marketing, community partnerships, and management best practices.

This free session is open to food establishments operating in Skokie and Evanston. Space is limited.

Moderator

Robert F. Miller, SCORE North Cook & Lake County Chapter Co-Chair & Mentor

Panelists:

Bruce Kaplan: Certified SCORE mentor is a 40-year veteran of the restaurant industry. Bruce has experience in all aspects of starting a business from planning to successfully operating a profitable operation. His career includes 21-years holding positions of General Manager and Regional Vice Present – Director of Operations at Levy Restaurants.  Bruce also founded Good Eats Restaurant Group as an individual owner where he also served at General Manager for 9- years. He completed his career as General Manger, Field Training Multi Unit Manager and Market Manager at Portillo’s.

Margaret Eastwood: Certified SCORE mentor and frequent presenter.  Margaret retired as a Vice President at Johnson & Johnson’s Medical Device business and holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science. She is an expert in artificial intelligence, search engine optimization, and digital marketing and works with SCORE clients to move their businesses forward.   Margaret also has held executive positions with several large corporations and co-founded two startup companies. 

Topics:

The panelists will work interactively to cover critical aspects of restaurant operations including real world demonstrations of AI that lead to success. Topics covered include:

• Financial Diagnosis
• Service Flow, Guest Experience and Ambiance
• Marketing, Digital Presence and Loyalty
• Community Partnership
• Management System and Monitoring