Mentors to the 2023 Silver Plate Class 

Liz Smith, Former CEO | Bloomin' Brands

• Mentor to David Deno, CEO | Bloomin' Brands 

Willie Brown, Associate Vice Chancellor, Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises | University of California, Santa Barbara

• Mentor to Jill Horst, Executive Director of Campus Dining | University of California, Santa Barbara 

Tom Newcomb, Owner & Principal | Corporate Dining, Inc. & Campus Dining, Inc. 

• Mentor to Sharon Eliatamby, Senior Project Manager | The World Bank Group

Martha Rardin, Former Director, Nutrition and Dietetics | Center for Diabetes Excellence, Hendricks Community Hospital

• Mentor to Randall J Sparrow, Director of Food & Environmental Services | ProHealth Care 

Mary-Rose Hannum, Chief Fresh Food and Beverage Experience | Wawa

• Mentor to Mendy Meriwether, Director of Fresh Food | Wawa

Joe Essa, Founder | MKM Hospitality 

• Mentor to Richard "Dickie" Brennan, Jr., Founder | Dickie Brennan & Co. 

Chris Burkhardt, Chief Operating Officer | Cincinnati Public Schools

• Mentor to Jessica Shelly, Director of Student Dining Services | Cincinnati Public Schools 

Chef Jennifer Bargisen, Vice President, Culinary | Sodexo Live!

• Mentor to Chef Max Knoepfel, Executive Chef | Music City Center 

Paul Brown, Co-Founder & CEO | Inspire Brands 

• Mentor to Rob Lynch, President & CEO | Papa John's International