EXCLUSIVE PODCAST: Surviving the Downturn Panel Discussion | WEEK 1: The Recession's Impact on the Restaurant Industry.
R&I and Chain Leader present a series of weekly podcasts addressing the challenges posed to foodservice by the economic slowdown--and offering insights from leading industry experts. Week 1: The Recession's Impact on the Restaurant Industry.
-- Chain Leader, 10/15/2008 5:16:00 PM
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WEEK 1: The Recession's Impact on the Restaurant Industry | ![]() Listen to or download podcast |
| PANELISTS Moderator: David Farkas, Senior Editor, Chain Leader |
Current Week's Podcast | |
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Awards:
Disclosures: Morgan Keegan & Co., Inc. expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from CEC, CHUX, RARE, RT, TXRH, BJRI, RRGB and CBRL in the next 3 months. |
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Chris Muller teaches on the topics of multi-unit restaurant management, branding and growth at University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management. He also has worked in, created, owned or operated several restaurants over the years. He writes the Starters blog for R&I and operates the Leader of Change Web site. |
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Prior to joining Church’s in January 2005, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Avado Brands, Inc. a casual dining restaurant company with two brands: Don Pablo’s Mexican Kitchens and Hops Restaurant Bar and Microbrewery. Profumo was responsible for all financial functions as well as information technology and human resources. He was also responsible for leading the company’s successful divestiture of its 279 Applebee’s franchise restaurants, generating in excess of $500 million of proceeds. Profumo was also Chief Financial Officer of Randstad North America (RNA), the North American subsidiary of one of the largest publicly traded employment solutions and staffing companies in the world. At the time RNA employed over 50,000 workers and had revenues exceeding $1.2 billion. Profumo began his professional career with KPMG Peat Marwick in 1974 where, prior to his departure in 1997, he served as an audit partner in the firm’s manufacturing, retailing, and distribution practice, specializing in restaurant industry clients.Profumo received both a B.S. in Hotel Administration and a M.B.A. from Cornell University. He is a certified public accountant and a member of the American Institute of CPA’s, Georgia Society of CPA’s and Financial Executives International. |
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Robert M. Derrington, Managing Director, Morgan Keegan
Chris Muller teaches on the topics of multi-unit restaurant management, branding and growth at
Louis J. (Dusty) Profumo, EVP & Chief Financial Officer, 


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