WEEK 1: The Recession's Impact on the Restaurant Industry

Dennis Lombardi, Executive Vice President, WD Partners

Inside and outside the industry, they call him “the restaurant guru.” This reflects Dennis’ status as one of the most highly respected thought-leaders in foodservice. Dennis knows what really works for restaurant chains. At WD Partners, Dennis directs restaurant projects with his insights, using in-depth consumer research and his extensive knowledge of industry trends to provide research, growth strategies, and concept positioning.

John Owens, CFA, CPA, Senior Equity Analyst and Investing Specialist, Morningstar, Inc.

John Owens is a senior equity analyst and investing specialist for Morningstar, providing lead coverage of 18 restaurant companies for both retail and institutional clients. He also manages the Ultimate Stock Picker’s Portfolio, which he has done since October 2008, and has maintained the Small Cap Superstars pick list since its inception in October 2007.

Before joining Morningstar in 2005, Owens spent five years as a consultant in capital advisory and corporate restructuring, two years as the chief operating officer at Sandefer Capital Partners (a private equity investment firm), and three years as an auditor for Coopers & Lybrand.

Owens holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and certified public accountant (CPA) designations.

Tim Zagat, Co-Founder, Co-Chair & CEO
Zagat Survey

Tim Zagat is the co-founder, co-chair and chief executive officer of Zagat Survey®, the world's leading provider of consumer survey-based dining, travel and leisure information. 

Zagat Survey was launched in 1979 as a hobby by Tim and his wife Nina, who started to rate restaurants through surveys.  The Survey became so popular that it rapidly developed into a full-time publishing enterprise.

Following their initial success in New York City, the Zagats expanded their concept in the mid-1980's to cover dining scenes in other markets, later adding hotels, nightlife, movies, golf, shopping and a range of other entertainment resources. 

In 2000, the Zagats were recognized as Entrepreneurs of the Year by both Ernst & Young and Harvard Business School, and were inducted to New York University’s Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame in 2001. They are also inductees of the Hospitality Hall of Honor and members of the James Beard Who’s Who in Food & Beverage.

Tim has served in various prominent, civic, cultural and charitable capacities over the years – most recently for three years as the chairman of NYC & Company, the official marketing, promotion and tourism arm of New York City. He is currently a board member and vice president of Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP). 

Tim earned an L.L.B. from Yale Law School in 1966 and a B.A. from Harvard College in 1961.