Robbie Schloss didnt set out to build a milkshake empire. In 2017, he and his business partner opened Shore Club, a 12,000-square-foot beachside restaurant on Chicagos North Avenue Beach. Seasonal by design, Shore Club thrived in the summer months but l

In this session ofRising Tides Live, hosted byShawn Walchef, the focus was on public speaking and the Stage Theoryhow showing up on stage, online, or in front of a camera creates opportunities far beyond the moment. Guests opened up about their own f

Adam Rainy and David Valentine did not plan on becoming business partners. Adam was a Cisco rep, David was running Nic and Normans in Georgia, and their connection was just another transaction in the busy world of restaurants. But over time, the two foun

In this session ofRising Tides Live, hosted byShawn Walchef, the conversation explored the shifting landscape between old media and new mediaand what that means for storytellers, business owners, and consumers alike. From newspapers and cable TV to po

Kevin Planovsky career in digital strategy and hospitality was not built overnight. After more than a decade running his own boutique agency in Atlanta, he joined Croud, a global, tech-enabled marketing agency, to help lead U.S. growth. For Kevin, the dra

In this session ofRising Tides Live, hosted byShawn Walchef, the conversation centered on the uncomfortable, unpolished, and ultimately rewarding process of building in public. Whether youre launching a product, reshaping your brand, or just trying to

Nils Westlinds path to owning a trio of Chicago hotspots was anything but direct. Raised in Colombia and relocating to Chicago at 15, he entered hospitality through a side hustle and stayed for the creativity, community, and chaos. After years working fo

Denny LiPira didnt leave Applebees because things were bad. In fact, after 26 years with the brand, things were going well. He had worked his way up from hourly employee to Director of Operations, overseeing 13 restaurants across Florida and Georgia. Bu

In this session of Rising Tides Live, the community gathered for a special Ask Shawn Anything, where host Shawn Walchef took questions from the group and encouraged everyone to do the same. From a former dishwasher turned GM sharing leadership lessons, to

For years, food shows have followed the same formula: booths, samples, vendor brochures. But US Foods is flipping that script with Food Fanatics 2025, an immersive event designed to inform, inspire, and recharge restaurant operators. At the center of this