Jon Taffer 

Jon Taffer is an internationally recognized, award-winning restaurant operator, owner and concept developer.
He's a respected industry "voice" with nearly 30 years of hands-on experience, and is president of the
Nightclub & Bar Media Group, which includes the Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show, Nightclub & Bar magazine and related digital media products. Taffer is also star and co-executive producer of the successful
Spike TV "Bar Rescue" series and chairman of Taffer Dynamics where he acts as a consultant and development adviser to the restaurants, nightclubs and hotels around the world. 

Brian Duffy 

A graduate of the Restaurant School in Philadelphia, Duffy defies the trends with his cuisine, maintaining an adventurous and unique flair with every dish. It is for this reason he has headed some of the best kitchens across the country, though he has always kept a home base in Philadelphia. After working with some of the nation’s top chefs, Duffy endeavored to take a shot at the age-old concept of the Irish pub. This is where Chef Duffy spent the last eight years, creating and re-creating Irish cuisine. Now, as the Corporate Executive Chef for Seafood America, Duffy has the ability to reach a wider audience through the retail end, creating bolder dishes & still keeping true to a healthier, more exciting way of cooking and eating. Duffy’s creations are available in most every grocery store chain worldwide. 

Michael Tipps

Michael Tipps began his career in Food and Beverage in New York City where over time he became the bar manager at the prestigious Soho and Tribeca Grand Hotels for Grand Life Hotels. It was here that Tipps was taught the essentials of classic mixology by the person responsible for bringing the classic cocktail craze back to the United States, Sasha Petraske of Milk and Honey fame. In 2008 Tipps moved to Los Angeles and in 2009 partnered with David Foss to form Est1854 llc, a food and beverage consulting firm.