News and Events
2006 Austin, TX - Conference Information:
2006 - Austin, Texas
Fired Up, Inc., the parent company and franchisor of Carino’s Italian Grill
restaurants, recently hosted the first restaurant industry meeting of licensing
and compliance professionals. The event was held on November 2 & 3, 2006 at the
Fired Up corporate office. Twenty restaurant companies attended the conference
representing 43 national brands which support a combined total of 6140
restaurants. These restaurants track and renew over 44,500 various licenses and
permits each year.
Conference attendees agree that licensing and compliance has long been a field without much support. “Our industry desperately needs this type of gathering,�explains conference organizer Bryan Poff, Licensing Manager for Fired Up, Inc. “Now restaurant licensing and compliance professionals have a group not only to support its members on potential pitfalls, but also to work with to proactively engage liquor administrators around the country on problematic policies for restaurant companies.�
Across jurisdictions restaurants are subject to dozens of different license classes and requirements ranging from the obvious liquor, health, tax and business registration to the more obscure permits such as dumpster permits, awning permits, signage permits, concrete planter permits, boiler permits and valet parking permits. “Most people do not realize the headaches that come with licensing and compliance issues within our industry,�explains Shari Conrad, Manager, Legal Services, The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated. “I came away from this conference not only with new information and relationships, but with a renewed energy in doing the licensing aspect of my job.�Courtney Mowry, Director of Licensing & Contracts at Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc. said, “The conference was a breath of fresh air. After 12 years in the business, for me it was the first gathering of its kind. We discussed the challenges we face on a daily basis while trying to coordinate efforts at the federal, state, and local levels of government.
We also agreed that together, as a cohesive group, we can make strides toward improving the often antiquated system of beverage licensing.�Restaurant companies represented at the conference include Applebee’s International, Avado Brands, BJ’s Restaurants, Brinker International, Buca, Inc., Buffalo Wild Wings; Carrol’s Corp., Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, Cheesecake Factory, Inc., Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., Darden Restaurants, Inc., Dave & Busters, Inc., Fired Up, Inc., Ford Restaurant Group, Inc., OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc., PF Chang’s China Bistro, Red Robin International, Inc., Rock Bottom Restaurants, Inc., Texas Roadhouse, Inc. Robert "R.J." O'Hara of Flaherty & O'Hara, P.C., Glen Garey of the Texas Restaurant Association and Beth Austin of the National Restaurant Association were also in attendance.
Conference speakers included Jeanenne Fox-Mills, Sam Smelser, Buck Fuller and Amy Harrison of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Lou Bright and Charles Smarr of the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators, Jim Adams and Dewey Brackin of Gardere, Wynne & Sewell; Doug Stang of Barlap Compliance Corporation, Julia Kanouse and Patricia Melody of the National Restaurant Association’s Educational Foundation and ID Pro’s John Robinson and Howard VanCleave.
“The inaugural conference was a wonderful learning experience and opportunity to meet other professionals who encounter the same issues and challenges that I do on a daily basis. I left the conference with a wealth of information, ideas and resources to bring back to my company,�explains Joanne K. Zern, Paralegal, P.F. Chang's China Bistro. The group is currently planning its next annual conference for the fall, dates and location to be announced. Delegates for the group are also planning to attend the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators business meeting in Seattle next June.
