A conversation they can prepare
Use AI to explore another perspective, test an assumption, and draft better questions before coaching or difficult feedback. Then check that context with the person, not only with the tool.
Restaurant, QSR, and fast casual conferences
A restaurant leadership conference keynote for the people who lead the shift.
Planners booking a restaurant leadership conference, multi-unit operator meeting, QSR gathering, or fast casual summit need a speaker who understands frontline leadership and will not turn the hour into a technology forecast. Jon Harmeling gives one keynote, Frontline AI Leadership, on practical AI for frontline managers.
Jon is the owner-operator of Chick-fil-A Miami Shores, where he leads about 90 team members from 18 countries. He is a West Point graduate and Army combat veteran of Afghanistan.
Machines do. Managers decide. Leaders develop.
Send your date and audience. You'll get availability and a quote within one business day.
Audience
Who this keynote is for
- Organizers of restaurant leadership conferences and multi-unit operator meetings who want a practical AI session, not a futurist talk.
- QSR and fast casual audiences: general managers, area coaches, multi-unit leaders, and franchisees responsible for the people who serve guests.
- Leadership teams that want help preparing better coaching conversations, recognizing contributions, and following through on development.
Takeaways
What attendees leave with
The session is built so a restaurant leader can use the ideas on the next shift, not file them away as inspiration.
A contribution they might otherwise miss
Look past the most visible people. Use information you already have to name a specific contribution, verify what happened, and recognize it in person.
A 30-day plan they can keep
Identify one person whose growth you can support, prepare one important conversation, make one leadership commitment, and set a date to follow through.
After the session
Sample outcomes from the keynote
These are the kinds of next steps restaurant leaders take back to their teams. They are applications of the Frontline AI Leadership framework, not promises about sales, speed, or labor cost.
- 1
Prepare a coaching conversation before a shift meeting, then listen and decide in the room.
- 2
Notice a quiet contribution on the team and recognize it specifically, after checking the facts.
- 3
Choose one person to develop, write the first commitment, and put a follow-through date on the calendar.
The speaker
Why a restaurant audience books Jon
Jon is not a futurist. He speaks as someone who still leads a frontline team and uses AI to prepare better conversations, strengthen judgment, and follow through on developing people. Chick-fil-A Miami Shores is part of his credential. The keynote itself is about leadership with AI, customized to restaurant, QSR, and fast casual rooms during the preparation call.
Send your date and audience. You'll get availability and a quote within one business day. A 30-minute preparation call and audience-specific customization are included. One 30-minute virtual follow-up within 60 days of the event is included in both standard paid in-person and virtual keynotes. Check availability.
Planner questions
Frequently asked questions
Is this a restaurant operations talk?
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No. Frontline AI Leadership is a leadership keynote on practical AI for frontline managers: coaching, recognition, difficult conversations, and development. Jon's work as the owner-operator of Chick-fil-A Miami Shores, where he leads about 90 team members from 18 countries, is a credential. The session is not a restaurant operations briefing.
Will this work for a QSR or fast casual conference?
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Yes. The framework is built for leaders responsible for frontline teams. During the 30-minute preparation call, Jon adapts examples, exercises, and discussion to a QSR, fast casual, or full-service restaurant audience.
Do attendees need experience with AI?
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No. The keynote uses a simple framework: Machines do. Managers decide. Leaders develop. The preparation call covers what your audience already uses so the examples meet them where they are.
How do we check availability?
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Jon responds within one business day with availability and a fit assessment. A 20-minute fit conversation to discuss your audience, date, format, and goals. Use Check availability to start that conversation.
Who I speak for
Audiences that book this keynote.
Frontline AI Leadership is for leaders responsible for people. Start with the page that matches your event, or explore the keynote.
Store managers, district managers, and retail summits
A retail leadership summit keynote for store and district managers.
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Miami and Florida keynote speaker
A Miami keynote speaker who still leads a frontline team.
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West Point leadership and AI speaker
A West Point graduate and Army combat veteran of Afghanistan on leading people with AI.
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Bring Frontline AI Leadership to your event.
Share your audience, event date, and what you want your leaders to take away.