AI in Action: A Coffee Chat on What Operators Are Really Experiencing


Pull up a seat for a candid, peer-driven conversation on how AI is showing up in foodservice today. This session will highlight real operator experiences—how teams are using AI, what’s getting in the way, and how organizations are navigating adoption from both operational and IT perspectives.

We’ll explore common barriers, lessons learned, and where AI has the most potential to drive impact moving forward. Expect practical takeaways, honest insights, and an interactive discussion designed to help you identify what AI could look like in your own operation.

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  • Accreditation: .5 CEU - ANFP 
  • Duration: 30 minutes
Learning Objectives
  1. Identify how foodservice operators are using AI today in real-world settings.
  2. Understand common barriers to adoption and how teams are addressing them.
  3. Determine where AI can drive the most value within your operation.
  4. Apply practical guidance for getting started, including navigating internal and IT considerations.

This Coffee Talk is exclusively sponsored and presented by

Meet the Speakers 

Erick Hankinson
Computrition
As a Senior Account Relationship Manager with nearly 20 years at Computrition, Erick works closely with customers to help them maximize the value of their Computrition software solutions. He began his Computrition journey on the Support team after previously working as a customer managing recipes, items, and menus. Since transitioning to Account Relationship Management in 2009, Erick has used his deep software knowledge and customer-focused approach to build strong partnerships, understand operational needs, and help organizations achieve long-term success.
Holly Illions
Computrition
As a Senior Account Relationship Manager with 14 years at the company, Holly works closely with customers of all sizes, from single-site operations to enterprise organizations, to help them get the most out of their Computrition software solutions. Focusing on building strong partnerships, understanding business needs, and delivering solutions that drive long-term success.
Kevin Steffes
CarleHealth
Kevin Steffes is the director of food and nutrition services for Carle Health. He studied chemistry at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Kevin realized his true passions lay in the hospitality industry. Kevin is and has been a food service lifer. Working in any food service venue you can imagine, he has over 30 years of experience, many in leadership positions in the industry. In 2011 he worked for a contract-managed food service operation in healthcare and found his calling. For the last 9 years, Kevin has led the food and nutrition services department at Carle Foundation Hospital, proudly self-operated. His teams are responsible for serving over 3,000 meals per day between the retail and patient populations. Kevin enjoys every aspect of his current role– serving patients, family, staff and visitors to the hospital through multiple venues. In his personal time Kevin spends time with his wife, three kids, and two dogs and the most recent addition to the family grandchild #1.

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