Confessions Beyond the Food

What does it really take to grow a business that doesn't depend on you?In this episode, I sit down with Christin Marvin, founder of Columbine Hospitality and author of Multi-Unit Mastery. Christin shares her journey from line cook at 15 to managing partner by age 30, proving that initiative, curiosity, and the willingness to step outside your comfort zone can completely change the trajectory of your career.We talk about why struggling restaurants are often facing a leadership problem—not an operations problem—and what it takes to build leaders who can help your business grow beyond the day-to-day. Christin shares real stories of helping operators identify and develop leaders from within, as well as working through unexpected employee turnover by uncovering the real issues instead of simply treating the symptoms.One of my favorite takeaways was the importance of creating a consistent rhythm of checking in with your team. Whether it's weekly, monthly, or somewhere in between, making time to listen and create a safe space for honest conversations builds trust, strengthens culture, and helps leaders address problems before they become bigger ones.And Christin didn't stop there—she's also offering listeners a free digital copy of her book, Multi-Unit Mastery through the link she shares in the episode.Whether you're leading one restaurant, one department, or one hundred employees, this conversation is full of practical leadership lessons you can put into practice right away.http://www.irfbook.com/

What does it really mean to create a culture of learning?In Part 2 of my conversation with Michael Wolfe, Director of Learning & Development at SEFA, we move beyond training programs and explore how organizations create environments where people continue to grow long after onboarding.We discuss the balance between formal training and on-the-job learning, why leaders should expect mistakes as part of the process, and how creating a safe environment for questions and curiosity leads to stronger teams. We also tackle the mindset that "time is money" and whether investing in employee development is worth taking people out of the field.If you're a leader, manager, or business owner, this episode will challenge the way you think about developing people—and why building a learning culture isn't just good for employees, it's good for the bottom line.In this episode, we discuss:What a culture of learning really looks likeWhy learning doesn't end after onboardingFormal training vs. on-the-job learningCreating an environment where people feel safe asking questionsWhy mistakes are part of the learning processBalancing productivity with investing in developmentHow continuous learning impacts business performance

What if the biggest problem with training...isn't the training?In this episode of Confessions Beyond the Food, Nancy Ridlen sits down with Michael Wolfe, Director of Learning & Development at SEFA, to explore why organizations often misunderstand learning and what it really takes to develop people.Michael shares his unique perspective as someone who entered the foodservice industry just four years ago, offering fresh insights into an industry filled with long-tenured professionals. Together, they discuss why experience doesn't automatically make someone a great trainer, the "curse of knowledge" that experts often face, and why learning is a shared responsibility between the teacher and the learner.You'll also hear practical advice on becoming a better learner, regardless of who is doing the teaching.In this episode:Michael's journey into the foodservice industryFresh observations from an industry outsiderWhy experience doesn't always equal great trainingCommon misconceptions about learning and developmentWhat great learners do differentlyWhy taking ownership of your own learning mattersStay tuned for Part 2, where we'll dive into how leaders can create a culture of learning that drives stronger teams and better business results.

In Part 2 of Confessions: Beyond the Food, the conversation shifts from winning… to what it takes to sustain it.After early success, the real test isn’t talent — it’s leadership, discipline, and how you show up when people are counting on you.Preston Nguyen opens up about what it’s like leading in high-pressure environments — from running kitchens at international music festivals to working alongside chefs from different cultures where systems, expectations, and communication all change.We talk about the reality behind “success”:The pressure that comes with itThe responsibility of leading teams older and more experienced than youThe discipline it takes to stay grounded when everything is moving fastLeading high-performance kitchens under pressureCooking for VIP guests at international festivalsAdapting to different cultures and kitchen systemsThe hidden pressure of early successTreating staff with respect in a high-stress industryBlending old-school discipline with modern leadershipStaying grounded through faith and family Preston also shares his approach to leadership — blending old-school standards with a new-school mindset, treating staff with respect, embracing criticism, and constantly pushing himself to grow.For him, success isn’t just about winning.It’s about staying rooted in what matters:Faith.Family.And creating a real hospitality experience — for both guests and the people beside you.This episode is about character, growth, and what it actually takes to lead at a high level.

At 18, Preston Nguyen didn’t plan on competing in the World Food Championships.He was going to volunteer.Instead, a last-minute opportunity put him in the competition — alongside his parents — going up against chefs with decades more experience… and they walked away as Rookie of the Year.In Part 1 of Confessions: Beyond the Food, Preston shares how everything changed — from a COVID pivot into cooking, to winning Rookie of the Year, to stepping onto Next Level Chef at just 19.This episode is about what happens when success hits early — and the pressure that comes with it.In this episode, we cover:Growing up around family restaurants — but planning a future in architectureThe COVID pivot that changed everythingGetting a last-minute “golden ticket” into the World Food ChampionshipsWinning Rookie of the Year at 18 — and the pressure that followedCatching and cooking his own fish (despite a childhood trauma)Using TikTok to solve a high-level culinary challengeWhat Next Level Chef is really like behind the scenesThe pressure of performing with cameras on and no second chances

AI isn’t the barrier in distribution.Culture is.In this episode of Confessions Beyond the Food, Nancy sits down with Ian Heller — AI expert and Chief Strategy Officer at Distribution Strategy Group — to explore what’s really slowing adoption across foodservice, sales, and manufacturing.They unpack:• Why this AI shift is fundamentally different from past technology cycles• The growing gap between leadership urgency and frontline skepticism• How AI challenges the traditional identity of the sales rep• The fears reps don’t openly admit — from exposure to irrelevance• Why “AI isn’t accurate” may be more about control than data• The leadership mistakes that stall real adoption• How culture quietly overrides strategy inside organizationsThis conversation goes beyond technology — into trust, identity, and the uncomfortable truths shaping the future of distribution.Learn more about Applied AI for Distributors here: https://appliedaifordistributors.com/speakers/

Foodservice sales has always been built on relationships.But what happens when intelligence evolves?In this episode of Confessions Beyond the Food, Nancy sits down with Dr. Elena Park, an AI strategist specializing in sales transformation, to explore how artificial intelligence is already influencing territory management, pricing strategy, commission models, and performance expectations across the foodservice industry.They discuss:• How AI is quietly shaping sales decisions• Whether reps should feel threatened• What will never be automated• How leaders should frame AI internally• What separates average reps from elite onesThis conversation challenges assumptions — and asks a bigger question:Are you preparing your team for what’s already here?

Life can pivot on a single decision — sign the contract, board the plane, lace up before dawn.Shawn Porter’s journey spans a family legacy of military service, deployment to Iraq, and now leading one of the largest sales districts at Edward Don & Company. He shares what it was like returning home to a world that hadn’t changed — while he had — and how he learned to replace military structure with self-discipline in business.We talk about transition, backplanning success, thriving in uncomfortable rooms, and why veterans often excel when persistence decides the outcome. Shawn also reveals how running 100 miles — including the Leadville 100 — became his training ground for leadership.The lesson: choose hard on purpose, so unexpected hard doesn’t own you.Whether you’re a veteran navigating transition, a salesperson building momentum, a leader developing people, or someone chasing a goal that feels just out of reach, you’ll walk away with practical tools for structure, accountability, and resilience you can actually apply. Zero reret living.Resources:W3 Shop - https://w3salesonline.com/collectionsMission Roll Call - https://missionrollcall.org/Outdoor Adventure Therapy for Heroes - https://www.thewarriorskeep.org/

In this episode, Nancy Ridlen sits down with Jeanette Brick, President of iSi North America, for a grounded, no-fluff conversation on leadership built on customer truth, mentor-driven growth, and disciplined listening.Jeanette explains why learning to sell before leading marketing keeps brands from talking to themselves - and how retail instincts translate into food service, where emotional connection meets operational reality. She reflects on the mentors who raised her standards, challenged her thinking without sugarcoating, and pushed her forward without taking control - because comfort may feel kind, but clarity is what works in life and in business.Listening is a leadership performance tool. Jeanette shows how truly hearing people uncovers the real problem, speeds alignment, and drives negotiations. She explains how brand values - quality, safety, savings - flex by customer segment and shares a five-step framework for tough conversations that protects high performers, stops quiet quitting, and rebuilds trust - no “compliment sandwich” required.We close with a candid confession with baking over cooking - precision over improvisation - and the bigger leadership lesson it reveals about staffing to strengths.Resource: https://lnkd.in/gGSma3Cm

When friends and colleagues get together, you’re bound to learn—and laugh.In this episode, host Nancy Ridlen, Principal at W3 Sales, sits down with Shannon Tallon, VP of Merchandising at Edward Don & Company, for a candid conversation about growth, leadership, and facing fear head-on.Shannon pulls back the curtain on the moment her promotion felt both surreal and deeply earned. Together, Nancy and Shannon explore what happens after the big win: navigating new responsibility, choosing courage over comfort, and leading with intention in an industry that often prioritizes speed over connection. From the surprising appeal of janitorial and margin strategy to the power of strong operator–distributor partnerships, this episode blends honest reflection with real-world insight.In true confession style, Shannon also shares what it’s like to be an introvert learning to lead—by stepping directly into the fear that once held her back.In this episode, you’ll hear about:The surreal promotion moment and first reactionsFear, uncertainty, and responsibility after a big winOperators and distributor reps as complementary expertsSpeed expectations vs. the need for real relationshipsAn unexpected love for janitorial—and margin strategyChanges at Edward Don alongside an enduring cultureThe funniest customer product request (and setting boundaries)Balancing assertive and approachable leadershipAn introvert’s confession on moving through fear🎙️ Honest, insightful, and refreshingly human—this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.