We are thrilled to announce that John Kelley, Family Member, Owner, and Chief People Officer of White Castle System, Inc., will be joining the lineup as a business speaker at #MBAConclave!
Bringing more than 30 years of experience with America’s first hamburger chain, John will walk you through White Castle’s success story including initiatives designed to support the growth and development of their team members and teams across their organization.
Learn about White Castle’s unique approach to workforce engagement, and how this iconic company thrives while maintaining a commitment to being socially-responsible, community-minded, team member-friendly—and besides all that—award winning! Follow Your Crave!
John’s Bio
John F Kelley III, Chief People Officer at White Castle System Inc., is responsible for leading the strategic human resources functions with his Organizational Development Leadership Team at White Castle and its subsidiaries, White Castle Distributing and Food Products Division.
John joined the company in 1992 as a coordinator in the International Division and five years later moved to the Human Resources department as Training Manager. He was promoted to Director of Training in 2000 and to Senior Director of Training and Human Resources in early 2001. With the promotion to CPO, he is now responsible for, training, organizational development, employee relations, compensation, corporate services and is a member of the executive council for White Castle. As a 4th generation family member, John’s natural passion for the business translates to a commitment to fostering the company culture of loyalty and putting people first.
John graduated with a B.S. in elementary education from Wilmington College in 1991, and earned a MBA from Ohio Dominican University and is a certified senior professional of human resources (SPHR), and a member of and past Board President of the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART). In the Columbus community, he is a member of the board of Directors of several local agencies and organizations including The Board of Trustees of Ohio Dominican University and The Godman Guild.
John is an avid reader, likes traveling and is a Level II Whiskey Sommelier.
Get ready to revolutionize your understanding of retail—Adam Lukoskie, SVP of the National Retail Federation, will provide an inside look at the latest trends and must-have skills in retail and share key takeaways for all industries. You’ll want to checkout this presentation!
Adam will also be part of our Workforce 2030: Employing Gen Alpha session.
Adam’s Bio:
Adam Lukoskie is SVP, NRF, and executive director of the NRF Foundation. In this role, he leads all major programs, including the RISE Up training and credentialing program and university initiatives, communications, content, fundraising and the board of directors. He ensures alignment between the NRF Foundation and the National Retail Federation on advocacy priorities, workforce issues and research, and develops strategies, programs and activities to help the NRF Foundation provide the skills and resources people need for life-changing careers.
Prior to the NRF Foundation, Adam spent 10 years in multiple leadership roles at Teach For America, one of the nation’s top education nonprofits. He also worked directly with students at the YMCA and a secondary school in London.
He volunteers as a precinct captain for the Washington, D.C., Board of Elections, as a tutor for Higher Achievement, and serves breakfast at N Street Village. He is on the Board of Director of DECA Inc., and serves as Chair of DECA’s National Advisory Board.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, leadership and management from the University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minn.) and a master’s degree in business administration from the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. He studied abroad in China, England, Germany, Morocco, South Korea, Tanzania and Ukraine.
Adam grew up in a small farming community in northern Wisconsin. He currently lives in Washington, D.C., with his partner James and five-year-old pit bull Nollie.
Kate Sumption, Director of Marketing and Operating Partner, and Chelsea Brooks, Senior Marketing Manager and Operating Partner at Cameron Mitchell Restaurants will dish up their expertise at MBA Research Conclave this fall. Kate and Chelsea will discuss marketing strategy across a multi-concept (20, to be precise!) restaurant company. Make your reservations!
Kate’s Bio:
Kate Sumption joined the Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern family in 2010 and currently serves as the restaurant company’s director of marketing. In this role, she oversees all digital marketing, advertising, public relations, local store marketing, restaurant openings, special events and promotional efforts. Sumption also oversees the marketing strategy for their virtual brand, Cluck Norris, that launched in 2020.
In 2023, in addition to Rusty Bucket and Cluck Norris, Kate began overseeing the marketing strategy and initiatives for a handful of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) Specialty Concepts including Cap City Fine Diner and Bar, Lincoln Social Rooftop, Marcella’s, Molly Woo’s, The Pearl, Valentina’s, and Budd Dairy Food Hall.
Prior to joining the Rusty Bucket and CMR team, she worked for The Columbus Dispatch for four years in two different sales positions and two years prior she gained valuable sales experience at the Truberry Group. After Kate earned a Bachelor of Science in consumer affairs from The Ohio State University, she served as the store manager at Arden B for three years.
While in college, she was a host and server for a family-friendly sports-bar national chain and fell in love with working in the restaurant and hospitality industry. For those interested in pursuing a career in the industry and have a strong passion for the work, she suggests investing in your opportunities and surrounding yourself with positive mentors and team members because you can go from the dish room to the board room.
Rusty Bucket and CMR’s culture and the people are her favorite things about working for the company. Her favorite menu items are Rusty Bucket’s Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and the Cacio e Pepe at Valentina’s.
She is a member of the Ohio Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group. She also sits on the marketing committee for Festa.
Kate resides in Hilliard, Ohio, with her husband, Brian, and their two children and silver lab, Lane. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling and watching sporting events.
Chelsea’s Bio:
Chelsea Brooks joined the Cameron Mitchell Restaurants family in 2017 and currently serves as the restaurant company’s senior marketing manager. In this role, she supports all digital marketing, advertising, public relations, local store marketing, restaurant openings, special events, and promotional efforts for a number of the Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) Specialty Concepts, including The Avenue Steak Tavern, The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek, Cameron’s American Bistro, Cento Italiano, The Guild House, Hudson 29 Kitchen + Drink, Martini Modern Italian, and SoCal Kitchen + Bar, as well as Cameron Mitchell Premier Events.
Before joining the CMR team, Chelsea worked for Ohio Heart Group for two and a half years as the physician relations & marketing coordinator, and before that she gained valuable sales experience at HMB. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in strategic communications, with a minor in Spanish from The Ohio State University, after graduating a semester early in December 2013.
While in college, she worked as a fundraiser with Ohio State Calling, and learned the value of clear communication. During the summer between her junior and senior years, Chelsea worked as a marketing intern for CMR, and quickly realized her passion for hospitality marketing. For those interested in pursuing a career in the industry, she suggests being relentless in the pursuit of your goals, and don’t take a moment or opportunity for granted.
CMR’s culture and the people are her favorite things about working for the company. Her favorite menu items are the Butternut Squash Tortelloni at Martini Modern Italian and the Pub Burger at The Pearl.
She is a member of the Destination Experience Marketing Committee (Experience Columbus), as well as the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee. She was awarded the NextUp Columbus award in June 2024, by the Columbus Young Professionals organization.
Chelsea resides in Hilliard, Ohio, with her husband, Craig, and their two dogs and cat, Brandy, Henry, & Flora. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, and reading.
We’re thrilled to announce our opening session keynote speaker—and it’s a name you may recognize. JD Cummings, Senior VP of Recruiting at Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, was a conference favorite at #MBAConclave22 in Minneapolis.
This year, JD is returning to share Raising’s Cane’s secret sauce of success: The company was recently named one of the best workplaces in America by USA Today. You won’t want to miss it!
We’re excited to welcome Corey Timlin, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Head of Consumer Banking for American Express to our #MBAConclave lineup!
Corey will share the innovative work at American Express, including what he’s learned from spearheading the company’s thriving Consumer Banking practice. American Express, long a mainstay on Fortune’s List of Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance, took the top spot last year.
Corey’s Bio:
Corey joined American Express in January 2022 and is based in Powell, Ohio. As Head of Consumer Banking, Corey and his team are focused on growing the portfolio by delivering members Everyday Banking products with unparalleled value, service and convenience.
Prior to joining American Express, Corey worked for JP Morgan Chase for 15 years in a variety of Consumer Banking roles, most recently as Head of Core Products & Pricing, leading checking, savings and CD product lines. In addition, Corey spent a number of years in Marketing Analytics roles focused on growing and deepening customer relationships.
Corey is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (Business Administration) and lives with his wife and two young daughters (ages 8 & 6). While most of his free time is spent with his girls, the remainder is spent reading, playing board games and card games with friends, and watching sports (mostly Notre Dame.)
Kent Johnson, CEO of Highlights for Children, will be joining MBA Research Conclave 2024!
Highlights for Children’s mission is to help children become their best selves: curious, creative, confident, and caring. Highlights creates experiences through content that engages, delights, and fosters joyful learning in children, all in service of building a kinder, more empathetic, and optimistic world.
Operating across both consumer and educational markets, Highlights for Children and its subsidiary, Zaner-Bloser, reach millions of children, families, and educators in the US and beyond, in print, video, and across many digital platforms.
Kent will share the story of Highlights magazine, a global brand known for its commitment to social responsibility.
Kent’s Bio:
Kent S. Johnson is Chief Executive Officer of Highlights for Children, Inc. and a member of the corporation’s board of directors. He is also the great-grandson of the company’s founders, Garry and Caroline Myers, who began Highlights in 1946.
Kent has served on the board of directors of Schurz Communications, Inc., of the non-profit MarketingEdge.org, and of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. He currently serves as a board member for Momentum-Excellence. He is also an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).
He received his bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and his Doctorate in Physics from Harvard University. Prior to joining Highlights, Kent served in various roles in research and development, manufacturing, and operations in the biotech industry. He lives in Bexley, Ohio with his wife and two sons.
Customer satisfaction goes beyond front-line employees—our latest Conclave speaker will discuss the internal changes needed for businesses to tackle customer relations sustainably.
Melinda Huntley, Executive Director of the Ohio Travel Association, will highlight the importance of organizational culture in enhancing customer satisfaction. Learn how the Ohio Travel Association prepares organizations to develop the skills and tools to ensure exceptional customer care.
Melinda’s Bio:
Melinda Huntley is the executive director of the Ohio Travel Association, a nonprofit organization supporting Ohio’s $56 billion travel economy through workforce development, advocacy, strategic planning, and connecting businesses to wholesale travel buyers. With career experience in public relations at Cedar Point, running a visitors bureau along Lake Erie, and helping communities develop heritage and outdoor experiences through OSU’s Ohio Sea Grant College Program, she has a unique understanding of opportunities for businesses and communities of any size.
She is a Commissioner for America 250-Ohio which will be celebrated in 2026 and serves on multiple national and statewide task forces and boards, including those focused on World Heritage inscription and trail development. She is a member of the MBA Research Business Advisory Council.