the mraef Restaurant leadership institute Learning series
Program Offerings
2026 - 2027
In partnership with the forward-looking team at Accelerating Leaders, The Restaurant Leadership Institute Executive Learning Series provides practical, instructor-led professional development designed for aspiring leaders, emerging managers, supervisors, chefs, and high-potential employees preparing for greater leadership responsibility. Each workshop delivers immediately applicable skills that improve operational performance, strengthen leadership capability, and support long-term career advancement. Organizations may enroll employees in individual workshops or combine sessions to create customized learning pathways aligned with business goals and workforce development priorities.
Developing the Next Generation of Restaurant Leaders.
Free! Access Resources from the New England Restaurant & Bar Show
Fill out the form to receive the presentation materials from the conference. You can also opt in to be notified when registration opens for any of our Executive Certificate Programs.
MRA Certificate in Restaurant Leadership Program
30+ hours | Launches Sep 2026 | In-person
Ideal for: Restaurant owners, operators, executives, general managers, department leaders, chefs, supervisors, and aspiring leaders seeking practical strategies to improve performance, profitability, and long-term business success.
-
Building on the success of more than 160 Restaurant Leadership Institute certifications, this updated twelve-session executive learning series features new, timely content designed for today's rapidly evolving restaurant industry.
-
Sessions explore leadership, culinary innovation, operations, AI, beverage strategy, guest experience, marketing, finance, and data-driven decision making, equipping participants with practical skills they can apply immediately.
-
Participants may register for individual workshops or complete all twelve sessions to earn the MRAEF Certificate in Restaurant Leadership. Take one or take them all. Choose your own learning journey.
-
Each session is facilitated by accomplished industry professionals and academic experts who bring real-world experience, current industry trends, and practical strategies directly to each session.
Program Highlights
-
Creating Cultures of High-performing Hospitality
-
Engaging an Emerging Workforce
-
-
Building Dynamic Teams
-
Leading Transformations
-
-
Designing Exceptional Experiences
-
Serving Quality
-
-
Mastering Foodservice Financials
-
Data Driven Decision Making in Action
-
-
Marketing Strategically in a Social Age
-
Activating Artificial Intelligence
-
Professional Kitchen Operations Masterclass
1 day | Late Spring 2026 | In-person
Ideal for: Chef-owners, executive chefs, and culinary leaders ready to elevate their operational mindset and lead their kitchens with confidence, clarity, and innovation.
-
Built for today’s evolving restaurant landscape, this program brings together industry experts to explore how technology, systems-based management, and modern leadership practices are reshaping the back of the house.
-
Participants will gain practical insights into:
-
Kitchen technology and AI applications
-
Purchasing trends
-
The leadership skills required to manage a multi-generational culinary workforce
-
Customer service expectations
-
Food innovation
-
Real-world operational challenges
-
Examine the current New England culinary landscape
-
-
Participants will conclude the day with a Professional Kitchen Operations Certificate from the MRAEF Restaurant Leadership Institute, finishing up with an informal networking reception to foster conversations among peers and presenters.
Restaurant Event & Marketing Executives Masterclass
1 day | Late Spring 2026 | In-person
Ideal for: Marketing directors, event and catering leaders, sales managers, and owner-operators responsible for driving revenue through marketing strategy.
-
As restaurants increasingly rely on experiential dining, private events, catering, and digital visibility to grow sales, this program focuses on the technologies and processes that turn marketing and events into predictable, scalable revenue streams.
-
Participants will explore:
-
Innovative hospitality marketing platforms
-
Event management tools
-
CRM and data-driven decision-making
-
Operational workflows that align sales, marketing, & operations
-
Modern approaches to digital marketing
-
Social & experiential branding
-
Event sales pipelines & cross-functional collaboration
-
-
Participants will conclude the day with a Restaurant Event and Marketing Executives Certificate from the MRAEF Restaurant Leadership Institute and meaningful peer networking with fellow industry leaders.
* By completing payment, you have agreed to our cancellation policy.
Facilitator: Prof. Brian Connors
Limited Space Available
Designed for chefs, kitchen managers, sous chefs, and culinary professionals preparing for greater leadership responsibility. Participants explore modern kitchen systems, technology, operational excellence, and leadership practices that improve consistency, profitability, and team performance.
Participants will be able to:
-
Improve kitchen productivity through modern operating systems and technology.
-
Apply practical strategies to reduce food, labor, and operating costs.
-
Evaluate emerging culinary technologies and AI applications.
-
Our Culture: Strengthen kitchen leadership, communication, and accountability.
Facilitator: Prof. Brian Connors
Limited Space Available
Leadership begins with people. This workshop equips emerging leaders with practical coaching, communication, and leadership skills that build stronger teams and improve employee engagement.
Participants will be able to:
-
Apply coaching techniques that improve employee performance.
-
Build trust through effective communication.
-
Increase team accountability and engagement.
-
Resolve workplace challenges with confidence.
-
Create a positive team environment that supports retention.
-
Facilitator: Prof. Brian Connors
Limited Space Available
Strong workplace cultures attract, develop, and retain great employees. Participants explore leadership practices that build engaged teams and create workplaces where employees thrive.
Participants will be able to:
-
Foster an inclusive, high-performing workplace culture.
-
Improve employee engagement and retention.
-
Coach and develop future restaurant leaders.
-
Navigate generational differences within the workforce.
-
Strengthen organizational culture through intentional leadership.
Facilitator: Prof. Brian Connors
Limited Space Available
Restaurant leaders must navigate constant change while maintaining operational excellence. This session provides practical strategies for leading change, improving performance, and preparing organizations for future growth.
Participants will be able to:
-
Lead organizational change with confidence.
-
Improve decision making during periods of growth and transition.
-
Align team performance with organizational goals.
-
Build resilience within restaurant teams.
-
Develop strategies that support sustainable business growth.
-
Facilitator: Kevin Gully & Dale Gomez
Limited Space Available
As organizations work to turn AI investment into consistent, profitable performance, the same gaps keep appearing. The Kendall Framework exists to close them, giving your leaders the alignment, your teams the skills, and your organization the operating discipline to ensure AI solves business problems accurately, durably, and profitably.
Participants will be able to:
-
Define AI’s role, expertise and point of view before it begins thinking
-
Define who needs a problem solved
-
Define the specific challenge AI needs to address
-
Define the purpose and the exact work AI is to perform.
Facilitator: Kevin Gully & Dale Gomez
Limited Space Available
Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping restaurant operations. This session provides practical tools that improve efficiency while maintaining the human side of hospitality.
Participants will be able to:
-
Identify practical AI applications for restaurant operations.
-
Evaluate technology solutions that improve productivity.
-
Balance automation with exceptional hospitality.
-
Understand ethical considerations surrounding AI adoption.
-
Develop a roadmap for responsible technology implementation.
-
Facilitator: Prof. Gabriel Urrutia
Limited Space Available
This workshop provides restaurant managers, beverage leaders, chefs, and operators with practical strategies to create innovative beverage programs and seasonal promotions that increase guest engagement, drive sales, and improve profitability. Participants will learn how to develop high-impact holiday offerings, capitalize on emerging beverage trends, and execute promotions that deliver measurable business results.
Participants will be able to:
-
Develop seasonal beverage programs that increase revenue and guest engagement.
-
Design profitable holiday promotions and limited-time offerings.
-
Identify emerging beverage trends and evaluate opportunities for their operation.
-
Apply pricing, menu design, and merchandising strategies to maximize beverage sales.
-
Create promotional action plans that drive guest traffic and profitability.
Facilitator: Prof. Gabriel Urrutia
Limited Space Available
This workshop equips restaurant owners, beverage managers, bartenders, chefs, and food and beverage professionals with practical strategies to build innovative, high-margin beverage programs that drive guest engagement and profitability. Participants will explore the latest beverage trends shaping 2027, evaluate which concepts are right for their operation, and learn how to create memorable beverage experiences that increase sales throughout the year, not just during seasonal promotions.
Participants will be able to:
-
Identify emerging beverage trends and evaluate opportunities for their operation.
-
Develop innovative beverage programs that increase guest engagement and average check.
-
Design balanced beverage menus featuring cocktails, mocktails, zero-proof, and low-ABV offerings.
-
Apply beverage pricing, menu engineering, and cost control strategies to maximize profitability.
-
Implement operational best practices that improve consistency, efficiency, and beverage execution.
-
Facilitator: Prof. Missy Varao
Limited Space Available
Exceptional guest experiences don't happen by accident. Participants learn how intentional service design creates memorable dining experiences while strengthening guest loyalty and business performance.
Participants will be able to:
-
Design guest experiences that create lasting impressions.
-
Improve service recovery and guest satisfaction.
-
Apply hospitality principles that build customer loyalty.
-
Recognize opportunities to elevate the guest journey.
-
Develop service standards that support operational consistency.
Facilitator: Prof. Missy Varao
Limited Space Available
Restaurants can no longer rely solely on great food to drive traffic. This session explores integrated marketing, private events, digital engagement, and experiential hospitality as revenue-generating strategies.
Participants will be able to:
-
Develop marketing strategies that increase guest traffic.
-
Build profitable event and catering programs.
-
Utilize digital marketing and social media to strengthen brand visibility.
-
Create memorable guest experiences that generate repeat business.
-
Identify new revenue opportunities through events and community partnerships.
-
Facilitator: Patrick Renna
Limited Space Available
This workshop provides restaurant supervisors, managers, and emerging leaders with practical financial knowledge needed to improve profitability and make better business decisions.
Participants will be able to:
-
Interpret key restaurant financial reports and operating metrics.
-
Identify opportunities to improve labor, food cost, and profitability.
-
Use restaurant KPIs to support operational decision making.
-
Apply budgeting and forecasting tools to daily operations.
-
Make data-informed decisions that improve business performance.
Facilitator: Patrick Renna
Limited Space Available
This workshop helps restaurant supervisors, managers, general managers, owners, and regional leaders use data to make smarter, faster, and more profitable business decisions. Participants will learn how to interpret key restaurant metrics, identify performance trends, and apply data to improve operations, profitability, labor, and the guest experience.
Participants will be able to:
-
Interpret key restaurant reports, dashboards, and performance metrics.
-
Analyze sales, labor, food cost, and guest data to identify opportunities.
-
Apply KPIs to improve operational and financial performance.
-
Use forecasting and business data to support better decision making.
-
Develop action plans that turn data into measurable business results.
-
Upcoming sessions.
All courses are reimbursable through the Commonwealth Corporation’s Express Grant Program. You need to apply for approval PRIOR to the training, then submit for reimbursement AFTER training. Please see the FAQ section for further details.
By completing payment, registrants acknowledge and agree that all sales are considered final, with cancellations, refunds, or changes handled on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the MRAEF Restaurant Leadership Institute. Please direct any inquiries to Malia Milstein at mmilstein@themassrest.org.
Yes, at checkout you'll have the option to add other available sessions and pay for them together.
Please click HERE to see if you qualify.
Please click HERE for instructions on how to apply for reimbursement.
If you register for the full program with the bundle, we will be in touch with an updated invoice that lists out all 12 courses for reimbursement purpose.
Please contact Malia Milstein at mmilstein@themassrest.org for any further questions.
The program will be held at the Apex Center in Marlborough, MA. Situated off I-495 in Marlborough, the center is surrounded by an exciting array of lodging, dining, shopping, and leisure activities that will surely keep you captivated.
Address:
Apex Center
36-105 Apex Dr,
Marlborough, MA 01572
Your questions answered.
Get the information you need to make the most of your masterclass experience. Browse our comprehensive FAQ section for answers to common questions about program logistics and contents. Still have questions? Don't hesitate to contact us.
Two New One-Day Programs
Professional Kitchen Operations Masterclass
1 day | Late Spring 2026 | In-person
Ideal for: Chef-owners, executive chefs, and culinary leaders ready to elevate their operational mindset and lead their kitchens with confidence, clarity, and innovation.
-
Built for today’s evolving restaurant landscape, this program brings together industry experts to explore how technology, systems-based management, and modern leadership practices are reshaping the back of the house.
-
Participants will gain practical insights into:
-
Kitchen technology and AI applications
-
Purchasing trends
-
The leadership skills required to manage a multi-generational culinary workforce
-
Customer service expectations
-
Food innovation
-
Real-world operational challenges
-
Examine the current New England culinary landscape
-
-
Participants will conclude the day with a Professional Kitchen Operations Certificate from the MRAEF Restaurant Leadership Institute, finishing up with an informal networking reception to foster conversations among peers and presenters.
Restaurant Event & Marketing Executives Masterclass
1 day | Late Spring 2026 | In-person
Ideal for: Marketing directors, event and catering leaders, sales managers, and owner-operators responsible for driving revenue through marketing strategy.
-
As restaurants increasingly rely on experiential dining, private events, catering, and digital visibility to grow sales, this program focuses on the technologies and processes that turn marketing and events into predictable, scalable revenue streams.
-
Participants will explore:
-
Innovative hospitality marketing platforms
-
Event management tools
-
CRM and data-driven decision-making
-
Operational workflows that align sales, marketing, & operations
-
Modern approaches to digital marketing
-
Social & experiential branding
-
Event sales pipelines & cross-functional collaboration
-
-
Participants will conclude the day with a Restaurant Event and Marketing Executives Certificate from the MRAEF Restaurant Leadership Institute and meaningful peer networking with fellow industry leaders.