Catersource + The Special Event Schedule 2026
View, browse, and sort the ever-growing list of sessions by pass type, track, and association.
If you are seeing varied colors of session titles, here is your guide:
- Primary Blue = Catersource education sessions
- Dark Blue = TSE education sessions
- Light Purple = Those sessions or events that can be attended by anyone with a Catersource or TSE pass or requires a separate ticket.
Find your best experience by first choosing the pass type you have purchased. This will weed out all other extraneous sessions.
Note: Sessions fill up and seating is first come, first served.
Earn CMP credits!
ALL education sessions at this year's conference are approved by The Events Industry Council to count toward your CMP certification. Keep your professional status up-to-date while enjoying and learning from this incredible lineup of speakers.
Location: The United Theater, 929 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Pass Type: All Access, Ticketed Event
"You Made How Much? And Kept What?" Making Money ≠ Keeping Money
Speaker: Borja Rosales (BOLD Catering & Design)
Location: 306AB
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Business, Financials & Operations
Associations & Accreditations: LCA
AI-Powered Marketing Solutions for Small Businesses: Transform Your Efforts When You're on a Budget
Speaker: Cathy MacRae (Savvy Social Slayers)
Location: 308AB
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Sales & Marketing, TSE-Business, Financials & Operations
Associations & Accreditations: ABC
Beyond the Hashtag: What Real LGBTQ+ Inclusivity Looks Like Behind the Scenes
Speaker: Kirsten Palladino (Equally Wed + Equally Wed Pro)
Location: 406AB
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Weddings & Social Events
Associations & Accreditations: WIPA
Clone Yourself: Bottling Brilliance as a Venue Sales Leader
Panelists: Casey Hahn (Beets Hospitality), Yvette Tenorio (Zilli Hospitality Group), Margaret Brower (Rainmaker Sales & Marketing Group)
Location: 304ABC
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Sales, CS-Leadership & Professional Development
Associations & Accreditations: LCA
Floral Futures: The Top Trends Transforming Modern Event Design
Speaker: Jenice Stallings (Styles By Stallings)
Location: 408AB
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Trends & Design
Marketing Masters 2026: Effective Marketing Strategies for Wedding & Event Professionals
Moderator: Clint Upchurch (Contemporary Catering)
Panelists: Laura Cardo (Kristin Banta Events Inc), Katie Mast (Rock Paper Coin), Julie Novack (Party Slate), Christie Osborne (Mountainside Media)
Location: 411TH
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Sales & Marketing
Regenerative Talent: How to Grow & Keep Your Best People
Speaker: Anthony Lambatos (Footers Catering and MIBE)
Location: 404AB
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Leadership & Professional Development, CS-Business, Financials & Operations
Associations & Accreditations: ICA
Speak Their Language: Shape-Shift Your Communication Style to Win More Business
Speaker: Troy Adams (Carolina DJ Professionals)
Location: 409AB
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Sales & Marketing, TSE-Leadership & Professional Development
Stadium Seats to Luxury Suites: The Future of Catering at Live Sports & Entertainment Events
Speaker: Jeremy Campbell (Proof of the Pudding)
Location: 403B
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Trends, Events & Design, CS-On- or Off-Premise Catering
Associations & Accreditations: ICA
The Soul of Spice: Unlocking The Power & Flavor of Indian Spices & Beyond
Speaker: Keith Sarasin (Aatma Curry House)
Location: 403A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Culinary Arts, CS-On- or Off-Premise Catering
Eventertainment: Turning Dreams into Themes
Speakers: Robin Selden (Marcia Selden Catering & Events and Naked Fig Catering), Jeffrey Selden (Marcia Selden Catering & Events and Naked Fig Catering)
Location: 403B
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Trends, Events & Design, CS-On- or Off-Premise Catering
Associations & Accreditations: LCA
From Creation to Ideation: How to Design for Success with Operations in Mind
Speakers: Sophia Lin Kanno (Access DMC), Thomas Whelan (Access DMC), Kristen Francis (Access DMC)
Location: 411TH
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Event Mgmt & Production, TSE-Event Planning
From Renting to Buying: Moving Your Catering Operation
Speakers: David Porto (Blue Plate Catering), Michael Porto (Blue Plate Catering)
Location: 306AB
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Business, Financials & Operations, CS-On- or Off-Premise Catering
Associations & Accreditations: LCA
Live Event Trends in 2026: Designing Experiences for a Rapidly Changing World
Speakers: David Merrell (AOO Events, Inc.), Anil Pacheco (AOO Events, AOO Floral), Mikala Wilson (AOO Events)
Location: 408AB
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Trends & Design, TSE-Event Mgmt & Production
Scale When You're Solid, Not While You're Spinning
Speaker: Bobbi Brinkman (Bobbi Brinkman Consulting)
Location: 406AB
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Leadership & Professional Development
Scandals in Hospitality: Lessons from the Trenches
Speakers: Suzi Shands (Mintahoe Catering & Events), Stephen Zilli (Zilli Hospitality Group), Fausto Pifferrer (Blue Elephant Events and Catering)
Location: 304ABC
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Leadership & Professional Development
Associations & Accreditations: LCA
Stick It, Spoon It, Put It in a Glass: The Reboot!
Speakers: Eric LeVine (317 Mainstreet | Vice | The James Room | Stage 317), Deborah Gutheil (317 Mainstreet)
Location: 403A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Culinary Arts
The Perfect Pairing: How Sales & Culinary Work Together
Speakers: Keith Lord (Strateje Fourteen), Cassandra DeLisle (Purple Onion Catering)
Location: 404AB
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Sales, CS-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: ICA
Transparent Pricing, Maximum Profit: The New Playbook for Event Professionals
Speakers: Sylvain Gregoire (Senik Group), Sebastien David (Senik Group)
Location: 409AB
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Business, Financials & Operations, TSE-Sales & Marketing
What's Your 911? Smart Strategies & Practices for a Safer Event
Speakers: Charles Moore (MOORE), JoAnn Moore (JoAnn Moore Weddings and Events)
Location: 308AB
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Event Planning, TSE-Event Mgmt & Production
Associations & Accreditations: ABC
Speaker: Jason Sutton (Footers Catering)
Location: 403A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: ICA
Fast Chat - Behind the Clipboard: Real Talk Between Event Profs
Speaker: Tracey Fricke (Occasion Designed)
Location: 406AB
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Leadership & Professional Development
Fast Chat - Booked by the 'Gram: Turning Content into Clients
Speaker: Terrica (Terrica™ Inc)
Location: 408AB
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Sales & Marketing
Speaker: Cassie LaMere (Cassie LaMere Events)
Location: 409AB
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Trends & Design, TSE-Event Mgmt & Production