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.
Location: The United Theater, 929 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Pass Type: All Access, Ticketed Event
SEARCH Foundation Annual Signature Event
Location: The Palm Court at Alexandria Ballrooms 501 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Pass Type: Ticketed Event
"You Made How Much? And Kept What?" Making Money ≠ Keeping Money
Speaker: Borja Rosales (BOLD Catering & Design)
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)
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)
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), Lauren Loya (Thomas Caterers of Distinction), Yvette Tenorio (Zilli Hospitality Group), Margaret Brower (Rainmaker Sales & Marketing Group)
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: 408A
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: 408B
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Sales & Marketing
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: Mike Pappas (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
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
David Merrell Presents: Current Trends in the Event Industry
Speakers: David Merrell (AOO Events, Inc.), Anil Pacheco (AOO Events, AOO Floral)
Location: 408A
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Trends & Design, TSE-Event Mgmt & Production
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: 408B
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Event Mgmt & Production, TSE-Event Planning
Scandals in Hospitality: Lessons from the Trenches
Speakers: Suzi Shands (Mintahoe Catering & Events), Fausto Pifferrer (Blue Elephant Catering), Stephen Zilli (Zilli Hospitality Group)
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)
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Sales, CS-Culinary Arts
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
Speaker: Jason Sutton (Footers Catering)
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Culinary Arts
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: 408A
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Sales & Marketing
Fast Chat - Chaos, Confetti & Comebacks: The Real Talk on Resilience in the Wedding Industry
Speaker: Jaclyn Watson (Jaclyn Watson Events)
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Weddings & Social Events, TSE-Leadership & Professional Development
Fast Chat: If These Sheet Pans Could Talk: 10 Years of Hustle, Heart, & Heat—Raw, Real, & Unfiltered
Speaker: Keyon Hammond (Get Plated Catering)
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Leadership & Professional Development, CS-Business, Financials & Operations
Beyond the Rental: Unlocking Profitable Venue Add-Ons
Speaker: Lauren Tankersley (828 Venue Management Company)
Location: 409AB
Pass Type: All Access, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, TSE Conference Pass
Track: TSE-Sales & Marketing, TSE-Business, Financials & Operations
Make Your Recipes Work Harder, Not Your Chefs
Speakers: Karen O'Connor (Daniel et Daniel Catering), Bonnie Kravitz (Daniel et Daniel Catering)
Location: 403A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: CS-Culinary Arts, CS-On- or Off-Premise Catering