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Catersource + The Special Event
March 2-5, 2026
Los Angeles Convention CenterLos Angeles, CA
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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 = C (Formerly Catersource education sessions, now Cater education sessions)
  • Dark Blue = E (Formerly The Special Event education sessions, now Event 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.

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All Sessions Speakers

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Mar 03 Tuesday | 8:30 am
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: C-Culinary Arts, C-On- or Off-Premise Catering
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP-approved
Mar 03 Tuesday | 10:00 am
Stick It, Spoon It, Put It in a Glass: The Reboot!
Speaker: Eric LeVine  (317 Mainstreet | Vice | The James Room | Stage 317)
Location: 403A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Culinary Arts
The Perfect Pairing: How Sales & Culinary Work Together
Speakers: Keith Lord  (Strateje Fourteen), Cassandra DeLisle  (Purple Onion Catering)
Location: 404A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Sales & Marketing, C-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP- & ICA-approved
Mar 03 Tuesday | 11:30 am
20 Short Plates in 30 Minutes
Speaker: Jason Sutton  (Footers Catering)
Location: 403A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: ICA
Fast Chat: The Leadership Knife Roll
Speaker: Jenny Stuart (Bast)  (Catering Creations)
Location: 306A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Leadership & Professional Development, C-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP-approved, LCA member
Mar 03 Tuesday | 1:00 pm
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: C-Culinary Arts, C-On- or Off-Premise Catering
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP- & ICA-approved
Mar 04 Wednesday | 9:00 am
The Face Behind the Flavor: Chefs & Your Brand Identity
Speaker: Eric Caron  (Lombardo's Hospitality Group)
Location: 404A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Leadership & Professional Development, C-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP-approved
The Swicy Revolution: Exploring the Sweet-Heat Trend Captivating Late Night Snacks & Appetizers
Speaker: Joseph Pina  (Chartwells)
Location: 403A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Culinary Arts, C-Trends, Events & Design
Mar 04 Wednesday | 10:15 am
Mini Desserts, Big Flavor
Speaker: Bonnie Kravitz  (Daniel et Daniel Catering and Events)
Location: 403A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Culinary Arts, C-On- or Off-Premise Catering
Associations & Accreditations: ICA
Mar 04 Wednesday | 11:15 am
Breaking the Fast: Elevating Morning Catering Menus
Speaker: Boris Seymore  (BDS Catering/Georgia Mae's)
Location: 403A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: ICA
Fast Chat - From Fire to Flow: Real World Strategies for Building & Keeping a Kitchen Team
Speaker: Richard Carter  (Catering Works)
Location: 404A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Leadership & Professional Development, C-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP- & ICA-approved
Mar 04 Wednesday | 12:15 pm
School of Fish – A Catering Chefs Guide to Profitability & Sustainability
Speakers: Paul Buchanan  (Primal Alchemy), Patrick (Paddy) Glennon  (Superior Seafood / Culinary Liberation Front), Tommy Gomes  (The Fishmonger | Tunaville)
Location: Culinary & Keynote Stage
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, Exhibit Hall Only, TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Culinary Arts, C-Sustainability
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP-approved
Mar 04 Wednesday | 12:30 pm
Plating Master Class Part 1: Executing Fast Plating Line(s) for Multiple Courses!
Speakers: Roy Porter  (Engage-Works Inc.), Sean Dent  (Eaternity Hospitality)
Location: Hands-on Area near Culinary & Keynote Stage
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, Exhibit Hall Only, TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Culinary Arts, C-On- or Off-Premise Catering
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP- & ICA-approved
Soda Culture: A Sweet Opportunity
Speaker: Nettie Frank  (Chef Nettie Frank)
Location: Beverage Stage
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, Exhibit Hall Only, TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Culinary Arts, C-Trends, Events & Design
Mar 04 Wednesday | 1:30 pm
Smoke, Fire, Scent, Flavor: The Emotional Memory Maker
Speaker: Jeffrey Schlissel  (The Bacon Kartel)
Location: Culinary & Keynote Stage
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, Exhibit Hall Only, TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP-approved
Mar 04 Wednesday | 1:45 pm
From the Line Level to Leadership: Why Promoting from Within Often Fails – and How to Do it Right
Speakers: AJ Harris  (Dish Food & Events), Ryan Corvaia  (Dish Food & Events)
Location: Ignite stage on Exhibit Hall Floor
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Leadership & Professional Development, C-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP- & ICA-approved
Mar 04 Wednesday | 2:00 pm
Batch Perfect: Elevating Events with Signature Cocktails & Mocktails
Speaker: Rob Husted  (Cocktails4hire.com)
Location: Beverage Stage
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, Exhibit Hall Only, TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Culinary Arts
Mar 04 Wednesday | 2:15 pm
Plating Master Class Part 2: Hands-on Plated Service 101: From Pass to the Guests – Five Ways for Getting Courses out Correctly and Quickly!
Speakers: Roy Porter  (Engage-Works Inc.), Ron Knoll  (Knoll Consulting)
Location: Hands-on Area near Culinary & Keynote Stage
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, Exhibit Hall Only, TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-On- or Off-Premise Catering, C-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP- & ICA-approved
Mar 04 Wednesday | 3:00 pm
DICED Competition: Farm-to-Table
Competitors: Cassandra (Sassy) Portnow  (Footers Catering), Jose Suiney  (Thrive Catering), David Magnasco  (The Chef's Table), Robert Ryan  (Nicole's Catering), Noah Winn  (Mangia Catering), Caila Byrd  (Footers Catering)
Emcee: Robin Selden  (Marcia Selden Catering & Events and Naked Fig Catering)
Judges: Eric LeVine  (317 Mainstreet | Vice | The James Room | Stage 317), Keith Lord  (Strateje Fourteen), Paul Acosta  (Four Points by Sheraton Norwood Hotel and Conference Center)
Location: Culinary & Keynote Stage
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, Exhibit Hall Only, TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: LCA
Mar 05 Thursday | 10:15 am
Hand-on Basic Bartending Skills 101: Free Pouring, using a Jigger, Shaking and Mixing Cocktails!
Speaker: Roy Porter  (Engage-Works Inc.)
Location: Hands-on Area near Culinary & Keynote Stage
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, Exhibit Hall Only, TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-On- or Off-Premise Catering, C-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: ICA
Mar 05 Thursday | 10:30 am
Top Ten Questions Every Caterer Needs Answering
Speaker: Tom Dailey  (Facebook Catering Community)
Location: Beverage Stage
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, Exhibit Hall Only, TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Business, Financials & Operations, C-Culinary Arts
Mar 05 Thursday | 10:45 am
Bar Pizza, Big Impact: South Shore's Crispy Secret for Catered Success
Speakers: Eric Caron  (Lombardo's Hospitality Group), David Lombardo  (Lombardo's Hospitality Group)
Location: Culinary & Keynote Stage
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass, Exhibit Hall Only, TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Culinary Arts
Mar 05 Thursday | 12:30 pm
Plate Presentation & Styling, from Kitchen to Cover Page
Speakers: Jay Varga  (The JDK Group), Lindsey Leichthammer  (Lindsey Leichthammer Events)
Location: 403A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Culinary Arts, C-Sales & Marketing
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP-approved, LCA member
Mar 05 Thursday | 2:00 pm
Level Up Your Layout
Speaker: Adriel Sims  (SMU HOSPITALITY)
Location: 304A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Trends, Events & Design, C-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP-approved
Transforming Event Catering with 3-D Printing
Speakers: Houston Loper  (HL Catering Company), Ava Scott-Wells  (HL Catering)
Location: 403A
Pass Type: All Access, Catersource Conference Pass, Combined CS/TSE Conference Pass
Track: C-Trends, Events & Design, C-Culinary Arts
Associations & Accreditations: CSEP- & ICA-approved