How To Spec Live Sets Up at FSTC

This week, Foodservice Equipment Reports will kick off its inaugural How To Spec Live, presented by California Foodservice Instant Rebates. The event will take place Sept. 24-25 at the Frontier Energy Food Service Tech Center in Pleasanton, Calif., with an opening dinner reception on Sept. 23.

How To Spec will provide operators, consultants and dealers with the details they need to specify the best equipment for their projects. Having the right equipment in place can help boost efficiency and productivity, which is especially key in an environment where high food and labor costs continue to put pressure on operators’ margins.

Attendees will have access to panel discussions, equipment demonstrations and networking opportunities. 2026 How To Spec speakers including the following:

Introducing California Foodservice Instant Rebates:

• Craig Whitacre, senior national account manager, Energy Solutions

How To Spec Ventilation:

• Ben Arnold, R&D manager, Halton
• Lara Hardcastle, senior vice president, Farmers Restaurant Group
• David Zabrowski, vice president, Frontier Energy, and manager, FSTC

How To Spec Induction:

• Jackson Biller, senior national account manager, Spring USA
• Andrew Cronau, corporate chef and product training manager, The Vollrath Co.
• Danielle Kunkel, director, Ricca Design Studios
• Stuart Sharp, national sales manager, Hatco Corp.

How To Spec Fryers:

• Peter Cryan, vice president of facilities, Chipotle Mexican Grill
• Kirk Goss, vice president of general market sales and consultant services, Frymaster
• Edward Ruan, senior engineer and engineering lab manager, FSTC

How To Spec Ice Machines:

• Lauren Charbonneau, project leader and director of sustainability, Reitano Design Group
• Vince Dattolo, regional sales manager and manager of consultant services, Scotsman Ice
• Heath Ross, director of product management and marketing, Ice-O-Matic

How To Spec Walk-Ins:

• Dennis Clark, major projects kitchen designer, Pappas Restaurants
• Nick Morales, vice president of design, Cini-Little
• Bryan Waechter, commercial senior vice president, Refrigerated Solutions Group

How To Spec Combi Ovens:

• Sebastian Heil, regional sales manager, Unox
• Taylor Maertens, senior project manager, Bargreen Ellingson
• Carine Wright, senior manager combi and sales enablement, Vulcan

How To Spec High-Speed Ovens:

• Drew Enyeart, vice president of business development, Middleby
• Nadine Rodriguez, director of capital sourcing and procurement, El Pollo Loco
• Richard Young, director of outreach, FSTC

Stay tuned for full coverage, including the FER editors’ takeaways and a photo gallery, following the event. To see real-time event highlights, visit FER on LinkedIn: @fermagazine, Facebook: @FERmagazine and Instagram: @fermagazine.