The National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executive Group (MEG) is gearing up for its bi-annual conference-taking place at the Hyatt Grand in Downtown Denver on October 23 and 24.

The two-day summit will feature back-to-back workshops and symposiums including nearly a dozen sessions covering everything from social media to brand development as well as panel discussions, industry keynote addresses, and plenty of networking opportunities.

“This is our most exciting agenda to date,” says Bill Ruby, MEG co-chair and vice president of company operations for Denny’s Corporation.   “We’ve created a fast-paced, comprehensive format designed to meet attendee needs with rich content and ample time for networking.  Our line-up of speakers and topics is very relevant to what is taking place within our industry.”

This year’s theme, MEG Fast-Forward:  Big Ideas for Marketing Executives Short on Time, is inspired by the TED Talks-style conference.  Business strategist, best-selling author, consultant and frequent guest on Fox Business, MSNBC, and National Public Radio, Kaihan Krippendorff, will give the opening keynote address sharing his recipe to “outthink the competition” with insights on his proven methodology.  His fourth and most comprehensive book, Outthink the Competition:  How a New Generation of Strategists Sees Options Others Ignore, is a go-to guide for today’s leading executives.

MEG’s agenda is teeming with relevant content that restaurant marketers can apply and adapt to their own marketing strategies.   Keynote speakers, guest speakers and topics include:

• Dan Fogerty, executive vice president, marketing for Noodles & Company discussing #EPICSOCIALMEDIA for @RESTAURANTOPERATORS
• Jennifer Pelka, self-proclaimed food and drink evangelist, shares a bit about the power of Tumblr…They’ll Tumble For Ya!
• Jen Sanning, chief marketing officer for ABR Holdings, will discuss Using Culture to Build Brand Strength.
• Lane Cardell, board of directors for Ruby Tuesday, shares his knowledge of Teaching a Chicken to Fly: Turning Around Boston Market.
• Craig Elston of Integer gives the inside on Growing Brands Through Creative Disruption.
• Jeff Power of Pangeo Coffee & Tea shows attendees how they were Born to Change the World.

Other topics include Success Baked Right In from Panera Bread, What’s in a Name? Inspiration and Doing Good conducted by the leaders at Zoës Kitchen, and a panel discussion on Powering Profits through Beverage Innovation moderated by Glenn Schmitt. President of MarketTeam Inc.

Frances Allen, named Marketer of the Year by Brandweek, will give the closing keynote address. Ms. Allen joined Denny’s as chief marketing officer in 2010 to transform the struggling brand by revamping its marketing and brand strategy, resulting in the last eight of the nine quarters posting positive same sales growth.

In addition to networking opportunities, sponsored by Alaska Seafood, CSM Bakery and the California Milk Board, the MEG conference will conclude with lunch and more networking opportunities.