Massachusetts Restaurants United

10/13/2026

WHAT'S ACTUALLY WORKING? Real Strategies for Restaurant Profitability!

Restaurant margins are tighter than ever. So what strategies are actually making a difference?

Join Massachusetts Restaurants United (MRU) for our next Round the Regions: Central Mass at deadhorse hill in Worcester!

We're bringing together industry voices for an honest, practical conversation about what's working RIGHT NOW in restaurants.

MEET OUR PANEL

Moderator: Ryan Lotz | President, Massachusetts Restaurants United

Mike Covino | Founder, Niche Hospitality

Clayton Riel | Bartender, Volturno Pizza Napoletana

Kyle Bosshardt | Account Executive, inKind

From restaurant operations to frontline experiences and innovative business solutions, our panelists will share real-world perspectives on navigating challenges and improving profitability.

No fluff. Just real strategies, meaningful conversations, and ideas you can take back to your restaurant!

EVENT DETAILS

Monday, October 19, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: deadhorse hill
281 Main Street, Worcester, MA

Enjoy free bites and drinks, networking with restaurant professionals, and practical insights from industry leaders.

MRU RESTAURANT MEMBERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES ATTEND FREE!

Not a member yet? Come connect with the MRU community and learn how we're supporting restaurants across Massachusetts.

DON'T MISS YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE!

REGISTER NOW — LINK IN BIO!

Tag a fellow restaurant owner, operator, or hospitality professional who should join us!

09/05/2026

TRAIN YOUR TEAM. GROW YOUR BUSINESS. LET GRANT FUNDING HELP PAY FOR IT.

Want to provide Workplace English classes or other professional training for your restaurant team without taking on the full cost?

Join Mass Restaurants United for a practical webinar exploring grant funding that may help Massachusetts restaurants invest in their employees.

Learn about funding opportunities that may support:

• Workplace English and ESOL classes
• Employee training and upskilling
• Professional development
• Other eligible workplace training programs

Wednesday, September 16 | 12:00 PM

Learn what funding may be available, who may qualify, and how to get started.

REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__Dpxr4kYTkirCIq3uzUmcw #/registration

Instagram: Registration link is also available in our BIO!

09/05/2026

NORTH SHORE & MERRIMACK VALLEY — MEET THE PANEL!

Join Mass Restaurants United for our upcoming Round the Regions and hear from industry leaders working across restaurant operations, food recovery, sustainability, and waste management.

Meet our panel:

Sophie Cranin
Director of Operations | Eastern Standard

John Fischer
Deputy Division Director, Solid Waste | Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)

Liz Miller
Director, Public Affairs | Spoonfuls

Moderator: Nancy Caswell
Owner | Caswell Restaurant Group

Join MRU and your hospitality colleagues for an evening of community building, connection, and conversation.

Monday, September 14, 2026
5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
The James | Essex, MA

MRU Restaurant Members and their restaurant employees attend FREE!

Tickets are available now:
[https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1998546928663?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1998546928663?aff=oddtdtcreator)

Instagram: Register through the LINK IN BIO!

Tag a restaurant or hospitality colleague who should join us!

09/04/2026

Get your Tickets!

We're delighted to present RIW’s annual Restaurant Trends, our signature gathering for Boston's restaurant and hospitality community! For over 30 years, this event has brought owners, operators, and industry leaders together to connect and stay ahead of what's shaping the business.🍽️

📅 Monday, September 28th
📍 The Exchange in the Seaport
🕒 3PM - 7PM
🔗 Get tickets here: https://bit.ly/4gAEZth

This year's program features three expert panels:

🏛️ Government Affairs: Adam Barnosky, RIW's Restaurant & Hospitality Group Chair, leads a conversation on licensing, labor law, and the regulatory landscape with Kathleen Joyce (Boston Licensing Board), Steve Clark (Massachusetts Restaurant Association), and Jean Lorizio (MA Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission).

📈 Expansion: RIW's Franchise Group Chair, Eric Sigman, talks scaling strategy with Kal Gullapalli (Built Different Brands), Brian Piccini (BUH Boston Urban Hospitality), and Mark Cimino (Consolidated Concepts).

🏗️ Construction: RIW President Bradley Croft sits down with Eric Gelfond VP of Development & Construction at Sally's Apizza, for real-world lessons on budgeting, timelines, and avoiding build-out pitfalls.

After the programming, enjoy cocktails, snacks, and catching up with friends and colleagues, overlooking beautiful Boston Harbor.

We're proud to partner again with Spoonfuls, Inc., a local food recovery nonprofit that's distributed 35M+ pounds of good food since 2010, and we're incredibly grateful to our sponsors — CBIZ, Inc., Cafco Construction Management, Liquor License Advisor, and Massachusetts Restaurants United,— for helping make this event possible!

07/28/2026

Join Mass Restaurants United for Grant Funding for Workplace English Classes and Other Trainings, a practical webinar designed to help restaurant owners and operators learn about funding opportunities that may help cover the cost of employee training.

Featured speaker Franklin Peralta, Director of Business Engagement and Public Policy at English for New Bostonians, will share his expertise in labor-market and community ESOL needs, workplace English training, and the needs-assessment process for employers applying for funding to provide English classes to their employees.

Rob Duncan, who oversees the Workforce Training Fund Program at Commonwealth Corporation, will provide information about funding opportunities available to Massachusetts employers. Commonwealth Corporation is a quasi-public organization under the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The Workforce Training Fund Program helps Massachusetts employers become more competitive and productive by investing in the continued training and upskilling of their workers, with workplace ESOL identified as a program priority.

Attendees will learn about available funding, eligible workplace training programs, employer requirements, the application process, and resources that can help businesses strengthen communication, employee retention, professional development, and daily restaurant operations.

This webinar is ideal for restaurant owners, managers, and hospitality employers interested in investing in their workforce while reducing training expenses.

Register today:
https://massrestaurantsunited.org/event/grant-funding-for-workplace-english-classes-and-other-trainings/

07/09/2026

On May 1st, Sergio Espinoza had the opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion on the SBA's 100% citizenship requirement for access to capital.

After being invited to participate in the round table discussion, Sergio was able to share the perspectives of many of the entrepreneurs he has worked with through Manka and discussed how this policy impacts small business owners seeking access to capital.

Thank you to Isabella Loboa Velasquez and Steve Chang from the Office of Senator Ed Markey for bringing together business owners and community leaders like Jen Ziskin Isabel Jurado Daliza Nova, MBA for this important discussion, and thank you to WGBH for including Sergio's perspective in the article.

Read the full story here that was published recently: https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2026-06-17/lawmakers-push-sba-to-rescind-ban-on-loans-to-immigrants

06/19/2026

MRU Event: Extended Hours, Open Containers & You

Join Mass Restaurants United for a timely Deep Dive Webinar on extended hours, open containers, and what hospitality operators need to know.

This conversation will cover key considerations around operations, compliance, insurance, liability, public safety, and community impact.

Wednesday, June 24, 2026
12:00 PM
Zoom Webinar

Panel includes:
Joe McGuirk, Bartender & MRU Vice President
Adam R. Barnosky, Hospitality & Restaurant Lawyer, RIW
Adam Risman, Risman Insurance
Kari Kuelzer, Grendel’s Den Restaurant and Bar, The Sea Hag Restaurant and Bar, Cambridge Local First
Matthew Nelson, Director of Administration and Operations, City of Cambridge
Cal Senn-Cadotte, Owner Operator, An Sibin

Register here:
(https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_99cQaKSbT2muto2bV8P6XA)

06/19/2026

The NBC Boston feature on AI in hospitality includes our newest Allied Member, , along with MRU Board Members Eli Feldman of Shy Bird and Deirdre Auld of , who are helping lead important conversations about how technology can support restaurant operations while preserving the human side of hospitality.

As operators continue navigating labor challenges, rising costs, and changing guest expectations, technology is emerging as one of many tools that can help restaurants work smarter and remain competitive.

MRU is proud to share the work of our members who are helping shape the future of hospitality.

Read the NBC Boston story:
https://www.nbcboston.com/video/on-air/as-seen-on/how-boston-restaurants-are-using-ai-behind-the-scenes/3967128/

06/15/2026

MRU is pleased to share this upcoming opportunity with our hospitality community.

Join MassDEP for breakfast and a discussion on potential updates to the Massachusetts Food Waste Ban and what those changes could mean for restaurants and hospitality businesses across the Commonwealth.

This is a valuable opportunity to learn about proposed updates, ask questions, and share perspectives from the hospitality industry. Your voice can help inform future discussions and policies that impact our businesses.

Date: June 16, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Equal Measure

Space is limited, so please register today:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRd8Zfmh6zqVQ5mkmn63_JON17NVbmcZydeGuOoFX_d5gsxQ/viewform

We encourage restaurant owners, operators, chefs, and hospitality professionals to participate in this important conversation.

06/15/2026

MRU is proud to share this opportunity with our hospitality community.

Hospitality thrives when everyone feels welcome.

Join the Welcome Standard Training on June 16 and learn practical strategies to create more welcoming and inclusive spaces for employees, customers, and communities.

This free training provides valuable tools, resources, and best practices to help strengthen workplace culture and enhance customer experiences.

Interested in continuing the conversation? Learn more about the Welcome Standard Community and request free posters, resources, and updates to support your organization.

Together, we can build stronger, more welcoming communities for all.

Register for the June 16 Training:
https://lnkd.in/e-5qYpQH

Learn More About the Welcome Standard Community:
https://lnkd.in/e7Tq-XvF