2025 MIBE Summit

JANUARY 26-28th | DENVER, CO

Our marquee annual event for the MIBE community. A gathering of heart leaders who are committed to creating better workplace environments and making a difference in the lives of the people they work with.

Over the course of two and a half days, we will review what it means to be a heart leader and dive deep into heart leadership in action. Through speakers, breakout sessions and activities, you will have the opportunity for introspection on your heart leadership journey, strengthen connections with other heart leaders, and be inspired with tools that will help you to become an even better leader. If you’re in need of a spark to light your leadership fire, or have people on your team that need to level-up their own leadership, you won’t want to miss this event.

Bring your team! Use code SUMMIT443 to receive 4 registrations for the price of 3!


PRICE

$2195

YOUR REGISTRATION INCLUDES:

  • Award-winning speakers and content on heart leadership and intentional culture building

  • Opportunities for meaningful connection with other attendees

  • A look behind the scenes of one of Colorado’s best places to work

  • Deep dive breakouts to discuss heart leadership in action

  • Happy hour drinks and hors d’oeuvres on Sunday evening

  • Breakfast and lunch on Monday and Tuesday

  • Dinner and drinks at the MIBE Awards Ceremony Tuesday night

  • An overall awesome experience that will leave you energized and inspired


presented by


Speakers

  • Anthony Lambatos

    FOUNDER/KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    2024 NACE ONE AWARDS SPEAKER OF THE YEAR WINNER!

    Anthony Lambatos grew up in the catering business working for his father and founder of Footers Catering in Denver, Colorado. Anthony and his wife, April, purchased the business in 2010 and have successfully made the transition to a second-generation family business. As a sought-after speaker nationally within the hospitality industry, Anthony is passionate about helping leaders create a culture that allows their businesses to thrive. He specializes in heart leadership and management of teams with a focus on operational structure and employee engagement.

  • Chester Elton

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING BUSINESS AUTHOR

    Through his provocative, inspiring, and always entertaining talks, Chester will equip attendees with the knowledge to build extraordinary workplace cultures that drive engagement, innovation, and performance through practical strategies and actionable insights! One of today's most influential voices in workplace trends, Elton provides real solutions and his work is supported by research with more than one million working adults.

    Learn More

  • Brother Luck

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    CHEF & AUTHOR

    Chef Brother Luck is a James Beard nominee, a fan favorite on culinary competition shows like Top Chef, Chopped, and Beat Bobby Flay and a passionate restaurant owner in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Brother most recently appeared on The Rachael Ray Show, The Today Show and was featured in Food and Wine Magazine. When he isn’t wowing taste buds and pushing culinary boundaries, you can find Brother on stage inspiring large audiences across the country. He thrives on mentorship and creating a safe place for mental health discussions and he is excited to share his personal journey through his highly reviewed memoir, “No Lucks Given: Life is hard but there is hope.”

    And yes, that’s his real name.

    Learn More

  • Tommy Spaulding

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND WORLD-RENOWNED SPEAKER

    Founder and president of Tommy Spaulding Companies, a leadership development, speaking, training, and teambuilding organization based in Denver, Colorado. A nationally acclaimed speaker on leadership, Spaulding has spoken to thousands of organizations, associations, educational institutions, and corporations around the globe. Spaulding was also named by Meetings & Conventions Magazine as one of the 100 MOST FAVORITE SPEAKERS in the nation.

    Learn More

  • Bri Borin

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    Bri believes that Snooze is about so much more than just serving up amazing breakfasts — it’s also about mindfully sourcing and preparing sustainable food, giving back to local communities, creating a sense of home for Snoozers and Guests, and allowing each Snoozer to show up authentically as their true self.

  • Jeremy Edmonds

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER

    Jeremy’s relentless pursuit of the best employee experience and passion for culture has been a driving force throughout his career. After 11 years in talent recruiting, Jeremy turned his focus toward the science of engagement, and has built a career as a thought leader in the culture, performance development, and leadership space.

  • Megan Palmer Rivera

    CEO | PALMER'S MARKET & PALMER'S CATERING

    Megan is a part of the 5th generation of her family to own and operate Palmer's Market, their high-end gourmet grocery store located in Darien, Connecticut. At the helm of a company that just celebrated 103 years in business, her main focus is on longevity and ensuring that Palmer's will be around to support 100 more years of customers, employees, and local non-prots and charities.

  • Rich Schneider

    OWNER & TORTILLA SAVANT | RAQUELITAS TORTILLAS

    Since joining the family business in 1979, he's been crafting the most innovative, hyper local tortillas and chips with Raquelitas Tortillas in Denver. To search out unique grains, he’s inspected hundreds of wheat & corn fields and sunflower farms in several states. His creations have graced tables at The Broadmoor, James Beard House, and beyond. Raquelitas was the first tortilla bakery powered by wind, now running on solar too. Rich also serves on multiple hospitality boards. He’s even been on Sesame Street, Food Network and ESPN—proving tortillas can be famous too!

  • Melodi Polidori Harris

    CHIEF SAUSAGE OFFICER | POLIDORI SAUSAGE

    Melodie Polidori Harris, Chief Sausage Officer at Polidori Sausage, boasts over two decades of entrepreneurial prowess in the culinary world. She's led alongside her brother Steve Polidori, shaping their family legacy into a thriving fourth-generation enterprise. As they celebrate nearly a century in production, Melodie's unwavering dedication and innovative spirit have propelled Polidori Sausage to new heights, setting a precedent for women entrepreneurs and the next generation of females in food service.

Agenda

*Events/times subject to change


Sunday

January 26th

1-2 pm | Registration @ Social Capitol

2-2:45 pm | Welcome | April + Anthony Lambatos

2:45-3:45 pm | Session

3:45-5 pm | Breakout 1 | Get to Know Your Group

————————————————————

5:15-6:30 pm | Happy Hour | Tours | Cryo Sessions @ Social Capitol | Footers Catering

7-9 pm | MIBE Masters Dinner | Invite Only

Monday

January 27th

8-8:45 am | Breakfast | Footers Catering

9-9:45 am | Session

9:45-10:30 am | Session

10:30-11 am | Morning Break

11-12 pm | Breakout 2

12-1 pm | Lunch | Footers Catering

1-2 pm | Session

2-3 pm | Breakout 3

3-3:15 pm | Afternoon Break

3:15-4:15 pm | Challenge 1

4:15-5 pm | Hour Happy Preview

5:15-6:30 pm | Hour Happy | Experiential Activities

*Footers Catering will provide all-day snacks and beverages

Tuesday

January 28th

8:00-8:45 am | Breakfast | Footers Catering

9-10:30 am | Panel

10:30-11 am | Morning Break

11-12 pm | Breakout 4

12-1 pm | Lunch | Footers Catering

1-1:45 pm | Challenge 2

1:45-2 pm | Afternoon Break

2-3 pm | Session

3-3:30 pm | Closing | Anthony Lambatos

————————————————————

7-12:00 am | MIBE Awards & Flower Power Party
@ Social Capitol | Footers Catering

*Footers Catering will provide snacks and beverages


MEET OUR MIBE AWARD FINALISTS

Heart Leader of the Year

  • Bobby Woolwine

    BOBBY WOOLWINE

    DelightMore Catering Cincinnati, OH

  • Jen DeVos

    JEN DEVOS

    Copper Kitchen
    Baltimore, MD

  • Laura Fabian

    LAURA FABIAN

    24 Carrots
    Costa Mesa, CA

  • Nicole Cantrell

    NICOLE CANTRELL

    Firekeepers Casino
    Battle Creek, MI

  • Rachel Malecky

    RACHEL MALECKY

    Hamby Catering
    Charleston, SC

Heart Leader on the Rise

  • CHELSIE MUELLER

    CHELSIE MUELLER

    Mitchell Casteel
    Raleigh, NC

  • COLLEEN KELLY

    COLLEEN KELLY

    Avanti Mansion
    Buffalo, NY

  • PHOEBE HERNICK

    PHOEBE HERNICK

    Partyman Catering
    Avon, NY

  • RACHAEL ANTHONY

    RACHAEL ANTHONY

    David Alan Hospitality Group
    Berlin, CT

  • RYAN JEWELL

    RYAN JEWELL

    Personal Touch Dining
    San Diego, CA

MIBE of the Year

  • 24 CARROTS

    24 CARROTS

    Costa Mesa, CA

  • DAVID ALAN HOSPITALITY GROUP

    DAVID ALAN HOSPITALITY GROUP

    Berlin, CT

  • SNOOZE

    SNOOZE

    Denver, CO

Best Activation of Core Values or Mission

  • DAVID ALAN HOSPITALITY GROUP

    DAVID ALAN HOSPITALITY GROUP

    Berlin, CT

  • DISH FOOD & EVENTS

    DISH FOOD & EVENTS

    Queens, NY

  • HERRINGTON ON THE BAY

    HERRINGTON ON THE BAY

    North Beach, MD

Best Employee Recognition Program

  • DOVER HALL

    DOVER HALL

    Manakin-Sabot, VA

  • SIMPLY FRESH EVENTS

    SIMPLY FRESH EVENTS

    Gaithersburg, MD

  • THE CHEF'S TABLE

    THE CHEF'S TABLE

    Marshfield, MA

Best Company Event

  • 24 CARROTS

    24 CARROTS

    Costa Mesa, CA

  • AVANTI MANSION

    AVANTI MANSION

    Buffalo, NY

  • COPPER KITCHEN

    COPPER KITCHEN

    Baltimore, MD

PAST FINALISTS & WINNERS

  • HEART LEADER OF THE YEAR

    Anna Chaney | Founder | Herrington on the Bay | *WINNER*

    David Victor | Owner | On the Vine Catering

    Dilushka Wanigatunga | VP Operations | Beets Hospitality

    Jeremy Edmonds | VP People & Culture | Snooze | *WINNER*

    Keyon Hammond | Co-Owner & Executive Chef | Get Plated Catering

    Marina Patton | Director of Events | Domenico Winery

    Matt Phelan | Owner/President | Simply Fresh Events | *WINNER*

    Megan Palmer Rivera | CEO | Palmer’s Market, Catering & Events | *WINNER*

    Nathaniel Neubauer | CEO/Owner | Contemporary Catering | *WINNER*

    Paige Carney | Owner | Purple Onion Catering

    HEART LEADER ON THE RISE

    Allison Moening | Executive Pastry Chef | Copper Kitchen | *WINNER*

    Jared Barnachea | Office Administrator | Catered Too!

    Katelyn Reisma | Catering Manager | Vibrant Occasions Catering

    Michelle Stout | Recreation Manager | APEX Park & Recreation District

    Xavier Vasquez | Catering & Event Production Manager | NV Catering

    MIBE of the Year

    David Alan Hospitality Group | Berlin, CT | *WINNER*

    Domenico Winery | San Carlos, CA

    Herrington on the Bay | North Beach, MD

    Best Activation of Core Values or Mission

    Palmer’s Market, Catering & Events | Darien, CT | *WINNER*

    Simply Fresh Event | Gaithersburg, MD

    The Hometown Chef Catering Co. | Humble, TX

    Best Employee Recognition Program

    Cherry Creek School District | Centennial, CO | *WINNER*

    David Alan Hospitality Group | Berlin, CT

    The Chef’s Table | Marshfield, MA

    Best Company Event

    A Fare Extraordinaire | Houston, TX

    Herrington on the Bay | North Beach, MD | *WINNER*

    Partyman Catering | Avon, NY

  • HEART LEADER OF THE YEAR

    Andrew Matroni | QC Catering | Charlotte, NC

    AnnieLaurie Alkire | Preferred Sonoma Caterers | Petaluma, CA

    David Lheureux | David Alan Hospitality Group | Berlin, CT | *WINNER*

    JT Thomas | Partyman Catering | Avon, NY | *WINNER*

    Lisa Ware | Catering by Michaels | Morton Grove, IL

    Mary Krikorian | Vibrant Occasions Catering | Benton, AR | *WINNER*

    Nathaniel Neubauer | Contemporary Catering | Encino, CA

    Rachel Malecky | Hamby Catering | Charleston, SC

    Serge Krikorian | Vibrant Occasions Catering | Benton, AR | *WINNER*

    Steve Sanchez | JDK Group | Camp Hill, PA | *WINNER*

    MIBE of the Year

    Palmer’s Market, Catering & Events | Darien, CT

    Partyman Catering | Avon, NY | *WINNER*

    PEJ Events | Round Rock, TX

    Best Activation of Core Values or Mission

    Butlers Pantry | St. Louis, MO | *WINNER*

    Hamby Catering | Charleston, SC

    Vibrant Occasions Catering | Benton, AR

    Best Employee Recognition Program

    Palmer’s Market, Catering & Events | Darien, CT

    Snooze | Denver, CO | *WINNER*

    Vibrant Occasions Catering | Benton, AR

    Best Company Event

    Catering by Michaels | Morton Grove, IL

    David Alan Hospitality Group | Berlin, CT

    Palmer’s Market, Catering & Events | Darien, CT |*WINNER*

Watch the 2022 MIBE Awards video!

Hotel Partners


 Origin Hotel Westminster

10 minute drive to Social Capitol. Special Group Rate when you book through MIBE!

Residence Inn Marriott

5 minute drive to Social Capitol. Special Group Rate when you book through MIBE!

If you prefer to stay closer to Downtown Denver, there are many great hotel options (appx 20-25 drive).