Cultivating conversations between business professionals is central to Yelp’s mission. When butchers and bakers, and yes, even candlestick makers are given a platform to powwow, these effective entrepreneurs, eager to support one another, exchange their top tips and help community grow.
This November 15–16, we’re uniting the people behind 100 top-rated businesses across North America at our San Francisco headquarters for our second annual business leader summit, Coast-To-Coast: Community Powered Progress!
We’ll laud the accomplishments of this select group, who, over time, have become experts on how to use Yelp’s tools to thrive. In addition to claiming their Yelp Business Page and adding details like specialties and history, they use resources like responding to reviews and uploading descriptive photos with captions that make them the standard among their peers.
This year’s attendees, nominated by Yelp Community Managers, will partake in business owner led conversations about getting more reviews, using them as a tool for feedback, and best practices for publicly responding to them, event-based marketing, new social strategies, finances, and tips for hiring, training, and retention.
Leaders at Yelp will be on hand to listen — we want to know what we’re doing right and how we can improve from the people who interact with the website and business owner’s app everyday. We’ll also share product updates and our plans for nurturing the business owner community in 2017 and beyond.
This year the Coast-To-Coast Ambassador Coalition represents 80 North American markets and is powered by people of all different backgrounds, experiences, and expertise. Each has his or her own outlook on running a business and a unique story to tell. We’re honored to continue to be able to provide a platform for their prosperity.
We’re thrilled to announce the 100 local business leaders selected to attend the second annual Coast-To-Coast: Community Powered Progress!
Albuquerque, NM
Ken Carson, Nexus Brewery and Restaurant
Atlanta, GA
Mike Yang, Ba Bellies
Atlanta Outside The Perimeter, GA
Reneé Rowe, The Wine Cellars
Austin, TX
Kirby Schimmels, Kirby the Barber
Naomi Seifter, Picnik Austin
Baltimore, MD
LaTosha Williams, Dessert Fantasies
Baton Rouge, LA
Jim Urdiales, Mestizo Louisiana Mexican Cuisine
Bethesda, MD
Aaron Claxton, The Shop Salon
Birmingham, AL
Katie Hinson, Iron City
Boston, MA
Chad Ellis, Boda Borg Boston
Samantha Shih, 9tailors
Brooklyn, NY
Michaella Blissett, salon[718]
Broward-Palm Beach, FL
Phil Palmisano, Barrel of Monks Brewing
Buffalo, NY
Taka Win, Teton Kitchen Thai & Japanese Cuisine
Charleston, SC
Kyle Norton, 167 Raw
Charlotte, SC
Heather McDonnell, Cupcrazed Cakery
Chicago, IL
Bridget Lyons, Dog. Hotel & Daycare
Ken McGarrie, Dine|Amic Group: Prime & Provisions, Siena Tavern, Bar Siena
Chicago Burbs, IL
Niki Moon, Niki Moon Salon
Chicago North Shore, IL
Jamie Leonardi, Stumble & Relish
Cincinnati, OH
Bobby Slattery, Fifty West Brewing Company
Cleveland, OH
Brandon Sitler, The Urban Orchid
Columbus, OH
Alexis Joseph, Alchemy Juice Bar + Café
Dallas, TX
Michael Schoder, Sundown At Granada
Denver, CO
Brent Jones, Optique of Denver
Alex Gschwend, The Uber Sausage
Des Moines, IA
Christi Jensen, Domestica
Detroit, MI
Mary Liz Curtin, Leon & Lulu
East Bay, CA
Paramita Roy, Kanishka’s Neo-Indian Gastropub
Ft. Worth, TX
Catherine Blom, Redefined Coffee House
Greater Toronto Area, ON
Jenny Le, The Cold Pressery
Kimberly Landi, Old Firehall Confectionery
Hampton Roads, VA
Juan Sun, Judy’s Sichuan Cuisine
Hartford, CT
Peter Kowalczyk, Onyx Spirits Company
Honolulu, HI
Dan Chang, Wang Chung’s
Eki Locke, Bills Sydney
Houston, TX
Geronimo Villalobos, Campesino Coffee House
Lisa C. Benoit, Cajun Stop
Indianapolis, IN
Craig Sanders, Wildwood Market
Jacksonville, FL
Will Morgan, Vagabond Coffee Co.
Jersey City, NJ
Carl Ruiz, Marie’s Italian Specialties
Kansas City, MO
Chris Goode, Ruby Jean’s Juicery
LA East, CA
Leanna Lin Fong, Leanna Lin’s Wonderland
Andrea Borgen, Barcito
LA West, CA
Luke Milton, Training Mate
Las Vegas, NV
Joey Hamilton, Revolt Tattoos
Long Island, NY
Thomas Lee, The Clubhouse
Louisville, KY
Mary Levinsky, Block Party Handmade Boutique
Madison, WI
Annemarie Maitri, Bloom Bake Shop
Manhattan, NY
Jenn Pesce, Shobha
Jon Sherman, Sticky’s Finger Joint
Miami, FL
Albert Ghitis, RedBike Studios
Montreal, QC, Canada
Boris Volfson, Chez Boris
Nashville, TN
Trace Scarborough, Thunderbird
New Orleans, LA
Nicolle Turner, Maison de Cheveux
North Bay, CA
Benedict Koenig IV, Heritage Eats
North San Diego County, CA
Michael Gunter, The FotoBox LLC
Northern Virginia, VA
Tuyet Nhi Le, Roll Play Vietnamese Grill
Oklahoma City, OK
Rachael Gruntmeir, The Black Scintilla
Omaha, NE
Ethan Bondelid, House of Loom, The Berry & Rye, Victor Victoria, Wicked Rabbit, Via Farina
Orange County, CA
Logan Crow, The Frida Cinema
Wes Shih, Sender One Climbing
Orlando, FL
Blue Star, The Venue
Philadelphia, PA
Andrew Erace, Green Aisle Grocery
Theresa Ackerman, Photobot 3000 LLC
Phoenix, AZ
Jan Wichayanuparp, Sweet Republic
Jim Elizak, Zak’s Chocolate
Pittsburgh, PA
Syma Hajian, Pittsburgh Winery
Portland, OR
Amy Philip, Escape Games PDX
Nick Purvis, Good Coffee
Portland, ME
Nick Levine, Market Street Eats
Providence, RI
Natalie Spingold, Shoppe Pioneer
Queens, NY
Michael Shiwdin, Mahalo New York Bakery
Raleigh, NC
Lindsay Rice, Vita Vite
Reno, NV
Justin Stafford, The Depot Craft Brewery Distillery
Richmond, VA
Erin Powell, Ginger Juice
Rochester, NY
Kathryn Turiano, Joe Bean Coffee Roasters
Sacramento, CA
Malia Taylor, Hawaiian Legacy Catering & Design
Salt Lake, UT
Helen Wade, The Stockist
San Antonio, TX
James Moore, Grayze
San Diego, CA
Ellen Wayne, Morena Storage
Santiago Campa, Donut Bar
San Francisco, CA
Susan D’arcangelo, Blades Co Barber Shop
Oron Benary, The San Francisco Mead Company
Seattle, WA
Karl Mueller, Intrigue Chocolate Co.
Robin Wehl Martin, Hello Robin Cookies
South Bay, CA
Alex Hult, Hult’s Restaurant
Tammy Liu, Redemption
St. Louis, MO
Randy Vines, STL-Style
Tampa Bay, FL
Kendra Conze, Health Mutt
Toronto, ON, Canada
Marie Fitrion, Urban Acorn Catering
Phil Cha, Riddle Room
Tucson, AZ
Anna Perreira, Yellow Brick Coffee
Tulsa, OK
Gary Black, Black Optical
Twin Cities, MN
Ethan Applen, Lakes & Legends Brewing Company
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Anne Banner, Salmagundi West
Washington, DC
Andrea Vieira, nailsaloon
Patrice Cleary, Purple Patch Restaurant
This year we welcome back 21 Coast-To-Coast 2015 participants as part of our Advisor Alliance. This exclusive group is comprised of critical thinkers who have figured out effective ways to use today’s technology to grow their business. This year’s Advisor Alliance will lead discussions, sit on panels, and captain breakout groups for the 100 new members of our Ambassador Coalition.
Austin, TX
Wade Lombard, Square Cow Moovers
Steve Basile, B.D. Riley’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
Chicago, IL
Matthew McCormick, Jet City Device Repair
Denver, CO
Stephanie Shearer, Pandora on the Hill
Edmonton, AB, Canada
Dana Rojotte, Trū Ride Cycle Studio
Indianapolis, IN
Tia Agnew, New Day Craft
Los Angeles West, CA
Kathy Rappaport, Flash Frozen Photography Inc.
Montreal, QC, Canada
Valerie Girard, Les Deux Gamins
Orange County, CA
Julie Lim, OC Wine Mart & Tasting Bar
Philadelphia, PA
Steve Duross, Duross & Langel
Phoenix, AZ
Heidi Lamar, Spa Lamar
Jesse Thompson, Hotel Valley Ho
Lauren Hart, The Root Salon
Sacramento, CA
Bassil Kamas, Bassil Kamas
Deborah Dower, Paradise Laundry Inc.
San Diego, CA
Ashley DuChene, Ashley DuChene Photography
Lana Ybarra, JC Resorts: Rancho Bernardo Inn, Surf & Sand Resort, Temeula Creek Inn, Scripps Inn
San Francisco, CA
Carlos Rodriguez, Mr. Roofing, Inc.
Seattle, WA
Kent Whipple, Unexpected Productions
St. Louis, MO
Tamara Keefe, Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Creamery
Tucson, AZ
Renee Kreager, Renee’s Organic Oven
The information above is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice and may not be suitable for your circumstances. Unless stated otherwise, references to third-party links, services, or products do not constitute endorsement by Yelp.