In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper speaks with David Youngberg, CEO of Stonefire Grill, about what it truly means to lead with hospitality. With decades of experience in restaurant operations—from his early days at McDonald's to senior leadership at BJ's and now Stonefire—David offers grounded insights on building a people-first culture. He shares how Stonefire is refining its guest experience through technology, team empowerment, and a clear vision for growth. From improving internal communication to acting on customer feedback, David breaks down the strategic choices that make Stonefire's service model both scalable and personal.

Topics Discussed in the Episode

• David's leadership journey from BJ's Restaurants to Stonefire Grill

• The people-first philosophy behind Stonefire's operations

• Using stakeholder input to guide strategic initiatives

• Leveraging tech tools like Toast and Ovation to enhance service

• Creating a high-performance culture through servant leadership

Connect with David Youngberg:

www.stonefiregrill.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dyoungberg

www.instagram.com/tridavetri

https://www.linkedin.com/company/stonefire-grill-inc

https://www.instagram.com/stonefiregrill/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/stonefiregrill?lang=en

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWywdImCs66xn62mktbA5IA

https://www.facebook.com/stonefiregrill/

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.

In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy sits down with Rob Ertmann, CEO of Mo'Betta's Hawaiian-style restaurant chain. With over 25 years in the hospitality industry, Rob shares the brand's growth journey from 22 to 68 stores in four years, its partnership with Savory Fund, and its recent acquisition by Blue Marlin and Tribe.

The conversation focuses on operational excellence, cultural authenticity, and the importance of simplicity in menu design. Rob outlines how Mo'Betta's has preserved its Hawaiian roots while scaling rapidly, discusses the pivotal role of the general manager, and highlights how defining team values such as humility, kindness, and hunger has contributed to the company's strong internal culture.

• The growth and evolution of Mo'Betta's from 22 to 68 stores

• Maintaining cultural authenticity during rapid scale

• Why simplicity in menu design supports operations and margins

• Hiring for values over resumes and building internal leadership

• Learning from team feedback and staying humble in decision-making

Connect with Rob Ertmann:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-ertmann-61b93927

http://www.mobettahs.com

https://mobettahs.com/about/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/mo-bettahs

https://www.instagram.com/mobettahs/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/Mobettahs/

https://www.tiktok.com/@mobettahs

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.

In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy Hooper sits down with Guy Weiss, tech entrepreneur and founder of ZenZap, to discuss how workplace communication is evolving—especially in the hospitality industry. Guy shares his journey from cybersecurity to launching a purpose-built messaging platform designed for frontline teams in fast-paced environments like restaurants and franchises.

The conversation explores the high cost of chaotic communication, including burnout, security risks, and productivity loss, and outlines why existing tools like WhatsApp, Slack, and iMessage fall short. With ZenZap, Weiss aims to create a structured, mobile-first communication experience that reduces friction, supports onboarding and turnover, and enables operators to scale effectively.

Topics Discussed in the Episode

• Why personal messaging tools create problems in hospitality operations

• The hidden costs of "always-on" work culture and notification fatigue

• Security and privacy risks from unregulated group chats

• The challenge of onboarding and offboarding in high-turnover environments

• How ZenZap creates structured, simple, and effective team communication

Connect with Guy Weiss:

https://zenzap.co

https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-weiss-77088589/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/zenzap

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQDSHmeJ3X_nuqEVzLq9SAQ

https://www.facebook.com/Zenzap.messaging

https://www.instagram.com/zenzapapp/

https://www.g2.com/products/zenzap/reviews

https://www.capterra.com/p/10018942/Zenzap/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbespr/2016/02/29/forbes-israel-announces-its-30-under-30-list/

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.