NDTA

TUESDAY OCTOBER 14, 2025
7:30- 8:45   Owner’s Only Breakfast: A closed meeting for owners to discuss topics.
 
8:45- 9:45  Nickel Ideas
 
9:45- 10:00  Travel to Sysco Test Kitchen
 
10:00- 12:00  Sysco Test Kitchen Food Expo- A unique lunch experience with stations presented by Sysco’s team of specialists:
                          

• John Castro, Culinary Specialist, will be team leader and showing Center of the Plate ideas

• Randall Mattingly, Premium Protein Specialist, will also be sharing Center of the Plate

• James Kiggins, Product Specialist, will be showing produce ideas

• Jahna George, Specialty Import Specialist, will be showing European Imports and doing Mixology and Cocktail ideas and SO many more!

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12:00- 12:15  Travel back to hotel
 
12:15- 1:45  SPEAKER:  Jeff Miller, Tuacahn Center for the Arts
“Making the most of fun new theatre technology.” From larger scale to smaller productions, technology is now expected in theatre shows. Hear from a dinner theatre tech veteran and how the large-scale technology can be used in your venues.
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1:45- 2:00   Break
 
2:00- 3:30   SPEAKER: Camille Zess, The Travel Partnership: 
“AI is Everywhere—But Where Do You Start?”
AI technology is evolving at lightning speed, and trying to catch up can feel like jumping onto a moving train. This session slows things down and helps you approach AI with clarity and purpose. This is an interactive workshop, so please download ChatGPT to your phone or laptop and have them available during the workshop.
 
3:30- 4:15  NIVA- Stephen Parker- "Protecting, preserving, and promoting dinner theaters"- Dinner theaters are an important part of NIVA's membership and they are working to make sure they are saving on food, supplies, and equipment. They also are working to ensure that governments across the country take venues like dinner theaters into account when making funding and regulatory decisions that could impact them. Come join NIVA's Executive Director to learn more about how NIVA is working to help dinner theaters, and provide ideas and input on how they can do more to address the unique needs of dinner theaters in communities across the country.  
 
5:00  Leave for Churchill Downs 
        
5:30- 6:30  Tour of Churchill Downs and Paddocks
 
7:15   Dinner: Benfinita Modern Italian Restaurant
                          
Back to the hotel. Lobby Bar Available.       

STEPHEN PARKER, Executive Director
National Independent Venue Association
Stephen Parker brings extensive experience to NIVA, including roles as a national association leader, music policy advocate, senior advisor to governors, and federal advocate. His career spans nearly a decade at the National Governors Association, where he directed intergovernmental and congressional affairs, and led policy development in education, labor, and economic sectors. As Executive Director at NIVA, Parker focuses on growing membership, expanding national partnerships, and promoting diversity and equity across independent venues. Previously, he served at the Country Music Association, as Senior Special Assistant to Governor Tim Kaine, and in various policy roles. Parker holds degrees from Longwood University and Harvard, and was a Sorensen Political Leadership fellow.

JEFF MILLER, DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION, TUACAHN CENTER
FOR THE ARTS 
Jeff spent time working in dinner theater in Colorado. His first real professional jobs were at The Carousel Dinner Theater and The Country Dinner Playhouse. He owes much of hiscareer to the time he spent at those theaters. He went on to spend over 25 years in regional and commercial theater, including a few years with Cirque Du Soleil in Las Vegas. He currently oversee all technical aspects of a 2500 seat regional outdoor amphitheater with a $25 million budget reaching an annual audience of 300,000.

CAMILLE ZESS, VP OF GROWTH,
TRAVEL ALLIANCE PARTNERSHIP (TAP) 
Camille Zess is a strategy-driven marketing leader passionate about helping tourism organizations elevate their storytelling and better connect with their audiences. As a senior strategist, she provides big-picture guidance for destinations and their stakeholders—bridging brand, content, and campaign planning with real-world implementation.
A vocal advocate for the practical and human-centered use of AI in tourism marketing, Camille is known for exploring and sharing tools that make teams more agile and creative. She is also an advisor with Travel Unity, supporting inclusive and responsible tourism development. Outside of work, Camille serves on the board of a personal growth nonprofit, contributing her marketing expertise to help the organization thrive.