In this episode of The Industry Podcast, we’re joined by Toronto-based hospitality professional Dylan Nowo, whose path into bartending and the cocktail world is anything but typical.

After starting on the brand side in beer, cider and spirits sales and events, Dylan is now making the transition behind the bar — offering a unique perspective on the hospitality industry, cocktail culture, and what it really takes to build skills in bartending. We talk about breaking into Toronto’s bar scene, learning the craft from the ground up, and navigating imposter syndrome along the way.

Dylan also shares his experience competing in the Montenegro cocktail competition, his approach to cocktail experimentation, and how the Toronto hospitality community has supported his growth.

Whether you’re a bartender, working in the spirits industry, or just passionate about cocktails, this episode is a great look at carving out your place in hospitality and developing your craft over time.

@mr_nowo

A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out!

Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports.

Links

kyppsaunders@gmail.com

@sugarrunbar

@the_industry_podcast

email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This weeks guest is Geoffrey Toffetti, who joins us from Orlando, Florida. Geoffrey is the CEO of Frontline Performance Group, a global company that helps hotels and hospitality brands unlock revenue growth by empowering their frontline teams. With more than two decades of experience across hospitality, operations, and technology, Geoffrey specializes in helping organizations transform everyday guest interactions into meaningful service experiences that also drive measurable business results.

Geoffrey’s career began in the hospitality industry, where he worked his way up from roles such as valet and front desk agent to leadership positions in guest services. This hands-on background shaped his belief that the frontline employee—often the first point of contact with a customer—is the most powerful driver of both guest satisfaction and revenue growth.

At Frontline Performance Group, Geoffrey has helped lead the company’s evolution from a consulting and training organization into a technology-driven SaaS platform. Its flagship system, IN-Gauge, combines training, analytics, and performance tracking to help hospitality companies improve service, engagement, and revenue outcomes.

Today, Geoffrey works with some of the world’s largest hospitality brands—including major hotel groups—to help leaders build high-performance cultures, motivate frontline teams, and use data to improve the guest experience and bottom line.

LinkedIn - Geoffrey Toffetti

Frontline Performance Group

A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out!

Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports.

Links

kyppsaunders@gmail.com

@sugarrunbar

@the_industry_podcast

email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club

This week, we sit down with Jeremiah Tomas, General Manager at The Pine in Creemore, Ontario where Jeremiah works alongside an incredibly talented team focused on building one of Canada’s most thoughtful and ambitious dining experiences — currently holding 1 Michelin Star.

Jeremiah’s been working in hospitality since his teenage years, and over the years he’s had the privilege of learning in exceptional dining rooms with some of Canada’s top culinary talents. More than anything, Jeremiah cares about the daily work of improving service, building strong teams, and creating memorable experiences for guests. Jeremiah is deeply passionate about fine dining and about exploring how far Canadian hospitality and cuisine can go, guided by curiosity, humility, and a constant desire to learn.

@jeremiahjtomas

@the_pine

A big thank you to Jean-Marc Dykes of Imbiblia. Imbiblia is a cocktail app for bartenders, restaurants and cocktail lovers alike and built by a bartender with more than a decade of experience behind the bar. Several of the features includes the ability to create your own Imbiblia Recipe Cards with the Imbiblia Cocktail Builder, rapidly select ingredients, garnishes, methods and workshop recipes with a unique visual format, search by taste using flavor profiles unique to Imbiblia, share recipes publicly plus many more……Imbiblia - check it out!

Contact the host Kypp Saunders by email at kyppsaunders@gmail.com for products from Elora Distilling, Malivoire Winery and Terroir Wine Imports.

Links

kyppsaunders@gmail.com

@sugarrunbar

@the_industry_podcast

email us: info@theindustrypodcast.club