As this beloved children’s book taught us, life is full of obstacles. Because you often can’t go under, over or through these obstacles, you just have to learn how to work your way through them. During this fireside chat, moderated by Zoomba Group’s Joe Carbonara, Epic Burger’s David Grossman will share his story of personal and professional tragedy and triumph for the first time publicly. Grossman will share how the lessons from the book “We Are Going on a Bear Hunt” helped to fan the flames of his entrepreneurial fire and honor his family.

David Grossman, President & CEO, Epic Burger

David Grossman, president & CEO of Epic Burger, has lent his vast restaurant operations experience to familiar brands like Subway, Pinkberry, Johnny Rockets, Elevation Burger, DMK Burger and Freshii. Epic Burger opened in Chicago in 2008 and today has 10 locations in Illinois, including Lincoln Park, South Loop, Skokie, Gold Coast, Evanston, Barrington, Northbrook, Lake Bluff, Naperville and Bloomington. Epic’s Champaign location is coming soon.

According to David, Epic Burger’s big idea is to offer more people an opportunity to eat non-processed food at a reasonable price. With its tagline, “a more mindful burger,” Epic makes a point of using premium ingredients including certified-halal Black Angus beef and brioche buns baked daily. Epic also incorporates sustainable practices, sourcing from local purveyors whenever possible.

David and his family also launched the Hallie225 Foundation, a non-profit named for his daughter who passed away in March 2023 from a rare cancer. The foundation raises funds for rare cancer research. Hallie, who was born on Feb. 25 (2-25), 1998 at 2:25 pm, was preparing to apply to medical school and working her dream job in the emergency room at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

With his string of successes, commitment toward constant improvement, and clear vision for the future, David brings broad experience and an insightful understanding to the ever-evolving restaurant and foodservice industry.