Ascent Hospitality Management Hosts First All Brands Summit

August 11, 2026 // Franchising.com // ATLANTA, GA - Ascent Hospitality Management, parent company to iconic family dining brands Perkins Restaurant & Bakery and Huddle House, recently hosted its first ever all brands conference. The Ascent Together conference brought together more than 500 franchisees, vendors, corporate teams, and other key partners.

“Bringing our teams together let us celebrate shared and individual achievements while setting the course for a strong future,” said Paul Damico, President & CEO. “In an industry full of newer, trend driven concepts, longevity gives Perkins and Huddle House a real competitive advantage. We are not operating old brands, we are operating trusted brands, and that distinction shapes everything we do.”

Greg Creed served as the conference's keynote speaker. Creed led Yum! Brands as CEO from 2015 to 2019, following a 40 year career spanning marketing and operations. His keynote reinforced the message that culture and results move together, and lasting brand trust drives long term performance.

The family dining category continues to face pressure, making brand trust and guest sentiment more critical differentiators than ever. Black Box Intelligence data shows Perkins and Huddle House outperform category peers Denny's, IHOP, and Cracker Barrel in consumer net sentiment, a measure spanning service, environment, value, food, beverage, intent to return, hospitality, and Google ratings. This positioning underscores the strength of the guest experience across both brands and reinforces the value proposition for current and prospective franchisees.

Throughout the 2026 conference, awards recognized individuals, stores, and partners that highlighted each recipient's exceptional performance and commitment to the brands.

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Awards

Perkins recognized franchise teams with these awards.

Franchisee of the Year: Kevin Jones of A&A Food Systems
General Manager of the Year (Franchisee): Robert Smith Jr. of the Hanover, PA Perkins, operated by JDK Management
General Manager of the Year (Corporate): Jenny Johnson of the Black River Falls Perkins

Huddle House Awards

Huddle House also recognized franchisees with these awards.

Franchisee of the Year: Terry Wingfield and Daniel Potts
Community Involvement Award: Jason Bollinger
General Manager of the Year (Franchisee): Tim Stancil of the Cleveland, TN Huddle House
Huddle House GM of the Year (Corporate): Richard Smith of the Demopolis, AL Huddle House

The brands acknowledged their partners with these awards.