Minneapolis, MN – September 15, 2025 - Hospitality Minnesota is excited to announce that Ann Ahmed of Kamma Hospitality (Gai Noi, Lat14 Asian Eatery, Khâluna) Jeanie Janas Ritter of Bûcheron, and Karyn Tomlinson of Myriel will be joining us at the 2025 Hospitality Conference for the Hospitality Changemaker Panel, hosted and moderated by Salt and Roe!  

Join attendees on October 5-7 at Duluth's Greysolon Ballroom to witness this dynamic trio of nationally renown Minnesotans share their unique insights and experiences from the front lines of the hospitality industry.

About the Panelists

Chef Ann Ahmed has transformed the Twin Cities' culinary landscape with her hospitality group Kamma Hospitality, which oversees multiple celebrated restaurants, including: Lat14 Asian Eatery, Khâluna, and Gai Noi. Her cooking is a vibrant reflection of her Lao heritage and global travels, creating spaces that transport guests to Southeast Asia through food and storytelling. A multiple-time James Beard Award semifinalist and finalist, Ann's latest restaurant, Gai Noi, earned a coveted spot on the New York Times "Best Restaurant" list in 2023. She's widely recognized for her soulful cooking and unwavering commitment to hospitality and community. You can see an interview about her journey and restaurants in this video on WCCO-TV.

Jeanie Janas Ritter is a seasoned hospitality veteran and co-owner of the nationally acclaimed restaurant, Bûcheron.  Raised on a farm with a deep respect for ingredients, Jeanie is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Her career journey has taken her from the kitchens of Chez Panisse to leadership roles at prestigious international venues, including the 2-Michelin-starred Cyrus, which was ranked among the San Pellegrino 50 Best. Her expertise in front-of-house operations and leadership has been crucial to the success of Bûcheron, which recently won the national James Beard Award for "Best New Restaurant."

Chef Karyn Tomlinson, the chef-owner of Myriel in St. Paul, is the 2025 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Midwest. Her unique "grandma cooking nouveau" style artfully merges her Scandinavian and Minnesotan heritage with classical French training. Her restaurant, Myriel, was named a "Best Restaurant in America" by Food & Wine magazine, which also honored her as a "Best New Chef" in 2024. Karyn is celebrated for her hyper-local sourcing, a practice that includes weekly visits to small farms and hand-foraging wild ingredients. She made history as the first woman to win the national Cochon 555 whole-animal butchery competition, cementing her status as a leader in sustainable, heritage-driven cuisine.

You don't want to miss this: These three industry leaders promise a compelling conversation on passion, business, and the future of hospitality in Minnesota. Those interested in attending the 2025 Hospitality Conference are encouraged to register soon. We look forward to seeing you at the Greysolon Ballroom!

• Go deeper: Register and learn more about what's in store for this year's Hospitality Conference here.