Thrival Innovation and Music Festival: Full Schedule

Tickets for keynote talks are available at thrivalfestival.com/tickets

4:00pm EDT

Food City, USA: How to Build and Sustain a Food Culture for Everyone

Limited Capacity seats available

Since Pittsburgh's anointment as America's #1 food city, there has been much celebration about the ascension of the city's culinary culture and community. This is great, however, there's a need for an open and transparent conversation about what this actually means long term, and if this type of notoriety is sustainable in the long-term. How do you build from here? What are the necessary steps needed to maintain the momentum? Does everyone have access to these benefits (short answer: no)? It doesn’t just end with food. The culture extends itself into a culture of microbreweries and craft beer that industry leaders that also make Pittsburgh their home.

Moderators

Leah Lizarondo

Founder, The Brazen Kitchen

Leah Lizarondo is Co-Founder and CEO of 412 Food Rescue. 412 Food Rescue works to eliminate hunger and promote a healthy environment by rescuing viable food about to go to waste and redirecting to nonprofits that serve those who are food insecure. 412 Food Rescue is an innovative... Read More →

Speakers

Jamilka Borges

Chef, Spoon

Sandy Cindrich

CEO, Pennsylvania Brewing Company

Pittsburgh native Sandy Cindrich was named President and CEO of PennsylvaniaBrewing Co (Penn Brewery) in July, 2010. She, along with two other local craft beerlovers, Linda Nyman and Corey Little, purchased the controlling interest of PennBrewery in November 2009.Cindrich became a... Read More →

Joe Hilty

Owner, The Vandal

Joey Hilty is the owner of "The Vandal", a neighborhood cafe in Lawrenceville ( with accolades from the NYT, Zagat, EATER, etc). Despite being 28 years old, he has an extensive background in the Food and Beverage world and remains a student of food culture, more specifically the... Read More →

Scott Smith

East End Brewing Company

Scott ditched his corporate engineering job in 2004 and first started brewing beer commercially in his original Homewood Brewery. After moving both the Brewery and the Strip District "Growler Shop" to vastly new and improved locations, East End has grown to become a staple... Read More →