speaker-photo

Paul Gresham

Architect, Managing Principal
Paul Gresham is a registered architect and brand rollout strategist with more than 35 years of experience translating brand vision into scalable physical environments. Across his career, he has led architecture, prototype development, innovation, and rollout execution for some of the most recognized names in quick-service restaurant development. Paul spent a decade with Yum! Brands, including Development leadership roles with KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut where he helped drive consistency, accelerated  change management, and constructability across large-scale development systems. He later served at Chick-fil-A in architecture and innovation-focused roles, helping shape reinvestment strategies, development standards, and design innovation and testing initiatives that connected operational needs with evolving customer expectations. Today, as Managing Principal of Jefferson Architecture, he leads national brand, restaurant, retail, and hospitality work with a focus on prototype management, site adaptability, permitting strategy, and high-speed rollout execution. Paul is especially known for helping bridge the gap between brand-side design intent and real-world implementation, working alongside brand leaders, franchise systems, and creative partners to bring new concepts to life despite entitlement hurdles, budget pressures, and supply-chain constraints. His work centers on creating flexible, constructible prototype plans that preserve brand expression while improving speed to market. Jefferson Architecture’s current client list includes: Bojangles Corporate, Checkers & Rally’s Corporate, KFC Corporate, and Taco Bell Corporate, He has also been invited multiple times to serve as a guest lecturer for the Spatial Experience Design program at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Thursday May 7

Fast Forward - Transforming the QSR Customer Experience

Quick-service restaurants are rapidly redefining what convenience, speed and experience look like for today’s customers. As expectations evolve, from digital ordering and seamless pickup to more welcoming dine-in environments, the design of QSR spaces must adapt to support new behaviors while maintaining operational efficiency. This high-impact panel brings together senior executives leading QSR brand evolutions and refreshes happening today. Through conversation and real-world examples, panelists will explore how changing customer preferences are influencing store layouts, service models, technology integration and brand expression inside the physical environment. Attendees will gain insight into how QSR brands are rethinking their spaces to balance speed, flexibility and experience, ensuring stores remain relevant as dining habits, ordering channels and customer expectations continue to shift. Takeaways:

  • Discover how evolving customer behaviors are reshaping QSR store design and service models
  • Understand ways technology, pickup formats and flexible layouts are influencing next-generation QSR spaces
  • Hear real-world insights from leading QSR executives on adapting stores to meet changing expectations