SB Value Welcomes Industry Veteran Julie Altstadt as Executive Vice President of Sales

SB Value is pleased to announce the newest addition to our leadership team: Julie Altstadt, a trusted 30-year foodservice professional and widely respected expert in cost savings, GPO programs, and hospitality operations. 

Most recently serving as Business Development Manager at US Foods, Julie brings a thoughtful blend of frontline experience, national-level perspective, and a genuine commitment to helping operators succeed. Her arrival represents an important step forward as SB Value continues to grow and support members across the attractions and hospitality industries. 

A Leader Known for Reliability, Insight, and Partnership 

Julie has spent nearly two decades with US Foods supporting Premier GPO customers, building strong relationships and deep expertise across the GPO ecosystem. As a former small business owner, she brings a practical understanding of operators, distributors, and manufacturers — helping her connect with customers and partners in a meaningful and informed way. 

Her experience includes: 

• Supporting new business growth across diverse markets 

• Guiding operators through thoughtful, cost-saving strategies 

• Building long-term partnerships rooted in trust and collaboration 

• Helping organizations navigate Premier programs with clarity and efficiency 

In short, Julie brings a level of knowledge and experience in this space that truly sets her apart. 

We’re incredibly proud of the foundation SB Value has built over the last several years, and we look forward to the steady, thoughtful leadership Julie will bring as we continue to expand. Her insight, relationships, and approach will help us strengthen partnerships, support our members, and deliver meaningful value nationwide. 

We are honored to welcome her—and excited for this next chapter together. 

Please join us in welcoming Julie Altstadt to the SB Value family.

IAAPA Expo 2025: Recap

IAAPA Expo 2025 is officially in the books, and what a week it was! As proud a Platinum Sponsor, the SB Value team arrived ready to connect, educate, and help attractions uncover real, measurable savings. We left Orlando energized and thrilled by the turnout from IAAPA members across the globe.

Taking the Stage 

The week kicked off strong on Monday, November 17, when our VP of Sales, Clint Elkins, took the stage for his session Smart Spending for FECs. Speaking to a fully-packed room, Clint broke down how smarter purchasing and simple strategic shifts can boost your profit margins in a high-cost environment. If you missed it, IAAPA will be posting session materials online, and we’ve shared past versions of this topic on the SB Value blog as well.

Later in the week, on Thursday, November 20, Clint joined industry leaders for the panel Profitable Plates: Winning with Smarter F&B, where he dove deeper into the operational decisions that separate average food programs from highly profitable ones. The conversation was engaging and packed with real-world takeaways.

Monday Night: Cheers to the F&B Community

Monday evening, SB Value was honored to sponsor the F&B Operators Reception, held onsite at the conference. It was an incredible opportunity to meet so many operators, chefs, GMs, and industry friends, both new and longtime.

Connecting and Networking All Week Long

From Tuesday through Friday, our team was on the trade show floor, meeting hundreds of attendees ready to save. We loved hearing your stories, learning about your operations, and showing you exactly how SB Value puts real money back into your pockets. And yes, if you stopped by the booth, you’ll be hearing from us shortly (if you haven’t already!).

One of the highlights? Getting the chance to meet IAAPA CEO Jakob Wahl and connect with IAAPA team members from around the world. Their hospitality and shared enthusiasm for industry growth made the week even more memorable.

What’s Next?

Post-expo, our team has been hard at work following up with every operator, FEC, water park, and attraction we connected with. If we didn’t have the chance to meet you, or if you want to keep the conversation going, now’s the perfect time to schedule a quick call with Clint.

Thank you again to IAAPA and every attendee who stopped by, introduced themselves, or attended one of Clint’s sessions. IAAPA Expo 2025 reminded us why we love this industry so much, and we’re already counting down to next year!

IAAPA Expo + Dude Ranch Association Webinar

As an official partner of IAAPA and a Platinum Sponsor of the 2025 IAAPA Expo, we’re excited to share that our very own Clint Elkins will be presenting two talks at the upcoming Expo:

• Smart Spending for FEC's- Boosting Your Bottom Line in 2026 with a GPO - Monday, November 17 at 11am ET

• Profitable Plates: How FECs, Small Parks & LBEs Are Winning with Smarter F&B (Panel) - Thursday, November 20 at 4pm ET 

We’ll also be on-site at the tradeshow — come see us at our booth (#3257)!

Get your passes here: https://i.snoball.it/p/43BCOLn/l/6

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In addition, we’re thrilled to announce that SB Value will be partnering with the Dude Ranch Association (DRA) to host a webinar on Thursday, November 6 at 12pm ET!

Topic:

Balancing Higher Costs + Smarter Spending: Boosting Your Ranch's Bottom Line in 2026

If there’s one thing ranch owners across the industry can count on, it’s that food and beverage costs are always fluctuating. As we head into 2026, it’s more important than ever to reevaluate how you’re managing those costs—from menu offerings to vendor contracts to kitchen operations. In this session, SB Value’s Trip Wheeler and Clint Elkins will share effective yet practical spending strategies to help you stay profitable in an unpredictable economic landscape.

Takeaways:

• Learn the latest trends in food pricing and how they impact planning, portioning, and profit margins.

• Discover sustainable purchasing techniques that cut waste and stretch your budget further.

• Examine how labor pressures and external market forces affect pricing decisions for ranches.

• Explore what's ahead in food purchasing for 2026—and how to prepare with confidence.

Please note that registration is required for this webinar. For registration details, click here.

We hope to see you there!

MIBE Summit 2026

We’re excited to share that we are a proud sponsor of the MIBE Summit 2026 — a premier leadership and culture conference designed specifically for the hospitality industry.

This event brings together 500+ hospitality leaders and managers for three days of learning, inspiration, and connection. Attendees will hear from industry innovators and leadership experts, participate in interactive breakouts, and walk away with practical tools to tackle challenges like retention, burnout, communication, and team engagement.

We’ve attached a one-pager with all the details. If you or members of your team are looking for fresh strategies and inspiration heading into 2026 and beyond, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

👉 Use code SBVALUE200 for $200 off when you register for the summit here!

We hope to see you there!

IAAPA Webinar: Balancing Food Pricing + Profit in 2026

As an official partner of IAAPA, we’re thrilled to announce that SB Value will be hosting a webinar panel on Tuesday, October 28 at 11am ET!

Topic:

Higher Costs, Smarter Spending: Balancing Food Pricing + Profit in 2026

If there’s one thing operators across the attractions industry can count on, it’s that food and beverage costs are always in motion. As we head into 2026, it’s more important than ever to reevaluate how you’re managing those costs—from menu design to vendor contracts to kitchen operations. In this session, SB Value’s Clint Elkins will moderate a panel of IAAPA members who will share practical strategies to help you stay profitable in an unpredictable economic landscape, whether you’re running a theme park, FEC, or water park.

Takeaways:

• Analyze the latest trends in food pricing and how they impact planning, portioning, and profit margins.

• Discover sustainable purchasing techniques that cut waste and stretch your budget further.

• Examine how labor pressures and external market forces affect pricing decisions.

• Explore what's ahead in food purchasing for 2026—and how to prepare with confidence.

Panelists:

The webinar will be moderated by our own VP of Sales, Clint Elkins. Additionally, we’re excited to share that the below panelists will be joining him:

Matthew Mullen

Matthew Mullen is the founder and creative leader of Empire Adventure Park, a high-energy entertainment destination known for its immersive attractions and playful brand identity. With a career rooted in entrepreneurship and strategic growth, Matthew brings a unique blend of operational savvy and imaginative storytelling to every facet of the park’s experience.

At Empire, he oversees branding, marketing, event planning, and operational excellence—ensuring every detail reflects the park’s signature energy and guest-first philosophy. Whether he’s designing whimsical signage, customizing invoices, or planning large-scale events, Matthew leads with humor, empathy, and a relentless drive to elevate both team culture and customer engagement.

Tim Murphy

Tim Murphy is a proven CEO and strategic advisor with 30+ years of leadership across family entertainment, restaurants, F&B, and retail. He has driven turnarounds and growth across 150+ brands and 10,000+ locations, partnering with private equity leaders such as Cerberus Capital Management and The Carlyle Group to unlock enterprise value and deliver high-return exits.

As CEO of Boomers Parks, Tim led one of the industry's most notable turnarounds, transforming a $10M EBITDA loss into $8M+ profit in one year, resulting in a 6X EBITDA exit in 2024. He currently serves as Board Director for Coney Park & Happy City (100+ Latin American FECs backed by The Carlyle Group) and leads TM Entertainment Consulting, where he advises investors and operators on M&A, franchise scaling, and performance improvement.

Our partnership with IAAPA has truly been instrumental in helping build relationships within the attractions industry, and we’re excited to provide members with the opportunity to save on their food + concessions costs - all while boosting their bottom line.

We hope to see you there!