Shows
“Back to Basics” with Rachael NemethEP8: Scaling the Brand, Not Just the BusinessIn this episode, we sit down with Anthony Fassio, Chief Retail and Operations Officer at Verve Coffee Roasters—a 14-unit third-wave coffee brand based in Santa Cruz, known for its relationships with growers, surf-town roots, and quality-first approach.Anthony’s specialty is taking craft brands from cult-favorite to national name without losing their “soul”. From Shake Shack to Salt & Straw to now Verve, he’s led the operational growth of beloved brands by building the systems and team development strategies they need to scale.He shares:How Verve is preparing for East Coast expansionWhy “the checklis...2025-06-1235 min“Back to Basics” with Rachael NemethEP7: Innovating the Fast Food Experience Through People DevelopmentIn this episode of Back to Basics, we sit down with Aaron Noveshen, Founder and CEO of Starbird Chicken, and one of the leading innovators in fast casual dining.Aaron shares how Starbird is rethinking people development in one of the most competitive hiring markets—from building an internal leadership pipeline, to implementing transparent pay bands, to offering unique education and ownership opportunities for team members.With a career that spans founding The Culinary Edge and co-founding Pacific Catch and World Wrapps, Aaron brings a rare blend of culinary creativity and operational excellence to the co...2025-05-1226 min
The meez PodcastRachael Nemeth on Scalable Training Solutions for the Restaurant Workforce and Beyond#96.This week on The meez Podcast, host Josh Sharkey sits down with Rachael Nemeth, CEO and co-founder of Opus, for a candid and insightful conversation that challenges outdated ideas about restaurant training and explores what truly drives team performance, profitability, and sustainable business growth. Drawing on her early experiences in bakeries, fine dining, and building an ESL training tool for restaurants, Rachael shares how these foundations led to Opus’s broader mission: empowering the deskless workforce through goal-based, interactive, and micro-training. She argues that the traditional “train everything upfront” model is not only inefficient, but act...2025-05-0656 min“Back to Basics” with Rachael NemethEP6: Scaling a Franchise Through People Development and PurposeIn this episode, we sit down with Blake Buchanan, Founder and CEO of Bahama Buck’s—a 100+ unit Midwest-based franchise known for its tropical shaved ice and culture-first approach. Blake started the business as a college student in a 240-square-foot snow shack, and by store #2, he was already franchising—a bold move that sparked what’s now a 35+ year legacy.Blake shares how Bahama Buck’s has sustained growth by investing in people development over product hype. From hiring in competitive cities like Austin and Phoenix to building a leadership pipeline from within, he walks us through the system...2025-04-2830 min“Back to Basics” with Rachael NemethEP5: Building a Sustainable System of HospitalityIn this episode, we sit down with Andy Hooper, restaurant industry leader and former CEO of Hart House, to talk about how people development drives long-term success in hospitality. With experience scaling mission-driven brands and advising operators across the country, Andy offers a clear-eyed look at what it really takes to build teams that deliver consistently excellent service.Hear Andy’s take on navigating leadership transitions, the future of hospitality, and how brands can maintain consistency as they scale. He shares what curiosity reveals in emerging leaders, why training programs should be built around business metrics, and ho...2025-04-1430 min“Back to Basics” with Rachael NemethEP4: Scaling Business through Customer Experience, Speed, and ConnectionIn this episode, we sit down with Darren Spicer, Co-Founder and CEO of Clutch Coffee Bar, to explore how his brand is revolutionizing the drive-thru coffee experience. With a focus on speed, service, and personal connections, Clutch Coffee has grown to 15 locations across the Carolinas, with plans to double by 2025.Darren shares his journey from barista to CEO, the operational strategies behind Clutch’s rapid success, and why human interaction is the key to standing out in the competitive coffee space. Tune in to hear how Clutch Coffee is generating $1.1M+ per location annually while keeping customer re...2025-03-1628 min“Back to Basics” with Rachael NemethEP2: Building a People First Culture: Training, Hiring, and Leadership in the Service IndustryCelton talks about his leadership journey from store manager to CEO at CC’s coffee, the importance of maintaining a people-first culture (a la southern hospitality + mentions to qualities he looks for in candidates), and the challenges of training and developing employees in the service industry. Celton shares insights from his recent store visits, emphasizing the need for effective training and the value of listening to employees.Timestamps:Chapters00:00 Introduction to CC's Coffee House and Leadership Journey05:03 The Importance of Community and Guest Service05:04 The want for more tra...2025-02-1923 min“Back to Basics” with Rachael NemethEP1: AI in L&D for Frontline Workers with Gregg Majewski, CEO of Craveworthy BrandsGet ready for a dynamic conversation as Rachael Nemeth and Gregg Majewski dive into the game-changing impact of AI on the restaurant industry. They break down the biggest challenges—shifting consumer habits, soaring costs, and ongoing labor shortages—while exploring how AI is reshaping everything from customer service to operations. Timestamps:00:02 Introduction00:32 Guest Introduction03:53 The Evolution of the Restaurant Industry05:08 AI and Its Impact on the Service Industry10:55 AI Implementation in Craveworthy Brands14...2025-02-1939 min
Room For SecondsThe Future of AI in Restaurants: Innovation Without Losing the Human TouchArtificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the restaurant industry, helping operators manage costs and streamline operations. However, as Greg Majewski, CEO of Craveworthy Brands, discussed in this repurposed episode of a Fireside Chat with Opus CEO Rachael Nemeth, restaurants must be careful not to lose sight of their customers and the hospitality that defines the industry. Here are three major takeaways from his conversation on AI and its role in restaurants.Key Takeaways: Restaurants’ Biggest Blind Spot - Gregg believes that many restaurants have turned a blind eye to the financial difficulties their customers ar...2025-02-0440 min
GSMC Wrestling Laureate PodcastWWE Smackdown Showdowns, John Cena's Bold Claim, & ROH/TNA Impact Recap | GSMC Wrestling Laureate PodcastDive into an action-packed episode as we break down Shinsuke Nakamura’s defense against LA Knight, the red-hot WWE tag team division, and what’s next for Roman Reigns after conquering Solo Sikoa for the Ula Fallah. Plus, catch up on Ring of Honor and TNA Impact results, including Red Velvet's proving ground match and Joe Hendry’s main event triumph. We’ll also discuss the WWE announce team shake-up, John Cena’s quest for his 17th world title, and Jeff Hardy’s controversial remarks comparing himself to Cena. Don’t miss this dynamic episode filled with wrestling’s biggest stories and bold...2025-01-111h 19
Hospitality from WithinEp 33 - How to make training easier in jobs that are really hard with Rachael NemethEp 33 - How to make training easier in jobs that are really hard with Rachael Nemeth
“Great leaders evolve” was Rachael’s answer to my final question of our conversation. This quote sums up Rachael’s career path and constant desire to create better tools for the hospitality industry. Rachael shares the evolution of Opus, pointers on how to create and implement great training programs that have an impact, and what she and her team has learnt along the years to support leaders within their businesses.
About Rachael
Rachael Nemeth, is the CEO and Co-Fo...2024-08-1429 min
Restaurant Rockstars Podcast398. Why You Should Be OBSESSED With Restaurant Training - Rachael NemethIn this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, I speak with restaurant training guru Rachael Nemeth.
Learn the Top 3 Restaurant Profit Killers and how to fix them:
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We will train your entire team to up level your business, maximize sales and optimize profits - Join the Restaurant Academy: https://restaurantrockstars.com/joinacademy
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Inspiring Women in Hospitality#161 Rachael Nemeth: I was working for the job I wanted, not the job that I had.On this episode we hear from Rachael. She was born and raised in hospitality and her very first job was an ice cream scooper. It was when she moved to New York City where she learnt about the world of hospitality and work at every possible food and beverage service type that you could find in the city, from tourist traps to fine dining. Throughout her working career, she found the only way she could grow was to leave her current job and find another one. After several years, she was burn out and took some time out, learnt...2024-04-1630 min
Restaurant Owners UncorkedRachael Nemeth, Co-Founder and CEO, Opus****You can watch this episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsRDDzikEosoUrV-3_HxWNwThis episode sponsored by Popmenu. Popmenu specializes in transformative online and on-premise technologies that help restaurants increase brand visibility, guest engagement, revenue and profitability. We currently work with over 10,000 independent restaurants and hospitality groups and are helping them get the most out of their most powerful marketing tool: their menu.It's also sponsored by Kickfin. Thousands of restaurants, bars and breweries use Kickfin to tip out their employees instantly — no cash required. With Kickfin, tips go directly to your employees’ bank...2024-04-111h 18
Restaurant Leadership Podcast: Overcome Burnout, Embrace Freedom, and Drive Growth29 : Breaking the Mold in Restaurant Training and Inclusion with Rachael Nemeth, CEO of Opus TrainingSend me a Text Message. I'd love to hear from you.I have 3 questions for you:Does your restaurant’s training program only come in 1 language?Is your training program out of date?Are you paying for an LMS that has too many bells and whistles you are not using?If you are shaking your head to any or all of these questions, we are about to blow your mind!Transform your team and enhance your restaurant's performance with the insights from Ra...2024-03-2539 min
Take-Away with Sam OchesTwo start-up leaders talk food safety, labor, and rising above the industry noiseIn this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Rachael Nemeth, cofounder and CEO of Opus Training, and Christine Schindler, cofounder and CEO of PathSpot. These two companies offer products and services for the restaurant industry: Opus is a training platform for frontline hospitality employees, while PathSpot is a system for restaurants that detects harmful contaminants on the hands of employees. They joined the podcast to share the unique perspective of vendors who are serving the restaurant industry and to discuss how vendors can get the attention of restaurant operators. Have feedback or ideas for Take-Away...2024-01-1828 min
Wisking it allBreaking Language Barriers in Hospitality: Rachael Nemeth's Opus Training StoryAbout this Episode:
Rachael Nemeth, Co-Founder and CEO of Opus Training, shares her journey of starting the company and the challenges they faced in the restaurant industry. Opus Training is a training platform designed for hospitality businesses, offering micro-training that fits into the flow of work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it pivoted to provide free COVID-19 safety training, which led to significant growth. The platform is multilingual, offering training in 101 languages, and leverages AI to improve accessibility and user experience.
In this conversation, Rachael emphasizes the importance of simplifying language and avoiding idioms in training...2024-01-0246 min
Constantly CuriousEpisode 10: Rachael Nemeth, Co-Founder & CEO of OPUSGet ready to meet Rachael Nemeth, the powerhouse behind OPUS, a groundbreaking learning platform revolutionizing the training and engagement of deskless, frontline workers. As Co-Founder & CEO, Rachael is changing the game for industries like restaurants, fast casual, and fast food, transforming how they train and retain their invaluable frontline teams. With OPUS, management gains back their most precious asset – time – to excel at running their businesses.
Join us for an insightful dive into the world of OPUS, as Rachael takes us on a journey through her entrepreneurial story. Discover how her team is reshaping training for the desk...2023-08-1635 min
Constantly CuriousEpisode 10: Rachael Nemeth, Co-Founder & CEO of OPUSRachael Nemeth is the Co-Founder and CEO of OPUS, a tech company that takes a very human approach to everything they build. OPUS has a simple and clear mission: Create a world where every deskless worker has a good job. Did you know that 70% of American workers don’t sit at a desk?!
Opus is a learning platform that delivers text message courses. Employers create. Managers connect. Employees engage, learn and grow. Opus trains businesses entire frontline workforce over mobile, from hourly employees to managers. OPUS work with hundreds of companies across the supply chain — businesses that keep o...2023-08-0435 min
RiskReversal PodOkay, Computer: AI Why: Conversations with Deirdre Bosa, Dan Teran and Rachael NemethDan and Deirdre Bosa, host of CNBC’s TechCheck, discuss Microsoft pricing its AI-powered Copilot (2:30), JPMorgan Adds Silicon Valley Bank Veteran John China in Startup, VC Growth Quest (8:00), Tesla earnings (15:00), Threads (19:00), and Netflix (25:15). Later, Dan sits down with Dan Teran of Gutter Capital and Rachael Nemeth of Opus and talk about transforming the labor market for “deskless” workers (30:00), the Opus platform (40:30), fear of automation (50:30)View our show notes hereLearn more about Ro body: ro.co/okayEmail us at contact@riskreversal.com with any feedback, suggestions, or questions for us to...2023-07-1955 min
Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast with Zack OatesEmpowering Your Workforce With Rachael NemethSend us a textRachael Nemeth truly understands what it means to work in the restaurant industry, from line cook to manager! Nemeth now takes on being CEO at Opus, a powerful training technology designed for your "deskless" workforce. Opus creates multimedia lessons and distributes them over mobile, helping you to strengthen your workforce. On this episode, Zack and Rachael discuss: Effective trainingMeeting workers where they areStrengthening your workforceMoreThanks, Rachael!2022-09-0622 min
Hospitality Mavericks Podcast Show#170 Rachael Nemeth, CEO and Co-Founder at Opus, on Frontline Staff Micro TrainingI’m super excited to have Rachael Nemeth, CEO and Co-founder of Opus, on today’s episode. Opus is a training platform designed for businesses with a deskless workforce that helps more than 300 businesses boost their training on the frontline. It was fascinating to learn more about Rachael’s background in operations from hospitality where she worked with some great brands like Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality. In this episode we explore more about the training platform, and how it delivers mobile-first learning through chat-based microtraining. We also chat about building your own skill portfolio, addressing some of the...2022-08-0452 min
Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the MenuListen Up … (to your employees) - LeBaron Meyers, NotMe SolutionsDo your employees feel safe speaking up? It’s time to stop avoiding the topic of workplace harassment and misconduct in restaurants. Abusive environments will not prosper or attract employees. If you really want to improve your culture and employee retention you need to do two critical things: Listen to your employeesEncourage them to speak up when harassment occursLeBaron Meyers, President of NotMe Solutions, is on a mission to improve work cultures and environments for employees. Their anonymous reporting app makes employees feel supported and heard.Show Highlights:Businesses who...2022-07-231h 06
Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the MenuThe New Way to Do Employee Training - Rachael Nemeth, OpusEmployee Training has been a big "miss" in the restaurant industry because the tools and techniques for training desk-less workers are dated or have not even existed . The way we train restaurant employees needs a whole new perspective, approach, and strategy. Enter Rachael Nemeth, CEO and Co-Founder of Opus. An expert trainer and life-long hospitality worker, Rachel knows what it takes to succeed in developing embraceable training that people actually learn from. If you're serious about improving employee retention and attracting new employees, training must move to the top of your list!2022-07-0146 min
The Repertoire PodcastRachael Nemeth | Better Training, Onboarding and Career Development for Kitchen Staff - Ep. 150Show Notes:Enroll in Total Station Domination: https://www.joinrepertoire.com/tsdFollow The Repertoire Podcast on Instagram: @joinrepertoireCheck out OpusOpus on Linkedin: Opus TrainingOpus on Twitter: @get_opusConnect with Rachael: Rachael NemethJosh Sharkey | Organizing in Meez, Chef-turned-Founder, and Guest Experience - Ep. 145Danny Meyer on LinkedinCheck out Executive Chef Mike Anthony on InstagramHot Bread Kitchen in New York: https://hotbreadkitchen.orgEleven Madison Park: https://www.elevenmadisonpark.com2022-05-2648 min
Tech Bites2021 Year in Review with Rachael Nemeth of Opus TrainingOn Tech Bites, the penultimate episode of the year is always a look back. On this episode of Tech Bites, host Jennifer Leuzzi talks about 2021 with returning guest Rachael Nemeth, co-founder, and CEO of Opus Training, a mobile-first learning platform that delivers chat-based micro-training to address the 80% of the workforce that does not sit at a desk with a computer. In a business where the immediacy of information is critical to success, Opus Training has a unique perspective on how the hospitality industry is navigating the ongoing challenges of doing business in the current pandemic economy.Photo...2021-12-071h 02
The Pre-ShiftTraining through texts for a deskless industry | Rachael Nemeth, Co-founder and CEO of Opus | 008This episode was originally published as part of the Restaurant Growth Podcast. It has been rebranded as part of The Pre-Shift Podcast as of January 2023. The information presented may no longer be up-to-date and may differ from the viewpoints and insights currently shared on The Pre-Shift Podcast.How do you train a deskless workforce with modern technology? Through our great uniter—the text message. We welcome Rachael Nemeth, Co-founder and CEO of Opus Training on the show to discuss Opus' text message-based learning platform for frontline workers, onboarding and training the deskless workforce, and how a...2021-08-0626 min
Served UpEp. 43: Rachael NemethHosts Bridget Albert & Julie Milroy welcome Rachael Nemeth - CEO & Co-Founder of Opus Training.2021-07-1248 min
FutureWork PlaybookTraining “Deskless” Workers Over Text Message with Opus Training CEO Rachael NemethWhile working from home and distance learning taught us that working and learning from our homes is possible, for 80% of the global workforce that are considered “deskless,” sitting behind a computer all day to perform their duties is not necessary. This presents a great challenge and opportunity for employers looking to provide critical skills and education to these “deskless workers.” In order to provide the necessary on-the-job education and training for frontline workers, employers must turn to other effective means of training. In this episode, we’re focusing on an old way of communication - text messaging - that is...2021-06-1127 min
The Unwritten PlaybookEpisode 16: Building Accessible Technology for the Majority Workforce with Rachael NemethThis week on the Unwritten Playbook, Megan sits down with CEO & Co-founder of Opus, Rachael Nemeth, to try to answer the question: Why is technology only made for desk workers? 80% of the global workforce doesn’t sit at a desk all day, but 99% of VC money is going to the 20% that do. They dive into the hierarchy of needs, what needs to change in the future, and formulating a plan for training and developing frontline teams.2021-02-0835 min
The Big Food QuestionHow Do You Keep Staff Up to Date With Ever-Evolving COVID-19 Regulations?With restaurants working around constantly shifting COVID-19 regulations, it is more important than ever that all staff and stakeholders understand the current requirements. In this episode, guest host Jennifer Leuzzi talks to Rachael Nemeth, the CEO and co-founder of Opus Training. According to Rachael, nearly all training program technology is built for the desk-worker sitting in front of a computer. Opus has developed a platform purpose-built for training restaurant workers, which they’ve retooled to handle COVID-19 training. Check out Tech Bites, Jenn’s show on food and technology (Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | RSS).Have a que...2020-12-1713 min
Tech BitesStopCovid.Co: High Impact Training for Essential WorkersInformation has never been more crucial to our collective livelihood and wellbeing than it is today. ESL Works, a startup dedicated to closing the workplace language gap, uses texting and SMS to deliver lessons to workers based around the actual tasks they do in restaurants. In March 2020, they created StopCovid.Co in response to the pandemic, adding drills based on CDC and WHO guidelines for essential workers and expanding their resources to include other industries like grocery, delivery and agriculture. On this episode of Tech Bites, host Jennifer Leuzzi talks with returning guest Rachael Nemeth, co-founder and CEO of S...2020-05-0546 min
Tech BitesEpisode 191: ESL Works: Language Tech for RestaurantsESL Works: a startup dedicated to closing the workplace language gap. They deliver quick conversational lessons to workers based around the actual tasks they do in the workplace. They do that with work-specific language training that is accessible to everyone and gets employees communicating quickly. ESL Works is currently used by hundreds of restaurants nationwide including Google's dining services, Sugarfish, and Union Square Hospitality Group. On this episode of Tech Bites, host Jennifer Leuzzi (@mmesnack) talks with ESL Works co-founder and CEO Rachael Nemeth about how she combined her passion for teaching and her career in hospitality in ESL...2019-11-0644 min