Brendan Sweeney came up with the original idea for Popmenu after repeatedly seeing restaurants struggle with their digital presence — highlighted by the prevalence of text-only PDF menus as the primary way restaurants would convey their offerings in a world where consumers increasingly consult photos, reviews, ratings and social validation to make purchase decisions. The frustration of having to visit third-party platforms to get the information he needed to make a dining decision, paired with the frustration he saw restaurants experience as they tried to control their own story online, were the impetus that led to the early concepts and prototypes that would become Popmenu.
Flash forward five years and Brendan’s vision for building highly visual, interactive, SEO-driven menus evolved into the creation of an all-in-one, guest-facing platform that has helped 10,000+ restaurants enhance hospitality and drive stronger financial outcomes.
With an extensive background in product development, user experience and marketing for high-growth SaaS companies, Brendan leads Popmenu’s efforts to deliver easy, immediately impactful tech to support restaurants worldwide. Known for his candor and wit, Brendan can be found on the global speaking circuit, industry podcasts and news sites — and occasionally singing on stage with his guitar.
Prior to launching Popmenu, he served in senior product leadership roles for Commissions Inc. and CareerBuilder EMEA. In the early 2000s, he also operated a side business that built websites for small businesses, including many restaurants.
If you’re in a room with Tony Roy (or anywhere in the vicinity), you’ll often hear “I’m fired up!” and “Let’s go!” Equipped with boundless energy and a passion for helping customers, Tony is a key figure driving next-gen technology for restaurants.
Tony’s deep expertise in revenue operations has helped thousands of independent restaurants and hospitality groups engage with more guests and increase sales, both on-premise and online, while improving profitability. Focused on solving problems, he works hand in hand with restaurant owners and operators to help them meet exceed their goals. He leads Popmenu’s corporate development and strategic partnerships and is often called upon to provide industry and tech insights at global events. He can be found dining in restaurants most days and has never met a taco he didn’t like.
Prior to Popmenu, Tony oversaw international operations for CareerBuilder and spearheaded partnerships and acquisitions.
Innovation is an everyday occurrence under Mike Gullo’s product leadership as he continually asks restaurant owners and operators the question, “What keeps you up at night?” Driven by a strong desire to help restaurateurs rest easy and keep pace with changing market demands, he leverages his extensive product experience with high-growth SaaS companies to bring exciting solutions to the industry.
Mike establishes close relationships with Popmenu customers to discover their pain points and provide more value with the ultimate goal of simplifying as much of their day-to-day as possible—so they can focus on serving their guests. With an inventor’s mindset, he oversees a large team of product managers, user researchers, and UI/UX designers and encourages everyone in the company to share insights that will help fuel future product development...even though he won’t share his grandmother’s meatball recipe.
Mike draws on his strong background in MIS and business administration to meet the fast-growing tech needs of restaurants and their guests. Before Popmenu, he served as the VP of Product at Commissions Inc.
Working closely with the product team on things that make you go “Wow,” Justis Blasco puts the engine in engineer. He specializes in creating high-impact, scalable and secure solutions to help restaurants thrive and is the lead architect behind Popmenu’s consumer engagement platform.
Justis built the backbone and framework for Popmenu. His team of experienced software engineers are dedicated to developing tools that make restaurateurs’ lives easier and their businesses more successful. Best defined through the speed and competence of his work, Justis often spent the early days of Popmenu pulling all-nighters to ensure customers were continuously up and running and bringing in more guests.
Before Popmenu, Justis was a software engineer at Commissions Inc., and later a handful of other startups under Atlanta Ventures, where he worked with a wide variety of programming languages and gained a deep understanding of tech development that serves Popmenu customers well today.
With an extensive background in overseeing global legal affairs, multifaceted negotiations, acquisitions and dispositions, Isela Morales helps Popmenu navigate a complex legal landscape as the company quickly grows its footprint inside and outside the U.S.
A key advisor on strategic business initiatives, Isela plays a critical role in protecting company stakeholders, including the restaurants Popmenu serves. She works diligently to ensure all teams at Popmenu can operate on all cylinders by drafting, analyzing and negotiating commercial agreements with clients, partners and vendors.
Before Popmenu, Isela spent over a decade overseeing CareerBuilder’s international legal matters where she managed cross-border e-commerce and tech-related legal matters and was the in-house subject matter expert on international data privacy.
Mark Hoyt is Popmenu’s first ever Chief Financial Officer. With over 25 years of experience driving strong financial performance for global SaaS companies and startups, Mark plays a critical part in the ongoing expansion of Popmenu’s business as it delivers on its mission to help restaurants thrive through tech innovation.
Mark has an extensive background in global financial operations, funding rounds, mergers and acquisitions and platform development—which comes in handy as the company grows its domestic and international tech footprint. He leads Popmenu’s financial strategy and oversees its accounting, finance, treasury and tax functions.
With sound financial stewardship and a penchant for motivating teams to peak performance, Mark has consistently driven fast-paced organic growth and long-term profitability for companies and ensured all stakeholders are poised for success.
Prior to Popmenu, Mark served as the CFO of Loadsmart, OneSpan and Groupon’s EMEA division and held financial leadership positions at CareerBuilder, Motorola and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Throughout his career, Mark has visited restaurants all over the world, sampling a wide range of local delicacies…though he still prefers a good ole fashioned Cincinnati Five-Way Chili.
As Chief of Staff at Popmenu, Mona Wedad is the connective tissue across teams—driving alignment, operational excellence, and strategic execution throughout the organization. Partnering closely with the executive team, she acts as a force multiplier: helping prioritize initiatives, streamline communication, and ensure the company moves with focus and speed.
With a background spanning legal, sales, marketing, and operations, Mona leads cross-functional planning, facilitates internal operations, and oversees high-impact projects that accelerate Popmenu’s growth.
Mona is no stranger to the restaurant business, having held leadership roles at Zignyl—a software platform built to support franchise operations—and GoTo Foods—the franchisor behind beloved brands like AuntieAnne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlister’s, Moe’s, and Schlotzsky’s.
Mona has a soft spot for restaurants and the people who run them—so much so that she named her son after one of her favorite steakhouses in Atlanta.
When he’s not traveling the world and trying exotic foods Anthony Bourdain-style, Ryan Vas is hard at work ensuring Popmenu’s financial operations are running smoothly. He brings decades of experience in global finance and accounting to his role.
Ryan oversees a wide range of finance functions including Financial Planning & Analysis, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and Tax while closely collaborating with department leaders to establish and measure key success metrics for external reporting. He serves as a mentor to his team, encouraging them to remain analytical and flexible as they help other departments understand the resources available for achieving goals and supporting our customers.
Before Popmenu, Ryan held leadership roles with The Adecco Group and CareerBuilder, where he led a global team of accounting and finance professionals while providing strategic guidance to senior regional leaders across continents. He’s highly passionate about international business and has managed due diligence and financial systems integrations for several global acquisitions.
As the Vice President of Marketing, Jenny Grasz makes sure restaurant owners and operators get all the juicy trends, tips, and tech to help them grow their businesses.
With over two decades of experience leading marketing and communications efforts for global tech companies, Jenny puts her expert storytelling skills to work every day to multiply revenue opportunities for Popmenu and our customers. She oversees organic and paid growth strategies, public relations, product and partnership marketing, branding, and all things creative.
Jenny is known for her love of a good joke (and a good pizza). She creates high-performing teams with a leadership style rooted in collaboration, accountability, empathy, and humor. Prior to Popmenu, she served in marketing leadership positions for CareerBuilder and TrueBlue.
