On June 16, Sustainable Pittsburgh’s CEOs for Sustainability network member, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group (Eat’n Park), hosted a Lunch & Learn at their Corporate Support Center in Homestead. The event, held in partnership with Food21 of Pennsylvania, brought together business leaders, food system practitioners, and sustainability professionals to explore how companies across the region are building a more resilient and sustainable food economy. With more than 50 attendees representing various sectors, the event created space for cross-sector conversation and networking over a lunch generously provided by Eat’n Park, complimented by dessert provided by Millie’s Homemade Icecream and Three Rivers Grown.
Framing the Day
The event opened with remarks from Rebecca Bykoski, Director of Programs at Sustainable Pittsburgh, who welcomed attendees and introduced the themes of the day. She spoke to the significance of the food sector in advancing regional sustainability and emphasized the importance of convening voices from across the supply chain to examine how sustainability and resilience go hand in hand.
Local Leadership in Action
Following Rebecca’s remarks, Jeff Broadhurst, CEO of Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, provided opening comments and welcomed guests on behalf of the host site. He reflected on the company’s decades-long journey to support local sourcing, build trusted relationships with producers, and create a workplace culture rooted in care, flexibility, and long-term commitment. His remarks helped ground the day’s conversation in a real-world example of how sustainability can be embedded into business operations at every level.
Panel Discussion: Resilience, Relationships, and Regional Growth
The centerpiece of the event was a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Audrey Murrell, professor at the University of Pittsburgh and Deputy Chair of Food21. The conversation featured:
- Jamie Moore, Director of Sourcing and Sustainability, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group
- Jonathan Scharff, Co-Owner, Three Rivers Grown
- Chad Townsend, Co-Founder and CEO, Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream
Each panelist offered a unique and complementary perspective on what it takes to build a strong local food system, with the discussion ranging from operational logistics and growth strategy to workforce development and community connection.
Key themes included:
- Resilience requires relationships. Businesses across the food system emphasized the value of partnerships built on trust, flexibility, and shared purpose. Whether between a restaurant and a farm, or a distributor and a producer, these relationships form the backbone of a reliable regional food supply.
- Sustainability supports both mission and margin. Local sourcing was discussed not only as a values-based choice, but as a business strategy that supports quality, transparency, and brand differentiation, while also offering insulation from broader market volatility.
- Infrastructure and workforce remain critical. As regional food systems grow, many small and mid-sized producers face barriers to scaling. Panelists highlighted the need for education, technical assistance, and better systems to help local businesses sell to larger buyers.
- A stronger food system builds community. Across the conversation, panelists reflected on how food connects people, whether through jobs, shared values, and collaborative success. Investing in sustainable food systems is also an investment in people, neighborhoods, and long-term regional health.
Looking Ahead
As part of the event, attendees were encouraged to explore Food21’s Essential Ingredients report, a comprehensive, data-backed look at the region’s food economy. The report outlines trends, challenges, and opportunities across the system and offers actionable strategies for strengthening local supply chains and regional collaboration.
Sustainable Pittsburgh extends sincere thanks to our partners at Eat’n Park and Food21, to the panelists and moderator for sharing their expertise, and to everyone who attended and contributed to this important conversation. Stay tuned for future events and updates from the CEOs for Sustainability network.
If you are a C-Suite executive of a well-aligned company with operations in southwestern Pennsylvania, consider joining the network and complete this interest form.