MICHAEL MINA: He’s headed for COT.

Wondering if your concept is well-positioned to resume growing when the economy turns around? Find out this month if it is and what to do if it isn't by attending Restaurant Hospitality's 2009 Concepts of Tomorrow Conference. Set for Sept. 13-15 at the JW Marriott in San Francisco, the event features a speaker lineup that includes such restaurant luminaries as Larry Mindel, founder of Il Fornaio; Richard Melman, the concept king behind Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises; ace foodservice strategist Dennis Lombardi; the Kimpton Group's David O'Malley, whose hotels are home to dozens of one-of-a-kind fine dining restaurants; and Lark Creek Restaurant Group's Michael Dellar, one of the West Coast's leading restaurateurs. Attendees will also discover emerging trends and learn how to capitalize on them during expert-led interactive sessions that will outline winning strategies for everything from surviving the current slowdown to positioning your concept for sale when good times return. For more information, go to www.cotconference.com, call 800-736-8660 or e-mail lauren.carroll@penton.com.