ANFP Annual Conference & Expo Helps Attendees Drive Innovation in Foodservice Management
Released: 21-June-2016
Contact Information
Brad Rysz
Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals
Director of Marketing & Communications
brysz@ANFPonline.org
Phone: 800.323.1908 x126
St. Charles, IL - The Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals (ANFP) hosted its Annual Conference & Expo (ACE) June 10-13 at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, IN. The theme of the conference was “Driving Innovation in Foodservice Management” and nearly 400 attendees participated in four days of education, networking, and exhibits.
The Keynote Opening Session kicked off the conference. Jeanne Malnati, LCSW, presented the audience with tips and techniques to improve workplace communication. Malnati explained how her Clean & Clear Communication System decreased employee turnover and increased employee satisfaction, which in turn created a fun, respectful, and trustworthy work environment.
Education sessions covered a variety of topics including: leadership, budgeting, innovation, food allergies, dietary guidelines, and other CDM practice areas. Highlights included a panel of administrators discussing the expectations of the CDM and nutrition services. A session entitled “The Right Bite: CDM Foodservice Business Pitch Competition” featured four teams of CDMs pitching innovative business ideas to a panel of five judges. The judges, along with the audience, determined a winner of the contest.
Attendees were also able to attend a tour of the Sky Farm at Eskenazi Health, as well as the Eskenazi Health Campus. The hour-long tour included a history of the sky farm, a 5,000 square-foot edible landscape on the roof of the Eskenazi Outpatient Care Center that is open to the public. The tour also included a walk through the Marketplace, where Eskenazi staff and visitors purchase meals. The Closing Session, presented by Golda Ewalt, MS, RD, LDN, CCC, covered the implementation of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines.
The Annual Business Meeting & Leadership Recognition Breakfast saw the installation of the 2016-17 Board of Directors for ANFP, including Chair Janice Hemel, CDM, CFPP. The event also recognized two ANFP award winners: Jessica Weisbrich, RDN, CDM, CFPP as CDM of the Year and Paula Bradley, CDM, CFPP, who won the Legacy Award. The Diamond Award, ANFP’s top honor for a chapter who exemplifies exceptional leadership and dedication, was awarded to Iowa.
Other ANFP awards that were announced during the conference included Distinguished Service Award (DeLaine Rasmussen, RD, CDM, CFPP), Leadership Institute Alumni LEAD Award (John Hickson, CCA, CDM, CFPP, FMP, FSP, CHESP, CP-FS), Excellence in Dining Award (Joshua Watkins, CDM, CFPP), Model of Commitment Leadership Award (Dr. William Palumbo, DCN, MS, RD, CDN, LNHA), and Leading Change Partnership Award (Orchard Healthcare, Hayneville, AL). Palmetto Park Senior Living in Palmetto, GA was awarded the Foodservice Department of the Year Award by the Nutrition & Foodservice Education Foundation.
The three-hour expo featured 56 exhibitors displaying a wide variety of foodservice products, innovations, and trends. During the show, attendees also participated in the Ecolab-sponsored Stop Hunger Now service project, where they packaged 10,236 meals that will be delivered to those in need. Additionally, ACE exhibitors compiled nearly 700 pounds of food and nonfood items from the expo and donated them to Second Harvest.
In addition to education and exhibits, ACE also featured the ANFP Resource Kiosk, a place for members to ask questions, voice concerns, and learn more about many of the valuable member benefits available to them. There were also networking events including an Opening Reception, Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, and Nutrition & Foodservice Education Foundation (NFEF) Fundraiser.
ANFP’s philanthropic arm, the Nutrition & Foodservice Education Foundation, hosted its annual fundraising event, “Illuminating the Way”, that raised over $32,000 for scholarships, research funding, and other foundation initiatives.
Attendees are already talking about next year’s Annual Conference & Expo, which will be held June 6-9, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV at the M Resort.
Click below to download a printable flyer with the information on this page.