2022 Annual Conference Schedule

Come grab breakfast and get fueled up for the day!

Speaker: Michael Lomonaco (Chef & Partner of Porter House Bar & Grill NYC)

As a chef and restaurateur, Michael Lomonaco knows that while there is no single “recipe for success,” there are certainly key ingredients that need to be present in each and every one. Through his years of dedication and innovation in his restaurants and in the hospitality industry as a whole, Michael’s well-established reputation for thoughtful leadership is based on inclusiveness and kindness. His firmly held belief that enabling others to develop their own goals and harness their “inner entrepreneur” propels businesses from merely surviving to thriving achievement. His commitment to “doing the work” shows through his engagement in mentorship and his support of his industry and community.

Replacing traditional presentations, AHF will host guided roundtable discussions where you can learn from your peers. Three rooms will be provided each focusing on a different topic (or topics). Attendees will be able to select from the following three room topics and join their peers in a guided networking discussion. This is a great opportunity to learn from your peers and make new connections.

• Room 1: Menu Flexibility & Supply Chain Challenges
• Room 2: HR: Recruiting, Engaging, Retaining Staff
• Room 3: Foodservice During & Post Pandemic – What are you carrying forward?

Drinks and snacks provided.

Speaker: Doug Johnson (Patient Experience Officer, Edward-Elmhurst Health)

Join Doug as he shares fresh perspectives on staging personal and memorable experiences for your team, your customers, and your patients. Twelve principles will be shared to inspire you and challenge you to change the world! You’ll be invited to identify the main principles that you will bring back to your organization and implement with your team immediately. In this session, you’ll learn the difference between experience by design and experience by default and you’ll capture fresh perspectives for your food program moving forward. We can’t wait to see you there! It’s going to be fun!

Our Tradeshow is one of our most loved events of the conference. Browse new products, materials, and services from our amazing business partners. Our sponsors have spent all year building new innovations to help operators that are battling an ever-shifting environment. Grab lunch from our sponsor booths as you browse and try out their latest product offerings. 

Speaker: Michael S. Fenster (Cardiologist. Professor. Chef. Storyteller.)

The presentation will cover an introduction to Culinary Medicine as it is taught at The University of Montana. What it is, how it fits within the world of both (preventive) medicine and the culinary arts and where and how it extends beyond both. We will trace the changes to our food and food pathways within a cultural context; one that has in parallel altered the course of our health as individuals, a nation, and a planet. A brief discourse covers the failures of medicine and nutrition over the last 75 years (as well as lauding the successes) and exposes persistent food/health myths (i.e., eating fat makes you fat). We focus on the devil in dessert, and the problem of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). The data correlating UPFs and modern disability and disease will be presented. Finally, we will present the Culinary Medicine solution and how healthcare foodservice is a critical lynchpin in the quest for success.

Speakers: Bruce Thomas (Geisinger Health System), Steve Cerullo (Geisinger Health System), George Cranmer (Trinity Hospitality Services), Cory Sullivan (Health Hospitality Partners)

Why is retail in healthcare an ongoing challenge? During this session, the panelists will address the current staffing, budget, and resource constraints. The session will provide real-life case studies and retail strategies to make your retail offerings more relevant, innovative, and elevated. Operators will leave with concrete takeaways to cultivate enhanced C-suite engagement, further support their organization’s mission, and combat employee burnout.

Speakers: Lisette Coston (Saint Francis Health System), Christine Guyotte (Rippe Associates), Julie Meddles (The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center), Becky Smith (Clark Food Service Equipment), Joe Carbonara (Foodservice Equipment Sales)

Experts predict that the Supply Chain issues will persist for the next 24 months which has created a demanding and often confusing approach to Capital Planning and Investments. Coupled with the volatile availability and pricing of materials like stainless steel, navigating what is shaping to be a post-pandemic market is proving to be more difficult than expected. Join our panel of experts as they outline Fresh processes and tactics that will assist with the submission of capital requests and aid in procuring small and large equipment in this complex market.

Join us to watch 5 culinary teams from across the country battle it out for the title of 2022 Culinary Competition Champions. Teams  will compete over the course of our 2-hour event. While you cheer the competitors on, you’ll be enjoying ample food, networking, and drinks. You don’t want to miss this!

Sponsored by Sunbutter and Clark Foodservice

Now that the competitors have been crowned, it’s time to kick back and enjoy the after-party! The After Party will feature entertainment, late-night bites, and a nightcap (or two) to close out the evening. This is your chance to unwind and have some fun before tomorrow’s sessions all while you celebrate the culinary competitors! Be sure not to miss out on our mod chic theme complete with after-party snacks, comfortable seating and a DJ!

Sponsored by Smucker Away From Home 

Instructor: Sarah Karnatz

Start the morning with a 1-hour PiYo class, led by AHF member, Sarah Karnatz. PiYo is a type of exercise that blends the best of Pilates and Yoga. Designed to be a low-impact exercise that doesn’t involve jumping but will elevate your heart rate through intense stretching. PiYo uses dynamic fast-paced cardiovascular moves and bodyweight strength training. Sign up during registration and meet us at the Outside Covered Area Marshall’s Outpost Pavilion. Towels will be provided.

All AHF sponsors and exhibitors are encouraged to join us for a complimentary breakfast while we discuss the Wednesday tradeshow. Our debriefs are a great time to discuss as a group what went well and where AHF could make improvements for next year. Exhibit hall-only personnel are welcome. 

Attendees can come grab breakfast and get fueled up for the day!

Instead of a traditional presentation, AHF is taking a fresh approach to our Thursday morning keynote. All AHF attendees will be invited to join in a morning roundtable discussion session. This will be an amazing opportunity to discuss today’s pressing issues with peers face-to-face and walk away with real practical tips to meet current challenges. Further details about the session and topics that will be covered will be posted shortly. 

Coffee, tea, and snack break

Speakers: Jeanine Cosgrove (At Your Service Staffing), Peter Testory (University of Wisconsin), Dr. Jeffrey Thomson (CEO Emeritus, Gunderson Health)

FISH stands for Food, Innovation, Service Hospital. Four dynamic industry speakers will present on the topic of staffing and labor. Each will give a dynamic 15-minute Ted-talk style presentation and will conclude with a Q&A panel-style session.

Take a break, grab a drink and mingle with members and sponsors before going back into sessions. 

Take a break for a special seated (tasty!) meal while you watch AHF present awards to our 2022 industry leaders. During this session, you will hear about the amazing accomplishments of our 2022 Award winners. Be sure to help us celebrate your peer’s achievements!

Sponsored by Tyson Foodservice and Silver Fern Farms

Take a moment for a break and use the time to travel to the concurrent session of your choice. 

Speakers: Amanda Goldman (Gordon Food Service), Dana Fillmore (Gordon Food Service), Gregory Wetzel (Eskenazi Health Services)

We all know that food plays an important role in cultural identity and offering diverse menu selections can be a meaningful way to foster an environment of inclusion. Join this interactive session as we discuss ideas and real-life operator strategies to enable your foodservice department to play a leading role in promoting diversity & inclusion within your organization. We will explore delicious culinary offerings from various cuisines that will appeal to staff, patient and resident senses, enhance person-directed care, and elevate the dining experience. Attendees will leave with practical and innovative resources and ideas to celebrate cultural diversity.

Speakers: Neal Lavender (JPS Health), Almarie Talavera (JPS Health)

In this session, the speakers will use real-life scenarios to explore how one organization maneuvered through multiple disasters and improved service operations as a result. Using a Plan – Do- Check – Act approach to improve processes and services in any situation continually.

Speakers: Mike Folino (Akron Children’s Hospital), Dan Henroid (UCSF Health), Drew Patterson (Zink Food Service),

Moderator: Benita Gingerella (Foodservice Director)

Industry leaders predict that the current supply chain and labor shortage issues will persist for a minimum of two years before we start experiencing recovery. As we look for Fresh solutions to these stale issues, our panel of experts will show the immediate impact of available technologies and how implementation is more approachable than ever.

Take a break, grab and snack and a drink and mingle with members and sponsors before going back into sessions.

Speaker: Denise Boudreau, MHA, LNHA

Who you are, what you hold dear, what upsets you, and what underlies your decisions as a leader are all connected to your personal values. The missed opportunity is, most people never take the time to learn what those precious and powerful intrinsic things are! In this session you will have the opportunity to do an introspective reflection on your very own personal values, and recognize how they influence your personal and professional endeavors including overcoming the current staffing crisis. You’ll learn practical strategies you can implement immediately to apply these values in your daily routines, allowing you to use them as a driving force and a personal true north star.

Join AHF for their 2nd rubber duck race, raising funds for the AHF Scholarship Fund. The Scholarship Fund supports operator attendance to conferences year after year.

Our final reception of the conference! This is the BIG one filled with amazing entertainment, a sit-down formal dinner, award ceremony, and dancing. During the evening we will announce and recognize our two “secret” awards – our Lifetime Achievement Award Winner and our Making a Difference Award Winner. Don’t miss this chance to dress up, eat amazing food, and network with friends and colleagues before heading home tomorrow. 

Grab your trip back home, or stay on for more time to relax and recharge before going back to work. Don’t forget AHF’s discounted hotel rate extends 3 days before and 3 days after the conference. Enjoy!