2021 Annual Conference Schedule

Come grab breakfast and get fueled up for the day!

Speaker: Christopher Ridenhour

Sponsored by US Foods

Few things encourage “shift” quite like a global pandemic, political pandemonium, civil unrest, and lest we forget, murder hornets. Despite the stress and exhaustion that always accompanies change, this is not the time to trade in your credentials for a one-way airline ticket and butterfly net! There’s not one chapter in the “leadership manual” that prepares us for enduring mayhem and change. Whether you thrive during chaos, or not, rest assured there is some other tribulation waiting to pounce and offer more…. uh, “growth”! Friends, hold tight, Triumph Over Change, 2021 and Beyond! is less keynote than it is a Revival! 

Speaker: Jim Doak

Sponsored by Tyson Foodservice

Description coming soon. 

Speaker: Christopher Ridenhour

Dive deeper with our Keynote speaker Christopher Ridenhour for an hour of additional support, tools, and coaching. This deep dive session will provide practical tools to deescalate stress, assess your strengths, and find areas for growth. Build out your action plan using “change theory” as a tool for continued growth as a coach, mentor, and role model for your staff. 

Coffee, tea, and snack break.

Speaker: Mark Toomey

Take a deep dive with Mark Toomey into the world of contractor takeovers and bids. Mark Toomey, a former Sodexo VP, gives us a peek behind the curtain to understand contractor tactics. Contract management firms are looking to the Healthcare and Senior Living industries to replace business lost during the pandemic. AHF expects their efforts to take over self-operated facilities to increase. Now is the time to get ahead and protect your facility with critical playbook tips on keeping the contractors out and remaining firmly self-operated. 

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 attendees battling an ever-shifting environment. Grab lunch from our sponsor booths as you browse and try out their latest product offerings. 

Speakers: Mary Angela Miller MS RD LDN, Adjunct Professor, Ohio State University & Georgie Shockey, Principal, Ruck-Shockey Associates

What just happened?! Ever felt this way? Or replayed an interaction over and over again in your mind wishing you had responded differently? We always talk about the importance of effective communication in leadership but rarely do we tell how to enhance this skill. Mary Angela and Georgie’s program will provide practical insight on “the HOW.” They will use real examples from real situations to discuss differentiating factors at play in healthcare hierarchies and business/client relationships. Attendees will leave knowing they are not alone in their communication challenges and a list of practical steps in how to address them.

Speakers: Panel – Will be Announced Soon

Sponsored by Gordon Food Service

A session lead by industry experts and AHF business partners on how to make sure that your retail and dining operators are working at top efficiency so that they can weather any storm to come whether it is a global pandemic, natural disaster, or a contractor threat. Attendees will walk away with tips and practical advice on how to enhance their retail and dining operations with fewer resources and ensure they can wow administrators. 

Meet up with fellow new attendees and head over to the culinary competition and evening reception together. This is great opportunity to continue conversations and meet new people.

AHF’s Culinary Competition is BACK! Join us to watch 5 culinary teams from across the country battle it out for the title of 2021 Culinary Competition Champions. Teams of two will compete over the course of our 2-hour event. During the event, the audience both at home and live at the competition will follow along with hour competition host, Chef Eric Eisenberg. While you cheer the competitors on, you’ll be enjoying ample food, networking, and drinks. You don’t want to miss this!

Sponsored by Smuckers Away From Home

Now that the competitors have been crowned, it’s time to kick back and enjoy the after-party! The After Party will feature dueling pianos, deserts, and a night cap (or two) to close out the night. This is your chance to unwind and have some fun before tomorrow’s sessions all while you celebrate the culinary competitors!

Start the morning with a light exercise activity. Activity is first come first serve, be sure to reserve your spot during registration! More details to be provided.

Moderators: Barbara Kane (AHF IAB Chair), Ryan Conklin (AHF President), Stephanie Gilbert (AHF IAB Co-Chair), Leah Reily (AHF Executive Director)

Our Business Partner Debrief is an annual AHF tradition. Come ready to provide us with your feedback on what AHF did well and how we can add in new innovations next year. This is an open discussion with all sponsors, exhibitors, and business partners. This is your chance to provide us with honest feedback. AHF works to incorporate this feedback in future shows – so you’re opinion matters and is heard. 

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

Speaker: Erin Moran

Drawing on her experiences as the first-ever Chief Culture Officer with Union Square Hospitality Group and Senior Vice-President with Great Place to Work, Erin shares her expertise in how to cultivate a company culture that delivers exceptional hospitality. In today’s landscape, employees expect more than a paycheck from their jobs: the best talent in any field is inspired by purpose-driven work. Erin discusses the steps any organization must make to articulate their mission and values, hire and retain the best talent and foster authentic engagement among their teams.

Coffee, tea, and snack break

Moderator: Erin Moran

FISH Talks™ (Food, Innovation, Service, and Hospitality) are short 15-minute presentations on innovative and unique topics by subject matter experts. Each focuses on a different area of the industry leaving views with a series of inspiring ideas. This will be our third year presenting FISH Talks and so far our members tell us this is one of their favorite sessions! Watch each of our four FISH speakers as they take us through the “New Directions” we can expect in Food, Innovation, Service, and Hospitality. 

Speaker: Rafi Taherian, Associate Vice President, Yale Hospitality

Speaker: Jeff Sinelli, Founder and Chief Vibe Officer, Which Wich

Speaker: TBA – Coming Shortly

Speaker: Dr. Sandra Sydnor, MBA PhD, Associate Professor, Purdue University 

Moderator: Erin Moran

Our four FISH speakers come together on the main stage for a panel discussion moderated by Erin Moran on all things Food, Innovation, Service and Hospitality. Audience members will be able to ask questions of the panel. 

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

Join us as we announce, celebrate, and honor our 2021 Award Winners. This is a critical event where we highlight industry leaders who have gone above and beyond over the past year. During this ceremony you will learn more about each of our award winners, honor our 2020 Award Winners, and enjoy lunch provided by AHF and our sponsors. 

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

Speakers: Maureen Leugers, MBA, RDN, Owner Maureen Leugers LLC & Sherry Fruge, Senior Director, Business Development, Health Resource Services LLC

Sponsored by Lavazza Professional

With their diverse backgrounds, Maureen and Sherry “check all the boxes” as experts highly qualified to present on the topic of understanding, utilizing, and thriving with a GPO contract in a healthcare setting. They have a proven track record of working hand-in-hand with foodservice operators in finding financial and operational success by assisting them in taking control of their GPO contract, and not just surviving, but thriving. Attendees will walk away from this session with practical tools and solutions to understand GPOs and how to maximize their GPO contract as one way to control operational costs. 

Moderator: Gerald White, VP/ Publisher of PLATE Magazine

Panelists: Simone Nicolas, MS, RDN, CDN, Corporate Director of Culinary Services, National Healthcare Associates & David Hendricks, Director of Nutrition, Palms of Pasadena Hospital

Sponsored by Sysco Corporation

A panel discussion from the acute care operator and senior living operator perspectives, moderated by Gerald White from Plate Magazine. During this panel discussion, Gerald and our operator’s panelists will discuss hospitality and how to improve patient satisfaction scores in both acute care and senior living. 

Speaker: Joseph Ninnemann, Regional Director, North and Central WI, System Food & Nutrition Services

Sponsored by Hormel Foods Corporation

Culinary talent has been an ongoing challenge for Aurora Health for several years. Joe and his team took the pandemic as an opportunity to leverage contacts internally, with the State of WI apprenticeship bureau, and a local technical school in order to explore a Certified Culinary Apprenticeship program that will combine on the job training with formal classroom education in an effort to build the foundational skill so internal candidates, or external new hires in order to further our strategic goals in increasing food quality across our entire footprint. Join Joe to learn how he built and implemented his apprentice program and how you can do the same at your facility. 

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

Speaker: Kathy Parry, Owner Corporate Energy

With quotes like, “transform or die” and “disruption is king” it is pertinent that changes, especially those from technology, regulations and staffing, be embraced by healthcare foodservice professionals. The ability to apply a disruption-friendly mindset to transitional shifts will be necessary to serve teams, retain personnel and meet budgets. Join Kathy as she leads us through her own journey to discovering the keys to thriving in the face of challenging circumstances. While sharing her 3-R method for resilient behaviors (React, Reframe, Re-energize), Kathy will inspire you to stretch, but not snap, when faced with distruption. 

Have some fun with us as we raise funds for AHF’s scholarship program. This will a fun-filled hour where ALL attendees, and their friends and family, can play games and complete challenges to help AHF raise funds for our 2022 scholarship fund. Best of all this is a great networking opportunity and a way to make new industry connections. 

Sponsored by PepsiCo

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!