The Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management (SHFM) annual Critical Issues Conference (CIC) kicks off on April 14, 2021.
The virtual series will take place on Wednesdays throughout April, with special interest sessions continuing in May. With an emphasis on leaders, employees, and customers, SHFM focuses the spotlight on PEOPLE: The Human Side of Hospitality at this year’s Critical Issues Conference. Speakers will explore the changes and challenges the people of hospitality and foodservice experienced in 2020 and the road to the industry’s recovery.
Registration for the CIC Virtual Series is free for SHFM members. Non-members are invited to attend at a rate of $25 per session or $50 for the series. Registration is open now at shfm-online.org/2021cic.
The CIC Virtual Series sessions and speakers are:
Exploring Leadership
April 14 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. (EDT) Discover the common threads and individual approaches leaders utilize to inspire their companies, their teams and themselves.
- Zia Ahmed, Senior Director, Dining Services, The Ohio State University
- Jez Langhorn, Chief Human Resources Officer, Global Partners
- Betti Wiggins, Nutrition Services Officer, Houston Independent School District
Strengthening Ourselves
April 21 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (EDT) Learn the importance of taking the time to Be Well in order to Work Well for ourselves and our teams. How can we best support employees responsible for conveying a culture of hospitality – as they themselves are adjusting to a new corporate environment?
- Shauna McQueen, Regional Nutrition Strategy Manager, Guckenheimer Powered by ISS
- Adrienne Williams, Vice-President of Inclusion & Human Resources, Compass Group
Connecting with Customers
April 28 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (EDT) Experience hospitality from the perspective of our customers and take away tools for establishing meaningful connections in an increasingly contactless world. Listen to research and communications experts as they share information and ideas on strengthening customer engagement. Enhance your ability to translate the language of customer hospitality in a changing culture.
- Andrew Freeman, Founder, Af&Co. and Co-Founder, Carbonate
- Candace MacDonald, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Carbonate
- Dr. Marie Puybaraud, Global Head of Research, JLL Corporate Solutions
New for 2021, SHFM has added a Solution Center to the Critical Issues Conference. Visitors to the Solution Center are invited to find solutions from SHFM CIC Sponsors to help navigate changes to the hospitality industry as customers regather in the workplace. The Solution Center is open 24/7 and is categorized by type to help visitors easily find the products and services they need.
The Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management is the pre-eminent national association serving the needs and interests of executives in the corporate foodservice and workplace hospitality industries. Our principal role is to enhance the ability of our members to achieve career and business objectives in an ethical, responsible and professional climate. For more information, please visit their website.
