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2024 Young Professionals Summit
April 30
2024 Young Professionals Summit
Meet other young professionals (39 and younger) from the workplace hospitality and amenities segment at SHFM’s Young Professionals Summit – the day before SHFM’s Critical Issues Conference! This year’s Summit will aim to provide its attendees with an opportunity to learn and apply new personal and professional growth strategies through industry insight and innovative networking. This year’s Summit will us to tap into industry professionals who boldly taking risks and pushing boundaries.
When
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
1:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Thank You to Our 2024 YP Summit Sponsors!
Aramark Workplace Experience Group
The Coca-Cola Company
Compass Group
Ecolab
HMG+
ISS Guckenheimer
ITW Food Equipment Group
PepsiCo
RC Fine Foods, Inc.
Sodexo
Spoonfed Catering Software, 365 Retail Markets
Vivreau
Thank You to Our Hosts!
Restaurant Associates
Warner Bros. Discovery
Interested in sponsorship? Download the 2024 Young Professionals Summit Sponsorship Form and return your completed form to Michelle Romero, Executive Vice President, at mromero@hqtrs.com.
Where
Hudson Center at Warner Bros. Discovery
30 Hudson Yards - Hudson Center
24th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Registration
(Summit open to 39 years or younger)
Young Professional Member – $50
Young Professional Non-Member – $95
Not a Young Professional?
Register for the reception only immediately following the Summit.
Member – $125
Non-Member – $150
Agenda
| 1:30 p.m. | Registration Opens |
| 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
Session 1: Rising Star Panel – Exploring the Unknown: Taking Risks and Embracing Failures to Maximize Growth Lauren Beckwith, Food Experience Program Manager, ISS Guckenheimer (Moderator) Join SHFM Rising Stars for a captivating discussion that delves into the reality of taking risks, embracing failures and extracting lessons for future success. Hear real life examples and discover how calculated risks can lead to innovation and growth. We will dive into the interconnected themes of risk, reward and resilience uncovering the untapped possibilities that lie within challenging moments. How can your perspective on setbacks be used as a tool for your professional development? |
| 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Networking Break |
| 4:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. | Session 2: Your Seat at the Table Back by popular demand! This is your opportunity to have intimate, professional conversations with industry leaders. Join our select industry leaders for small group discussion with tailored questions. |
| 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. |
Reception (open to all) Not a Young Professional? Register for this reception immediately following the Summit! Network with our young professionals and industry colleagues. |
Presenters
Lauren Beckwith, Food Experience Program Manager, ISS Guckenheimer (Moderator)
Lauren Beckwith's 10+ years of experience in hospitality and food service spans a rich variety of sectors and modalities. She currently manages workplace experience programs for ISS Guckenheimer and has degrees in both Food Science and Culinary Arts. Previously, Lauren oversaw large-scale retail operations, created sustainable procurement strategies, led R&D projects, and even worked internationally as a personal chef. She has a passion for developing a strong sense of belonging within teams by harnessing DEIB strategies. Outside of work, you can find her watching a sunrise from the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, taking a polar plunge in Antarctica, or trekking amidst glaciers in Patagonia.
Xiomara Battle, Executive Chef, ISS Guckenheimer
Xiomara Battle is a passionate entrepreneur and culinary artist, who discovered a love for cooking at an early age. Learning from her grandmother, she developed a deep appreciation for her heritage and the flavors of Puerto Rican cuisine. In 2014, after running her own successful coffee kiosk and catering company at the campus of Universidad del Turabo en Caguas, Puerto Rico, Xiomara moved to Colorado. As a culinarian, she focuses on sustainability, prioritizing food safety, nutritional value and allergens transparency. Becoming a chef leader has been one of Xiomara's biggest achievements; it’s the opportunity to convey her passion for food, inspire and develop new chefs, that gives her the fuel to continue to grow.
Steve O'Dell, Founder and CEO, Tenzo Tea
Steve O’Dell is the CEO & Co-founder of Tenzo, the leading matcha brand in North America. They sell into thousands of locations and serve over 300 million cups of matcha per year! He is the founder of Commerce Chronicles, a newsletter business discussing everything CPG read by ten thousand people weekly. And lastly, he is an active CPG investor helping to jump-start the next generation of consumer brands.
Alexander Olesen, CEO/Co-Founder, Babylon Micro Farms
Alexander Olesen is the CEO & Co-Founder of Babylon Micro-Farms Inc. North America's leading provider of distributed Micro-Farming technology. Their distributed network of on-site vertical farms allow food service operations to grow fresh produce and ingredients in a safe, reliable, and convenient way, benefiting consumers and the planet. He founded the company as a student at the University of Virginia while studying social-entrepreneurship. He is an award winning entrepreneur, keynote, and TEDx speaker on vertical farming and climate technology.
Meet Safely
COVID-19
By participating in this event, attendees acknowledge the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and additionally acknowledge that SHFM cannot guarantee that attendees will not be infected with Coronavirus/COVID-19.