I can’t believe it has two months since we were in Baltimore! As I mentioned during my remarks at conference, I am the luckiest person in the hospitality industry! Stepping into the role of President of the Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management, is very humbling. The industry stands at a critical juncture. Our industry is evolving rapidly in response to global challenges and technological advancements.

As we celebrated our rich and powerful 45-year history at conference we were reminded of our rich traditions and past. I recall my first national conference at Mohegan Sun. The excitement of Hunger Games and meeting some people that I consider my family. Our present is pretty darn good too! Some of the initiatives we have undertaken are industry leading, but our future is brighter because of our membership.

We have not become the best version of ourselves, yet. Now is the time for us all to come together and leverage our peers and leaders in our Society. To become the best version of ourselves we must break out of our comfort zone.

SHFM and our membership have the power and the influence to change our industry for the better. Each of us can and will make an impact in the next year and beyond. Remember Will Guidara’s keynote? As Will said, “We give each other experience like no other.” We can all think about the touch points in our daily interactions and how we can make them better.

Each person’s voice and experience matters. To be the best version of our selves every membership category needs to be heard and involved. Client Liaisons, IFM, Chefs, Young Professionals, Rising Stars, Suppliers and Contractors I am asking each of you to get involved in your Society. We can all learn and collaborate with each other.

Our association offers mentorship opportunities and specialized educational content, our board is working to ensure the future of the organization remains bright.

Education within our association depends on all of us. SHFM is the industry’s go-to source for cutting-edge information. We can leverage the Society to be the single best resource for workplace hospitality, offering access to data, trends, best practices, research and innovative products. Our membership can look for insights that help stay competitive in an ever-changing environment.

The time has come for us all to get involved. A great please to start is by attending a local event! The networking and learning that occurs is second to none. There are several upcoming events you can attend including our annual Holiday party or the WISE Experience.

SHFM’s commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment has never been stronger. We deliberately use the word ‘Society’ because we want to represent a community where people with shared passions foster diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

SHFM is poised to continue its mission of connecting, educating and empowering leaders in corporate hospitality. We can help positively impact the hospitality industry.
Looking forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!

Shayne Varnum
SHFM President