Keynotes:

"IT’S OKAY TO PLAY!" Gaming Your Way to a Culture that Fires up the Performance of Your Team

Frank Kitchen

CSP, motivational speaker and author

Does your workplace feel bland and uninspired? Then it's time to invite Frank Kitchen to infuse some flavor into your team's culture. In this hands-on "cooking class," Frank will teach you how to transform standard business practices into a soul-nourishing experience. With his signature zest and charm, Frank will provide you with the recipe needed to foster an award-winning environment where people feel valued and driven to succeed. An experience so tasty that everyone will be asking for seconds because they deserve nothing less!

What you will do:

You and other participants will partake in a series of interactive Mindset Flipping Exercises (Games) designed to visually demonstrate how to elevate the performance of your team or workforce. Don't worry about taking notes; the hands-on games will incorporate movement, music, teamwork, and play while showing you how to create a community and culture of growth. Once the program is over, you'll receive a PDF file that includes program notes and how to implement what you learned in your current or future workplace.

What you will learn:

• How to foster a culture that values personal and professional development.
• Creative strategies for educating, engaging, energizing, and empowering your team.
• Innovative training techniques to fire up your team and the results they produce.

Katie Goodman

Award-winning comedian, author, international speaker

In this interactive keynote, you will learn to connect with the most authentic part of yourself so that you can better engage with people at work and in life. Katie will help you learn how to transform your Inner Critic into an Inner Coach, blazing the way for personal growth, enhanced flexibility and confidence, ultimately paving the way for strong and compassionate leadership.

Sessions:

The Learning Sessions for the NACUFS 2025 Spring Conference Series will focus on delivering content in the domains aligned with the NACUFS Collegiate Dining Body of Knowledge™ . 

Business Administration Domain

Sessions in this domain focus on planning, systems, and business functions required to operate, enhance, and fund a campus-valued dining program

Talent Management Domain

Sessions in this domain focus on recruitment and selection, development, and engagement of personnel (including student employees) in order to operate a successful collegiate dining operation.

Guest Experience Domain

Sessions in this domain focus on providing an exceptional collegiate dining guest experience.

Campus & Community Engagement Domain

Sessions in this domain focus on collaborative alignment with campus culture, mission, and strategies (including student engagement) as well as developing successful brand recognition through effective marketing.

Professional Intelligence Domain

Sessions in this domain focus on driving an ethical, organized environment that promotes high standards of integrity and inclusivity, effectively modeling responsible stewardship of campus resources, and leading and promoting organization initiatives and change.

AI-Driven, Human-Led: Crafting the Perfect Recipe for Humanity in the AI Revolution

Sommer Dunlevy, M.S.

Julia Keahey 

Challenge lies in maintaining the human connection students crave. This session, “AI-Driven, Human-Led: Crafting the Perfect Recipe for Humanity in the AI Revolution” will explore how dining programs can harness the power of AI without sacrificing authenticity. Learn how to integrate AI tools that streamline operations and enhance marketing while keeping your content grounded in human-centered storytelling. From showcasing local ingredients to celebrating student culture, you’ll leave with strategies to ensure your dining program resonates with students on a personal level. 

Engaging Experiences: Curating Vibrant Events for Campus Dining

Crystal Lente

Marketing coordinator, UNM Food

In this presentation, I will delve into the concept of meal plans as a unique dining membership that delivers outstanding value and convenience to our campus community. Our discussion will highlight how these memberships not only enhance the dining experience but also make it enjoyable and accessible for everyone. 

The core of our conversation will focus on curating engaging events that foster connection and excitement around our dining offerings. By collaborating with key campus departments and hosting innovative events, we can create memorable experiences that resonate with our guests. This approach allows us to share the narrative of our dining program and educate our community, ultimately boosting participation and satisfaction.

Join me as we explore strategies for curating these engaging events, aimed at cultivating a vibrant dining culture that fosters meaningful connections and creates lasting experiences across our campus

"Flip Your Mindset!” The F.R.E.S.H. Recipe For Amazing Results in Your Career, Business, or Organization

Frank Kitchen

CSP, motivational speaker and author

Are you ready to embrace challenges, develop skills, and achieve excellence in your Career, Business or Organization? Bring your Mental Appetite as Motivational Speaker Frank Kitchen takes to the stage to teach his recipe for crafting the Performance Mindset needed to exceed your goals and transform your loftiest professional dreams into a satiating reality. With over 30 Years of Talent Development Experience, Frank will share researched and experiential based strategies for achieving individual and team results that everyone will talk about and attempt to replicate.

What you will do:

Through a series of thought-provoking questions and interactive storytelling, you and other participants will identify the barriers impacting the results you produce; while constructing a personalized recipe (plan) needed to transform your mindset and professional aspirations into reality.

What you will learn:

How to Identify, Limit, and Overcome the Barriers that are Preventing You from achieving the Results You DesireHow to Craft the Mindset Needed to Ignite Your Performance.

How to incorporate the "Live F.R.E.S.H." Mindset into Your Career, Business, or Organization.

From Data to Action: Tackling Food Insecurity in New Mexico’s Colleges

Amanda Gerard

Director of dining and hospitality services, The University of New Mexico

Dr. Sarita Cargas

Associate professor, University of New Mexico

Food insecurity significantly impacts students, faculty, and staff across New Mexico’s higher education institutions. This session will highlight key findings from a statewide survey conducted with 27 institutions, revealing the prevalence and effects of food insecurity within our academic communities.

How to develop a year over year cost savings plan

Lesa Holford

Corporate executive chef, OSU

Phil Amerine

Systems specials, OSU

Theresa Petkunas

Account representative, USF

Learn how to develop a sustainable cost savings opportunity program for your dining operation including analyzing cost savings summaries, identifying potential product mixes, vendor partnerships, and even when it is better to source vs. make in house!

Improving Workplace Mental Health Discussion

Amanda Ewing

Director of culture & engagement, Michigan Dining, University of Michigan

Rachel Christensen

Safety Representative, Michigan Dining

Understanding that mental health is a major concern in hospitality and service industries, University of Michigan Dining implemented a Mental Health & Wellbeing Initiative in 2023. At this roundtable discussion, Diversity & Inclusion Director Amanda Ewing will share the steps and resources it took to launch the initiative, answer questions, and brainstorm how you can bring mental health and wellbeing tools to your dining community.