National Small Food Manufacturers' Conference
Heat Up Your Food Business
Keynote Speakers and General Sessions
What’s in your Future?
Pierce Hollingsworth is President of Hollingsworth Media in Chicago, which specializes in contract magazine publishing, e-media, start-ups, editorial services, and consulting. Pierce has an extensive background in the food industry, and is a speaker and consultant to food trade organizations and corporations.
Pierce will present trends and opportunities for the small food manufacturer. This informative presentation will motivate you to be a trend-setter!
Think outside the box!
Chef Brian O’Malley is a chef-instructor at the Institute for the Culinary Arts in Omaha. O’Malley has also worked as a chef in Santorini, Greece and Vail, Colorado. O’Malley graduated with Distinction from the prestigious New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont. He is also the host of a local PBS television show, “The Recipe Box”.
Enjoy an enlightening and humorous presentation from Chef O’Malley as he helps you think outside the box and look at new and creative uses for the products your company produces.
How do theycome up with these ideas?
Dr. David Jackson is the Associate Dean of the Agricultural Research Division at the University of Nebraska. Among his many responsibilities he teaches Food Product Development in the Department of Food Science & Technology. Over the years he has educated and inspired students in the area of imaginative food product development.
Dr. Jackson will lead a lively presentation and hands – on ideation session. Attendees will actually learn and practice industry recognized methods of developing product ideas.
Concurrent Sessions
Are You Ready For a Distribution Center?
This informative session will be led by Gary Rezac, President of Pegler Sysco Foodservice Distributor and Doug Cunningham, Government Relations Director at Affiliated Foods Midwest. Attendees will learn; how a food distribution center operates, when a small manufacturer is ready to enter a distribution center, common mistakes (and how to avoid!) made by small companies, how to select a distribution center, and how to prepare and approach a distribution center.
Immediately following this session attendees will be invited to board a bus and participate in a tour of the Pegler – Sysco Foodservice Distribution Center.
Every Business Needs an Exit Strategy – Do you have one?
What is an exit strategy? Why does every business need one? Why should you start preparing NOW for your exit strategy? How should you prepare? These and many more questions will be addressed by Larry Larsen –Owner of Business Strategy Partners and attorney Bill Olson.
Insider Secrets of the NASFT Specialty Food Shows
Are you thinking about exhibiting at a Fancy Food Show? Do you already exhibit at Fancy Food Shows? Patrick Lynch, Senior Sales Director of the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade will help you explore Fancy Food Shows. Patrick will share valuable tips and insight on how to prepare and achieve maximum success.
Friends, Family, Founders, Fools and Other Investors
Dr. John Brasch, successful businessman and President of Nebraska Angels will present this informative session which addresses how to effectively seek funding to start or expand your business.
Leon Milobar, District Director U.S. Small Business Administration and Karissa Berks, Business Program Director USDA Rural Development will discuss funding options available through their respective government programs.
Making E-Commerce Work for YOU!
Tony Cox has spent his entire career in the direct marketing, catalog and internet industries. He spent two years as mail order manager at Omaha Steaks International. In 1998, he founded Catalog Solutions/5th Food Group. Today the 5th Food Group is the largest direct marketing consultancy working exclusively in the specialty-food catalog and internet industry.
Tony will help attendees understand how to get the most benefit from internet marketing. How can a small company best utilize the internet? Tony’s expertise and years of providing assistance to specialty food all-stars such as Zingerman’s, A Southern Season, Dorothy Lane Market, Paula Deen Enterprises, Smithfield Foods, Murray’s Cheese and Manhattan Fruitier will enable him to provide conference attendees with a greater understanding of E-Commerce and how it can empower their company to grow.
How to Keep your Accountant Happy…and Your Business Financially Healthy
Elaine Booth, CPA and Michele Laritson, Business Analyst will help you understand what documentation your accountant or CPA needs from you, what they will do with this information and how you can use it to make appropriate business decisions. Attendees will learn useful methods of recording and tracking data and how to keep it readily accessible throughout the year. In addition, Ms. Booth and Ms. Laritson will discuss the pros and cons of manual record keeping systems, Excel spreadsheets and QuickBooks.
Whole Foods Market wants YOU!
William Betts, Executive Coordinator of Perishables- Midwest Region – Whole Foods Market will introduce attendees to Whole Foods Market and philosophies. Learn how the company makes buying decisions, how to determine if you are ready to approach the stores and lots more information to help you prepare and succeed at placing your products on the shelves of Whole Foods Market. In addition to discussing strategy, Mr. Betts will identify future trends and opportunities within this segment of the food industry.
Big Bang Branding
There’s never been a better time to be small. But when it comes to getting on that grocery store shelf or in that coveted home pantry, you’ll not only be competing against huge mega brands, you’ll need to elbow your way through all those other small food companies, as well. This session will be led by Tim Siedell, Creative Director and Co-Owner of Fusebox Brand Communications. Tim will explore how to create a powerful brand and then leverage it—from your initial Big Bang brand creation to getting the biggest possible bang out of your marketing dollars.
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe and other methods of selecting a broker!
Tim Forrest - President of Forrest Company has 20 years experience in food marketing, development of selling strategies, pricing, venture funding, advertising, licensing, distribution, and program development skills. Tim will help you understand the function and services of a broker, determine when you are ready for a broker, common mistakes (and how to avoid!) when utilizing broker services, how to evaluate and select a broker and much more.
Reaching the Four Corners of the World
Meredith Bond is the Director of the US Commercial Service’s Omaha office, a federal agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. As the Director, she manages a portfolio of over 300 clients by developing international marketing strategies, performing market research and locating overseas business contacts.
Ms. Bond will provide practical insight to those interested in exploring the global market. Attendees will learn the “ins and outs” of exporting and about the plethora of resources available to assist companies in being successful in the world market.
