Oct 1, 2008
Rising Leaders to Learn About Industry Landscape, Business/Consumer Trends, New Technologies

Arlington, VA — October 1, 2008 — Food Marketing Institute (FMI) today announced final program details about Future Connect, the first industrywide leadership education event May 4-6, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas, TX.
More than 1,300 people have already registered to attend Future Connect, which will educate high-potential associates from all levels of retailer, wholesaler and supplier companies to direct teams, focus skills and talents and achieve high-profit sales.


“Future Connect will help every company across the entire industry build their next generation leadership. Equally important, this will ensure that the talent is in place to help trading partners work together to set a strategic direction for the future,” said FMI President and CEO Tim Hammonds.


Interactive education sessions and group roundtables will help associates understand the landscape of issues facing the industry, including current business and consumer trends, developments in media and communications and managing an increasingly diverse workforce.


Best-selling business authors, world-renowned thought leaders, industry mavericks and coaches of winning teams from business and sports, including:


Keynote Speakers Focus on Major Challenges, Ethics and How to Build Winning Teams


  • Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Find the steps to success in meeting the major leadership challenges of the 21st century.

  • Knight Kiplinger, editor in chief of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, Kiplinger.com and the Kiplinger Letter — Integrate ethics into decision-making and leadership.

  • Pat Summitt, Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach with an NCAA record 983 wins — Build and sustain a high-performance team by harnessing the strengths of your associates.

  • Kevin Sneader and Tim McGuire, directors of McKinsey & Company – Understand the future of food and how the industry will evolve.


Experts Teach Critical Leadership Skills, How to Keep Pace With Changing Consumers

  • Bob Whitman, Chairman and CEO, FranklinCovey – industry specific quantitative analysis of key management skills.

  • Rob Bell, president of Focus Consulting — Unleash the power of mentoring.

  • Thomas Blischok, president of Global Retail Information Resources, Inc. — Align store formats, products and new services with changing consumers.

  • Tamara Erickson, workforce futurist and co-author of the award-winning Workforce Crisis: How to Beat the Coming Shortage of Skills and Talent — Learn how to manage the most diverse workforce ever.

  • Todd Hale, senior vice president of Consumer and Shopper Insights, The Nielsen Company — Communicate through new media in the internet age.

  • Mel Kleiman, expert on hiring and retaining the best workers, and author of five books, including the bestseller Hire Tough, Manage Easy — Hone interviewing and coaching skills to build future leaders.

  • Peg Neuhauser, president of PCN Associates, and author of the groundbreaking Tribal Warfare in Organizations — Smash silos that impede success.


Best-in-Class Industry Leaders Share How They Reached the Executive Suite


At Future Connect, a panel of top food industry executives will share the lessons they learned rising through the ranks to help lead their companies to success. The panel includes:


  • Beverly A. Grant, chief channel officer of the U.S. CBD Grocery Channel for The Procter & Gamble Company.

  • Richard N. Jurgens, chairman, CEO and president of Hy-Vee, Inc.

  • Don Knauss, chairman and CEO of The Clorox Company.

  • Steven C. Smith, president and CEO of K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. and Board Chair of FMI.

  • Tres Lund, Chairman and CEO, Lund Food Holdings, Inc.

  • Janel Haugarth, Executive Vice President, COO, Supply Chain, SUPERVALU INC.

  • Don McGeorge, President and COO, The Kroger Co.


Special Program for CPG Suppliers Focuses on Reviving Center Store Sales


Future Connect will feature a special program for consumer packaged goods (CPG) suppliers covering skills and strategies to increase center store sales. It will feature presentations on topics such as sales calls, better communication and collaboration with retailers and how trading partners can integrate their marketing strategies based on changing consumer lifestyles and demands.

FMI MARKETECHNICS® Show Begins on Final Day of Future Connect


The 2009 FMI MARKETECHNICS® conference will begin with the closing session of Future Connect on Wednesday, May 6. This overlap gives attendees of this technology show an opportunity to learn from the final speakers at Future Connect. This session will feature presentations on leadership and technology, such as communicating through new media in the internet age by Nielson’s Todd Hale and a presentation by Catalina Marketing Corporation’s President Ed Kuehnle on aligning consumer definitions to increase sales.


MARKETECHNICS® will then move to the Dallas Convention Center, where the exhibit hall will open at 2 p.m. on May 6. This conference will run through May 8 at the convention center. Registrants for Future Connect will receive a $50 discount on MARKETECHNICS® registration.


For more information and to register for Future Connect, go to http://fmifutureconnect.com. Registration for FMI Member Retailers/Wholesalers is $1,000 until April 3, 2009. FMI Associate Member registration is $1,300 and nonmember registration is $1,600. A Group Advantage Plan is available.