News

Portland State University’s Food Industry Leadership Center (FILC), in partnership with the Food Marketing Institute, will hold its 11th-annual “Today’s Managers: Tomorrow’s Leaders” program February 27 – March 4, 2005, at Dolce Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, Wash. Bob Albers, chairman and CEO of United States Bakery, will give the opening keynote address and Fedele Bauccio, CEO of Bon Appetit Management Co., will lead the “Fireside Chat” with students on Monday, February 28.

The sold-out conference is a unique program that offers food industry executives and senior-level managers at retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and suppliers an in-depth look at successful business practices. The conference focuses on a practical, solution-oriented approach to management issues, utilizing case studies, role-playing, team discussions and lectures. Throughout the week, attendees work to understand how the various segments of the food, beverage and packaged goods industry value chain are interrelated, build managerial and executive skills in creating solutions to common problems, and gain insight from top-level executives from prominent and successful companies.

“Every year companies’ send their best managers to reap the rewards of this executive education,” said Thomas Gillpatrick, executive director of PSU’s Food Industry Leadership Center. “Alumni of this program have gone on to be CEOs and presidents of many local and regional companies.” Graduates of this conference include John Boyle, Albertson's Corporate Director for Grocery Sales,, Theresa Enderle, VP Regional Director of Stores, Fred Meyer Stores, and Jim McMillan, president of Tillamook Cheese.

Throughout the weeklong program, key industry executives from companies such as Albertson’s, Bon Appetit, Franz Family Bakeries, Fred Meyer, Proctor & Gamble, Pepsi-Co, the Food Marketing Institute, Portland State’s School of Business Administration and others will join participants to provide executive insights in an informal setting outside the classroom. Specific seminar topics include Balancing Life, Financial Management, Managing Change, Leadership Development, Transition and Conflict Negotiation, Supply and Logistics Management, Acquiring & Developing Talent and many others. There are also “Fire Side Chats” each night which are an opportunity for participants to talk with successful business leaders in a casual environment.

For more information on “Today’s Manager’s, Tomorrow’s Leaders,” call 503-725-8352, 1-800-547-8887 ext. 8352, or visit www.foodleadership.pdx.edu.

BACKGROUND
The Food Industry Leadership Center (FILC) at Portland State University is housed in the School of Business Administration and is one of only six programs in the nation providing educational and research programs for the food industry — the largest employment industry in the state of Oregon. Since the FILC’s founding in 1994, more than 500 processors, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers have participated in various programs.

All FILC programs are developed in close collaboration with industry representatives to better provide a valuable strategic resource in meeting the educational and research needs of the food industry. Internship and recruitment opportunities are available to all interested food companies. Many students in the FILC program receive national scholarships to assist in their studies.

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) is a U.S.-based nonprofit association conducting programs in research, education, industry relations and public affairs on behalf of its 2,300 members, including their subsidiaries—food retailers, wholesalers and their customers around the world. FMI's U.S. members operate approximately 26,000 retail food stores with a combined annual sales volume of $340 billion—three-quarters of all food retail store sales in the United States. FMI's retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent supermarkets. Its international membership includes 200 companies from 60 countries.

# # #

Source:
Molly Jo Deady Washburn (503-725-8352)
PSU Food Industry Leadership Center