News

The Food Industry Leadership Center (FILC) at Portland State University's School of Business Administration will hold its annual retail, food, beverage and consumer packaged goods conference, "Executive Forum 2004," October 25 - 26, 2004, at the Embassy Suites, Washington Square (9000 S.W. Washington Square Road), in Tigard, Ore.

Executive Forum 2004 is sponsored for the second time by Weyerhaeuser and will address topics such as workforce value, customer relevance, and operational efficiency and effectiveness in the food industry. Leaders in the trade will showcase successful business models and best practices. Bob Miller, chairman of Rite Aid Inc., will provide the keynote address and will share his thoughts on leadership and the importance of developing a new generation of leaders.

The conference is designed for retailers, distributors, suppliers, and manufacturer managers and executives; food service wholesalers and service provider executives; those who want to better understand and penetrate the food and consumer products industry as a significant customer base; and operations, research, sales, finance, marketing and human resource professionals.

More information on the Executive Forum 2004 itinerary is listed below; for further information on speakers at this year's conference or to register for the Forum, please contact PSU's Food Industry Leadership Center at 503-725-8184 or visit www.foodleadership.pdx.edu. Cost is $295 for the conference.

WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP FORUM 2004
Monday, October 25, 2004
1 - 5 p.m.
The FILC and the Network of Executive Women (NEW) are partnering to offer an afternoon session on promoting women in the food industry. The Women's Leadership Forum provides women in the Western region of the United States an opportunity to connect, develop skills, share business problems and solutions and benefit from the stories and experiences of their industry peers. This session is a separate charge from Executive Forum 2004, $75 for non-attendees of the Forum, $45 for attendees. This event is sponsored by Fred Meyer.

EXECUTIVE FORUM 2004 SCHEDULE
Monday, October 25, 2004
5 - 9 p.m.
Awards Dinner, Welcoming Reception and Silent Auction
Keynote Speaker: Bob Miller (chairman, Rite Aid Inc.) will share his thoughts on leadership, his keys to being successful in the retail industry and the importance of developing a new generation of leaders. Miller will also share his insights on the economy and provide direction on how to prepare for the challenges of the future.

Tuesday, October 26, 2004
7 - 7:30 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast

8 a.m. - Noon
Kevin Coupe (founder and "Content Guy" for MorningNewsBeat.com) will welcome the attendees.
Doug McMillon (executive vice president, Merchandising, Sam's Club) will share an update on Sam's Club business and a merchandising overview from the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. perspective.
Thomas Rubel (president and CEO, Retail Forward Inc.) will focus on the long-term market trends and what companies can do to increase their performance.
Scott Klein (president and CEO, Information Resources Inc.) will share his thoughts on effective leadership in a world of changing business paradigms and competition.
Pam Powell (vice president, Customer Service, Albertson's) will share the success of the "One Vision: Many Perspectives" campaign and how embracing employee diversity can motivate associates and help grow the bottom line.
PANEL: "Innovation: Riding the Wave of Market Changes"
Nancy Moon-Eilers, vice president, Nutrition Center Division, Fred Meyer Stores; Pat Klinger, director of Futures Initiatives for The Holland Inc., parent company of Burgerville, noodlin' and Beaches; Christopher Studach, design director, King Retail Solutions; and Kevin Coupe, Morningnewsbeat.com, will share how companies can achieve increased customer relevance through community-based initiatives, niche marketing and building a stronger brand.

Noon - 1 p.m.
Lunch and Supermarket News, Community Service Award Presentation

1 - 4 p.m.
John McKay (senior vice president, Northwest General Manager, Costco Wholesale) will share his personal insights into the Costco development plan and how Costco successfully differentiates itself in a globally competitive marketplace.
Phil Bonanno is the vice president, Training and Content, for Management Ventures Inc, a company that tracks both the strategic and tactical developments of the 500+ "billion-dollar retailers" around the world. Bonanno covers domestic channels and retailers as well as international and global retailers. He is the author of Selling Carrefour and Selling Wal-Mart International.
PANEL: "Retail Technology in the Age of Global Standards"
A surge in new retail technologies is being driven by the need for companies to more effectively communicate across the industry value chain and the demand for global standards. A panel of experts including Rob Hey, vice president, Wal-Mart, Gary Herman, CIO and vice president of Unified Western Grocers, and David Orgel, editor-in-chief, Supermarket News, as moderator, will outline how some leading companies are addressing these challenges and opportunities and how to respond to these new requirements.

Sponsors of the Executive Forum 2004
Executive Sponsors: Fred Meyer, PepsiCo, Wal-Mart Inc. and Tree of Life;

Presidential Sponsors: Albertson's, Associated Grocers Inc., Coca-Cola Enterprises, Continental Mills, Dannon Water and Nestle Purina Petcare;

Partner Sponsors: Mission Foods, Franz Family Bakeries, Haggen Food & Pharmacy, Henningsen Cold Storage, Lamb's Markets, Oregon Grocery Association, Procter & Gamble, Tillamook County Creamery Association, Team Northwest, Uni?ed Western Grocers and Western Family Foods.