IFDA Executive Leadership Summit

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Solutions Conference Welcome Party

Loews Hotel

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Executive Leadership Summit Dinner

Three Points

Join us for dinner at this unique indoor rooftop space with breathtaking city views. Venue is conveniently located directly across the street from the Loews Hotel. Cocktails will be served starting at 6:30 PM and dinner will immediately follow.

*By Invitation Only. RSVP By: September 6th.

7:00 AM – 7:45 AM

Solutions Conference Networking Breakfast

Kansas City Convention Center

7:45 AM – 8:45 AM

Solutions General Session: Dr. Pippa Malmgren

Kansas City Convention Center

Dr. Malmgren brings sensemaking to the complexities of the world economy, geopolitics, and technology. She’s advised Presidents and Prime Ministers, co-founded an award-winning tech firm, worked in finance and asset management, and served as a judge in The Queen’s Enterprise Awards competition and as a regulator of technology standards.

8:45 AM – 9:00 AM

IFDA Cornerstone Award

2024 Recipient, Richard Wolowski, President and CEO, Gordon Food Service

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM

Transition to the Executive Leadership Summit

Loews Hotel

9:30 AM – 9:40 AM

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Mark Allen, IFDA President and CEO

9:40 AM – 10:10 AM

Executive Leadership Summit- Workshop Session

Fireside Chat with Dr. Pippa Malmgren & Suzanne Rajczi, CEO Ginsberg’s Foods Inc., IFDA Chair

During this session, IFDA Chair Suzanne Rajczi will continue the conversation with Dr. Malmgren.  Discussed will be the impact of contemporary geopolitics on the world economy and what the future may hold. 

10:10 AM – 11:00 AM

Executive Leadership Summit- Workshop Session

Sherif Goma, Head of Transformation Technology, IBM Consulting

Artificial Intelligence has the ability to fuel new innovation and accelerate growth.  The CEO must outline what the enterprise wants to achieve and ensure those goals are tightly coupled with strategy and actionable tactics.

This session will leverage research and use cases that IBM Consulting has developed specifically to help distributors understand how best to think about and deploy AI within their business.

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Executive Leadership Summit- Workshop Session

Jason O. Harris, Decorated Combat Leader, Trust and Leadership Advisor

Trust is the most critical tool that every leader needs to implement in order to lead an organization that can deliver on its brand promise. Lieutenant Colonel Jason Harris created the “7 Steps to No Fail Trust™” as a way to empower executives and employees to create an environment of mutual trust, responsibility and productivity that allows organizations to thrive and exceed goals. This leadership framework is based on a proven strategy that, by trusting your employees, you empower them to make the right decisions for your organization without requiring senior-level micromanagement. This ultimately leads to higher productivity and achievement. Lt. Col. Harris shares countless examples of how No Fail Trust™ was implemented throughout his military and civilian career to great effect, and the steps your leaders can take today to do the same.

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM

Networking Lunch & Executive Leadership Summit Closing Remarks

Loews Hotel

12:45 PM – 2:30 PM

IFDA Solutions Conference- Exhibit Hall

Kansas City Convention Center