About 2024 SNAAZ
Industry Conference
- Two day in-person event, February 23-24, 2024
- Visit with all the great exhibitors showcasing the latests offerings
- Informative keynote presentations and educational sessions
After two long years, we are thrilled to be back in-person with our conference theme of “Better Together: Leading the Way for School Nutrition.” Whether you are an industry member, director, or supervisor, you will walk away from this event feeling refueled to lead your teams into the next school year.
Our keynote speaker, Candy Whirley, will give a captivating presentation on the “4 C’s of Leadership” and an additional breakout session on Emotional Intelligence. In addition, SNAAZ’s Executive Director, Craig Weidel, is providing an incredible session on “Persuasion Power 2.0”. School Districts will the opportunity to meet individually with manufacturers at the vendor show, to make upcoming menu plans and share ideas with school nutrition professionals.
Conference
Agenda
FRI, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024
Renaissance Hotel “Meeting Level”
12:30 - 2:30 PM
Renaissance Hotel
Meeting Level
Kathy Glindmeier, Debbie McCarron, Melissa Harvey
This session will be an invaluable opportunity for both seasoned and new Directors and Supervisor in child nutrition. Covering such relevant topics like Arizona Legislature Outreach, Administrative Review Preparation, Menu Planning, Financial Management, and Personnel Supervision which can greatly enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of your roles as CN leaders. The interactive format with audience participation will be especially beneficial as it allows for collaborative learning and the exchange of ideas and best practices.
2:30 – 3:00 PM
Renaissance Hotel
Relax for a few minutes before the next exciting pre-conference session. This is also a great time to network with your child nutrition colleagues.
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Renaissance Hotel
Meeting Level
Adelita Bagley
This session will provide a broad overview of CEP operations, including the financial considerations that impact the decisions to participate in CEP for districts. Next, she will cover what to contemplate when implementing and incorporating CEP into a site’s operations, ending with how to communicate CEP with staff, students, and their families. At the end of the sessions, there will be time for questions and answers.
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Renaissance Hotel
Meeting Level
SNAAZ Staff
Pick up all your registration materials for an exciting “68th Annual State Conference”.
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Renaissance Hotel
Meeting Level
FLA Committee
This session is for the current SNAAZ Future Leadership Academy Attendees.
6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Renaissance Hotel
Grand Ballroom Level
SNAAZ School and Industry Attendees
Join us for a fun-filled night of casual conversation and heavy appetizers. Again, this year we will have a DJ along with caricaturists and a fun and exciting photo booth experience. And you will also want to check out the great fundraising activity with lots and lots of great baskets.
SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
Phoenix Convention Center “South Building”
6:30 AM – 7:15 AM
Renaissance Hotel
Lobby
Wendy Sahr
Join Wendy from Tyson Foods as she you takes you on a brisk walk in downtown Phoenix to get you wide awake and prepare you for a day of learning, food, and fun.
7:00 AM - 10:30 AM
PCC South
Lobby
SNAAZ
This is the time to pick up your registration materials at the SNAAZ PCC Lobby Check In Desk and then head on over to the General Session room for delicious breakfast to fuel you up for the day!
8:15 AM – 9:45 AM
PPC South
Rooms 150-159
Pledge of Allegiance
Opening Remarks – Michelle Hall
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION -“You’re Worth It Wellness!” – Fred Schafer, MS, SNS, MCHES
The school nutrition profession, though deeply rewarding, can be demanding, with the high levels of stress and anxiety experienced by many school nutrition employees. All too often, their wellness needs are not served and go unmet while the profession focuses on serving others. Not only can this negatively affect an employee’s physical and emotional health, but also their job performance, longevity, and levels of job satisfaction. In this highly informative, dynamic, and humorous keynote, wellness specialists, CN director, professional speaker, and leader Fred “The Fit Food Dude” Schafer will share “easy to use” wellness best practices to reduce team stress and anxiety. Fred draws on his Masters in Wellness Promotion, Master Health Education Specialist Certification, and over 50 years of fitness training experience to impart wellness tools all school nutrition team members can use to enhance their careers and lives.
9:45 AM – 9:55 AM
PCC South
Lobby
Check out the back of your program book as you decide which class you want to go to next.
9:55 AM – 10:50 AM
PPC South
Rooms 150-159
“SNAAZ State Level Legislative Efforts” – Melissa Harvey & Dante Gibson
You won’t want to miss this engaging class on the future legislative efforts that SNAAZ is aiming to develop in Arizona. SNAAZ has a strong track record advocating for child nutrition programs in Washington, D.C. However, for our Arizona Representatives and Senators to fully support us on Capitol Hill, they need to see our grassroots efforts in Arizona at the local level. It’s time to start working on these grassroots efforts to ensure that we can continue to safeguard child nutrition programs here in Arizona. Join Melissa and Dante as they demonstrate how you can make a difference and learn about the powerful tools developed by SNA and SNAAZ to address this challenge
9:55 AM – 10:50 AM
PPC South
1. Rooms 150-159
2. Rooms 162-163
3. Rooms 164-165
4. Rooms 166-167
1. “Asociacion Exitosa Con Su Inspector De Salud” David Morales – Rooms 160-161
En el dinamico mundo de la nutricion escolar, mantener una relacion solida y colaborativa con su inspector de salud es esencial para garantizar la seguridad alimentaria y el cumplimiento normativo. Esta sesion proporcionara conocimientos invaluables y estrategias procticas para formentar una asociacion postiva con los inspectores de salud, contribuyendo en ultima instancia a un enforno alimentario seguro y saludable para los estudiantes.
2. “Amazing Ideas From An Arizona District’s Child Nutrition Program” Linsday Aguilar & TUSD CN Team – Rooms 162-163
Discover innovative and practical approaches to elevating your food service program with the Tucson USD Child Nutrition Team. In this dynamic session, you’ll learn how to implement creative techniques that will make your program stand out and garner appreciation from students, staff, and the community. Lindsay and her team will also focus on their school garden network which includes their University of Arizona school community garden program partnership, garden to cafeteria and food literacy program.
3. “Building Resilience: Exploring Risks and Protective Factors in Arizona Youth Mental Health” Bin Suh, PhD, RN – Rooms 164-165
This fascinating class delves into critical issues in Arizona’s youth mental health, addressing concerns like unhealthy weight control behaviors and suicide considerations. It also focuses on exploring both risk and protective factors, such as Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs). The session also investigates how ACEs, such as trauma and adversity, influence youth mental health outcomes, and how PCEs, such as stable relationships and supportive environments, can mitigate these impacts. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the factors shaping youth mental health and learn strategies for fostering resilience and well-being, drawing from population-based data reported by youth and parents.
4. “Equipment Safety and Proper Care of Equipment for Kitchen Staff” Rachael Sassarini & Tyler Baker – Rooms 166-167
In the fast-paced environment of school kitchens, the safety and maintenance of equipment are paramount to ensure smooth operations and a safe working environment. This session will delve into the essential practices for equipment safety and proper care, providing school kitchen staff with the knowledge and skills needed to maintain and operate kitchen equipment effectively and safely.
11:00 AM – 1:05 PM
PPC South
Hall G
All CN Directors, Buyers, and Supervisors
This special time is set aside for all Directors, Buyers and Supervisors to check out all the great items that the Vendors will be showing to help you to improve your CN program for your customers.
11:00 AM – 11:55 AM
PPC South
1. Rooms 150-159
2. Rooms 160-161
3. Rooms 162-163
4. Rooms 164-165
1. “Liderando a Tu Equipo Hacia el Éxito: Estrategias de Resolución de Conflictos y Construcción de Equipos ” Juanita Lazaro – Rooms 150-159
Únete a nosotros en esta clase diseñada para los administradores de cocina de nutrición escolar que buscan mejorar sus habilidades de liderazgo, dominar técnicas de resolución de conflictos y fomentar relaciones duraderas con sus equipos. Aprende estrategias efectivas para liderar con confianza, desactivar tensiones con gracia y cultivar un entorno colaborativo en la cocina que promueva el éxito y la armonía entre los miembros de tu equipo. No pierdas esta oportunidad de empoderarte con herramientas prácticas para manejar conflictos y construir conexiones duraderas dentro de tu programa de nutrición escolar.
2. “Successful Partnership With Your Health Inspector” David Morales – Rooms 160-161
In the dynamic world of school nutrition, maintaining a strong and collaborative relationship with your health inspector is essential for ensuring food safety and regulatory compliance. This session will provide invaluable insights and practical strategies to foster a positive partnership with health inspectors, ultimately contributing to a safe and healthy food environment for students.
3. “Leading Your Team to Success: Conflict Resolution Strategies and Team Building” Miranda Sandner – Rooms 162-163
Join us for this class designed for school nutrition kitchen managers and staff seeking to enhance their leadership skills, master conflict resolution techniques, and foster enduring team relationships. Learn effective strategies to lead with confidence, defuse tensions gracefully, and cultivate a collaborative kitchen environment that promotes success and harmony among your team members. Don’t miss this opportunity to empower yourself with practical tools for managing conflicts and building lasting connections within your school nutrition program.
4. “The Velvet Rope Workplace” Fred Schafer – Rooms 164-165
If there were a way you could create a work culture that attracted high-quality people who were eager to work for child nutrition programs, would that interest you? And, if there were a way you could not only attract and hire such people but then train and retain them for years until they develop into superstar school nutrition professionals, would that be helpful too? The truth is this. Attracting, hiring, training, and keeping great team members need not be a constant headache. There is a simple yet powerful formula to create a workplace culture of excellence, productivity, and camaraderie. This exact formula helped Fred to be recognized as a top school nutrition recruiting and retention specialist in the USA. Join him in this high energy, content packed, and humorous session where he will share his “Velvet Rope Workplace” formula
12:05 PM – 1:00 PM
PPC South
1. Rooms 150-159
2. Rooms 160-161
3. Rooms 166-167
4. Rooms 164-165
5. Rooms 164-165
1. “Los Conceptos Basicos de las Comidas Reembolsables” Kim Ruiz – Rooms 150-159
En esta sesión, ofrecida en español, discutiremos los conceptos básicos de lo que constituye una comida reembolsable, los parámetros de oferta versus servicio, y brindaremos a los asistentes la confianza para identificar correctamente las comidas reembolsables en el comedor. (In this session, offered in Spanish, we will discuss the basics of what makes a reimbursable meal, the parameters of offer vs serve, and provide attendees with the confidence to correctly identify reimbursable meals in the lunchroom.)
2. “Successful Partnership With Your Health Inspector” David Morales – Rooms 160-161
In the dynamic world of school nutrition, maintaining a strong and collaborative relationship with your health inspector is essential for ensuring food safety and regulatory compliance. This session will provide invaluable insights and practical strategies to foster a positive partnership with health inspectors, ultimately contributing to a safe and healthy food environment for students.
3. “Conflict Resolution for Child Nutrition Programs Miranda Sandner – Rooms 162-163
Join us for this class designed for school nutrition kitchen managers and staff seeking to enhance their leadership skills, master conflict resolution techniques, and foster enduring team relationships. Learn effective strategies to lead with confidence, defuse tensions gracefully, and cultivate a collaborative kitchen environment that promotes success and harmony among your team members. Don’t miss this opportunity to empower yourself with practical tools for managing conflicts and building lasting connections within your school nutrition program.
4. “Amazing Ideas For Your CN Program From An Amazing Arizona District” Lindsay Aguilar & TUSD CN Team – Rooms 166-167
Discover innovative and practical approaches to elevating your food service program with the Tucson USD Child Nutrition Team. In this dynamic session, you’ll learn how to implement creative techniques that will make your program stand out and garner appreciation from students, staff, and the community. Lindsay and her team will also focus on their school garden network which includes their University of Arizona school community garden program partnership, garden to cafeteria and food literacy program.
5. “The Velvet Rope Workplace” Fred Schafer – Rooms 164-165
If there were a way you could create a work culture that attracted high-quality people who were eager to work for child nutrition programs, would that interest you? And, if there were a way you could not only attract and hire such people but then train and retain them for years until they develop into superstar school nutrition professionals, would that be helpful too? The truth is this. Attracting, hiring, training, and keeping great team members need not be a constant headache. There is a simple yet powerful formula to create a workplace culture of excellence, productivity, and camaraderie. This exact formula helped Fred to be recognized as a top school nutrition recruiting and retention specialist in the USA. Join him in this high energy, content packed, and humorous session where he will share his “Velvet Rope Workplace” formula.
1:05 PM – 2:45 PM
PPC South
Hall G
Time For Everyone To Check Out The Vast Exhibitor Show
This is a great opportunity for you to see all the new items that our vendors are exhibiting to help you to improve your child nutrition program.
Educational Sessions
Have you ever just met someone for the first time and within minutes feel as if you have been friends for a lifetime? Why is this and how does persuasion play into it? One of the reasons is because persuasion is all around you both consciously and subconsciously. This engaging and interesting program is geared toward giving you a better understanding of just how you can become a better connector, communicator, and persuader for both your personal and professional life. You will learn some quick and easy ways to guide and influence others from the fascinating field of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming).
Have you ever had someone know just what buttons to push! We all have … that’s why Candy loves to teach folks how to get their emotions under control. In this education session you will laugh and learn about your emotions and how to CALM DOWN without someone saying, “CALM DOWN!” We will analyze your emotions by exploring what aggravates you by knowing exactly what tics you off! Then we will discuss how to manage the obstacles so you can choose your emotions by being proactive NOT reactive. By the end of this session, you will be able to recognize the emotions in people who are not like you! Simple … right? Take Aways: • Know your emotions so you can be PROACTIVE not reactive • Manage your emotions with Candy’s 3-step process that you can use the second you leave the conference in any situation • Learn to Choose your emotions in unpredictable situations • Recognize the personality differences and the emotional characteristics so you can effectively work with people who are NOT like you
2024 SNIC Corporate Partners
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Register for 2024 SNAAZ
Professional Growth Conference
We are so excited to announce the 2024 Professional Growth Conference (PGC). This year’s conference will be held at the beautiful Little America Hotel and Conference Center in Flagstaff, Arizona. The PGC planning committee has planned a spectacular event for every level of child nutrition. So, if you are a director, supervisor, manager, frontline team member, or central office/warehouse there will be some wonderful education classes and information geared specifically for you. Also, we will be presenting an education track in Spanish for those more comfortable learning in that language.
