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WFF leadership conference urges industry women to be bold

ORLANDO, FLA. —The importance of taking risks was front of mind for the nearly 3,000 attendees at this year’s annual Women’s Foodservice Forum leadership development conference.

During numerous educational seminars and inspirational speeches, listeners were urged to reach outside of their comfort zones for greater fulfillment both professionally and personally. They also celebrated women’s progress in the foodservice industry and WFF’s emerging leaders, and enjoyed a few networking opportunities. —The importance of taking risks was front of mind for the nearly 3,000 attendees at this year’s annual Women’s Foodservice Forum leadership development conference.

The four-day event, held here last month at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, began with a first-ever golf tournament as well as a multicultural brunch with publisher Carol Evans, founder of Working Mother Media, who spoke about the challenges specific to women of color. —The importance of taking risks was front of mind for the nearly 3,000 attendees at this year’s annual Women’s Foodservice Forum leadership development conference.

As the conference continued, interactive workshops that were often standing-room-only helped attendees foster skills in four of the 12 leadership criteria that the WFF has determined women need to prosper in the workplace: strategic thinking, building networks, developing others and risk taking. —The importance of taking risks was front of mind for the nearly 3,000 attendees at this year’s annual Women’s Foodservice Forum leadership development conference.

Almost 700 senior-level attendees participated in the WFF’s first “executive track,” which offered seminars and networking opportunities focused on corporate board readiness, negotiating skills and financial know-how. —The importance of taking risks was front of mind for the nearly 3,000 attendees at this year’s annual Women’s Foodservice Forum leadership development conference.

At the closing awards banquet, the WFF honored Patricia Anton, president of the Anton Family Foundation and co-founder and former president and chief executive of airport foodservice business Anton Airfood Inc., with its Trailblazer Award for her role in elevating female leaders and the WFF itself. —The importance of taking risks was front of mind for the nearly 3,000 attendees at this year’s annual Women’s Foodservice Forum leadership development conference.

Lynette McKee, vice president of franchising and new business development at Dunkin’ Brands, was awarded the Emerging Leader Award, especially for her work in seeking out minority participants for Dunkin’s franchise system. —The importance of taking risks was front of mind for the nearly 3,000 attendees at this year’s annual Women’s Foodservice Forum leadership development conference.

Conference attendees were encouraged to take risks and not to let others define each person’s unique self, talents and goals. Keynote speakers Patricia Russell-McCloud and Carly Fiorina engaged attendees with dynamic discussions on the promise of women in business. —The importance of taking risks was front of mind for the nearly 3,000 attendees at this year’s annual Women’s Foodservice Forum leadership development conference.

The 18-year-old WFF, which was formed to promote the advancement of women in the foodservice industry, also officially transferred its leadership during the conference. Jane Sumner, vice president of sales at PepsiCo Foodservice, became chairwoman, succeeding Paula Marshall, chief executive of The Bama Cos. —The importance of taking risks was front of mind for the nearly 3,000 attendees at this year’s annual Women’s Foodservice Forum leadership development conference.

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