Christie T.’s Post

As consumers, you expect food products that are safe and healthy. Maintaining a food safety and quality culture is paramount as a Food Manufacturer. Any lapse in quality control can severely impact your business and your customers. That is why effective leadership is crucial in fostering a culture of food safety and quality. As a speaker, I will delve into the importance of leaders creating a culture of food safety and quality throughout their organizations. Join me in this event and learn how you can make a difference in your business today.

Excited to be attending Restaurant Leadership Conference next Monday (well really Sunday) in Phoenix. This is my favorite conference of the year for a couple of reasons. I find the hallway connections are always great (the people you bump into at this conference are the widest array of concept's and scale). There is a nice mix of vendors as well and there is time to dig into items (whether that's with existing vendors or new potential vendors you can actually have time for a conversation). Informa Connect has clearly put a ton of thought into making sure there is enough time for these informal periods and the opening day activities are always fun (did a tequila tasting/cocktail making class last year and the year before some go kart racing). The drinks sessions, lunch periods etc. all facilitate and foster this seamless mixing. Finally I find that it's at a great time of the calendar right after Q1 has ended and we have been able to assess what's going right so far this year and what isn't. I find that other attendees are in a similar boat and thus the conversations are more vibrant and more focused. I do strongly suggest that operators of all sizes attend conferences like this one as the learning and development allows you to gain knowledge faster and from those further along the scaling journey than you are. Make time to work on your business rather than simply in the business as it will make you a far better operator. Not a sponsored post in anyway but just wanted to share my thoughts. Drop a comment below if you are attending as I'd love to see you there.

The ACTs is a game changer - the key word here is 'Accelerated'! The ACTs achieves powerful culture change that is sustainable .... and in shorter timeframes than traditional change/training efforts!

Some leaders excel in their field and use their platform to drive positive change. Dia Simms has been redefining what it means to be a leader in the spirits industry, and she's doing it with style, passion, and a lot of heart. As the CEO of Lobos 1707 Tequila & Mezcal, Dia is shaking things up. Under Dia's leadership, Lobos 1707 has become a force to be reckoned with, earning prestigious awards and gracing the shelves of discerning drinkers everywhere. But it isn’t just her work with 1707 that makes her such an awe-inspiring figure. She also fiercely advocates diversity, equity, and inclusion in the spirits industry. As a co-founder of Pronghorn, a groundbreaking initiative backed by Diageo, Dia is putting her money where her mouth is. She's investing in Black-owned brands, mentoring the next generation of industry leaders, and proving that success and social impact can go hand in hand. Dia's commitment to diversity has not gone unnoticed. She was recently interviewed by TIME's Sade Muhammad, discussing diversity's essential role in various industries. When you weigh her many accomplishments, you might expect her to be a stoic figure who takes herself very seriously. But that’s not Dia. When you meet her, you can't help but be drawn in by her infectious energy and passion. She's the kind of person who lights up a room and makes you feel like anything is possible. And in a way, that's exactly what she's doing – she's showing the world that the spirits industry can be a force for positive change, one delicious sip at a time. The results speak for themselves: Lobos 1707 has become a global sensation, and Pronghorn is set to create $2 billion in economic value for the Black community within the spirits sector over the next ten years. Dia constantly shows us that authentic leadership is about using your platform to uplift others, create opportunities, and make a real difference. With her passion, creativity, and unwavering commitment to doing what’s right, she is a constant reminder that anything is possible. If you’d like to learn more about this incredible spirit, you can head to: https://www.lobos1707.com/ And if you’d like to contribute to Pronghorn’s mission, I highly encourage to you to check out their website: https://www.pronghorn.co/ #Lobos1707 #Pronghorn #SpiritsIndustry #PackagingIndustry #Diversity

Join us tomorrow evening as I moderate this great session under the theme: rebuilding. At what point in your life have you had to rebuild? Let's engage.

Mentorship & Inspiration! A question posed this week lingers and demands a few composed words and extended gratitude. The Question! Who was your mentor? In the course of a career, I’ve been fortunate to work with leaders of their time and speciality, all have provided inspiration and applied traits which have been recognized, implemented and layered upon. Randall Grahm The Vision, brilliant and thoughtful, playful and innovative, a short time spent with Bonny Doon Vineyards under the leadership of Mr. Grahm firmly cemented the creativity applied to every project tackled. Honorable mentions Nicolas Quillé, MW Mark Giordano stalwarts in stewarding the vision. Laurent Gruet Farid Himeur The Builders “Work Hard, Play Harder” these two gentlemen embodied the ideal of on the job learning and adaptability when obstacles arise. Attend every event invited to, provide a moment of sparkle to every person young and old. A long day’s work capped with a great glass of wine and dash of Green Chile. An infectious live life approach with laughs and the rewards of smiles. Patricia Dudley The Collaborator. While the Willamette Valley has a long roster of “who’s who” solidifying Oregon on the Global Wine Stage, Mrs. Dudley is often behind the scenes organizing and connecting personalities. The constant collaboration and effort in pursuit of positioning Oregon wine this past generation reiterates the importance of people working toward a shared vision. Richard Boyles The Planner! In a short window of time, Mr. Boyles showcased the importance of a meticulously built budget and its allowance for quick and decisive decision making. Measured in approach of each project assumed coupled with the application of sound budget and P&L analysis has balanced the creative and impulsive nature of the broader wine industry. Thank you to all for guidance, mentorship, and shaping the pillars of OenOptics fundamentals. #mentorship #leadership #guidance #wineindustry #greatpeople

"Behind every dish lies a deep sense of pride, and it’s important to recognise that food isn't conjured out of thin air. Though to some, it may seem like magic, remember there's always a complex process at play." Chad Bowser, Corporate Executive Head Chef at SPiN talks about his journey in the industry and what keeps him excited. See the link below for the full story. 

Exciting Announcement! Please join us in welcoming Helen S. Medina as our inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the World Spirits Alliance (WSA). With over 15 years of experience in global public policy processes, Helen brings a wealth of expertise to lead our organization toward its purpose, vision, mission, and strategic priorities.   As a multicultural professional with a dynamic background, Helen's leadership will be instrumental in advancing the WSA's work of uniting spirits producers worldwide, advocating for industry interests, and promoting best practices to address societal and environmental challenges.   With over two decades of successful informal cooperation under its belt, the spirits producers and producer organizations from around the globe officially established the World Spirits Alliance (WSA) in 2019. The membership includes 11 leading spirits companies and 16 associations of spirits producers from around the world. It offers a common platform for industry representatives to share insights, work together on global issues to advance industry interests, and promote best practices to tackle societal and environmental challenges.   Rooted in history and tradition, spirits are treasured products and distinguishing sources of cultural pride, enriching societies and economies. From the rice fields of China to the vineyards of France to the barley fields in Scotland and the sugar cane plantations in the Caribbean, each crop contributes to spirits production, sustaining livelihoods along the way.   Did you know that the spirits industry is the most valuable alcoholic beverage? In 2022, the industry had $470 billion of retail sales value. And, as a sector, it supported 36M jobs in the same year. This is akin to the UK's entire workforce! This underscores its immense impact on global economies.   Under Helen's leadership, we are entering a new era of collaboration, advocacy, and sustainability. Together with our members and stakeholders, we are in creating a world where every spirits moment is enjoyed responsibly and sustainably.   #WorldSpiritsAlliance #Sustainability #Spirits #ExcitingTimes #NewCEO #Cheers 🍸 🥃 🌿

In the food industry of Turkey, the clear winner of the competition between great ideas and hierarchy is the hierarchy. No-wonder! Nowadays if you conduct interviews with big enterprises, you will see that they are not looking for decision-makers but soldiers of hierarchy. Competition is the nature of human beings. We have to compete with the ideas not with our Jr, senior, and Executive titles... "Great food companies!" Hear my voice! If not great ideas are the winner, you are the loser. Because good people don't wait for appreciation for good ideas.

Establishing a culture of honor among employees is crucial. Chick-fil-A excels in making every employee feel valued.