Future Connect: Invest in Your Company’s Future

Learn from Legendary Duke University “Coach K” on
How to Achieve Victory through Teamwork and Leadership

ARLINGTON, VA — March 14, 2011 — The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) announced Duke University and Team USA men’s basketball coach, Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski, will be a featured speaker at Future Connect, the premier leadership development conference for the food and consumer products retail industry, May 10-12, 2011, in Dallas, TX.

Coach K has an amazing track record for winning. Using the insights and proven principles he applies to his coaching career, Coach K will share what he believes are the keys to success — motivational techniques, leadership skills and teamwork strategies — that can be applied to every professional endeavor.      

Future Connect is designed to help companies address the need for management development with the fast-approaching retirement of the baby boomer population. The program provides retailers, wholesalers and suppliers the opportunity to identify and develop future leaders through individual and collaborative learning sessions.

“Companies are facing a critical leadership talent gap that needs to be addressed,” said Leslie G. Sarasin, president and chief executive officer at FMI. “Future Connect can help every company build its next generation of leaders, and equally important, ensure that the talent is in place to help trading partners work together to set a strategic direction for the future.”

Additional Speakers Highlight Ways to Generate High Performance, Success

Daniel Pink, best-selling author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, is another featured speaker and will present examples from cutting-edge companies that demonstrate how to motivate high-performers and how organizations can tap people’s deepest motivations to produce the greatest results.


Inspirational speaker Desi Williamson will share his personal experience in surviving a broken neck to gain a new perspective on what it takes to succeed. Author of Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way: Succeeding in the Face of Turbulent Times, Williamson reveals the tools for transformational thinking and shares the skills that help break the cycle of complacency and mediocrity, empowering individuals to become masters of change rather than victims of circumstance.

Three Customized Education Tracks for Future Leaders at Every Level

               
Future Connect is designed for participants identified as future leaders, including corporate, regional and other managers at all levels, directors, vice presidents and executives from all areas of retailer, wholesaler and supplier companies. The Future Connect program offers three tracks:

• Strategic Management: Encompasses a broad perspective of industry issues and management of large teams;


• Operations Management: Provides more tactical lessons in management, operations and store-level concerns; and


• Sales/Marketing/Merchandising: Geared toward executives immersed in trading partner and broad supply chain issues.

The interactive and collaborative format will mix strategically focused general sessions with a collegiate environment in which participants will work together in teams to reinforce the education program in each track. This unique format will help peers and business partners share common challenges and best practices and build the foundation for long-lasting relationships.

Superior Store Managers Recognized

The FMI Superior Store Manager Awards recognize supermarket store managers who generate sales growth, provide great customer service, contribute to attaining company goals and are an integral part of the communities they serve. Nine semi-finalists will be named prior to Future Connect, and three grand prize winners will be announced at Future Connect and presented with their awards on Wednesday, May 11.

Special Pre-Conference Bonus

Future Connect officially begins with the opening general session on Tuesday, May 10 at 1 p.m. As a special bonus, attendees are invited to come early on Tuesday morning to take advantage of one of three pre-conference events:

• Best of Future Connect — Hear from several of the most highly-rated speakers from Future Connect 2009.


• Supermarket Financials — Learn the economics and financial metrics of retailing.


• Optimizing Talent — Review what every leader and manager needs to know to sustain a successful store.

Special Rates Available for Groups

Special discounted rates are available for companies bringing groups of 10 or more participants to Future Connect through the Group Advantage Program(GAP). Groups registering 10 or more people will also receive an additional registration free of charge. Click here to learn more about the Group Advantage Program and to register.