WASHINGTON, DC — August 11, 2005 — A panel of representatives from Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” will address attendees at the Food Marketing Institute’s 2005 Human Resources/Training & Development (HR/T&D) Conference, September 18-20, in San Francisco, CA.
     

The panelists will discuss how they instilled greatness into their company cultures and how small contributions by people can make dramatic contributions to the company.
     

The panel discussion will be facilitated by Scott Cawood, principal of ModernThink, LLC, which researches and recognizes best places to work. Prior to the discussion, Dr. Cawood will explore themes, traits and practices found in the nation’s best employers.
     

The annual conference examines the key issues facing today’s human resources professionals in the supermarket industry, including diversity management, leadership development, workforce skills advancement, and compensation and benefit trends.
     

Motivational speaker Dr. Joseph Mancusi, founder of the Center for Organizational Excellence and one of the country’s top leadership trainers, will illustrate how attendees can enrich their lives, live out their visions and strengthen their organizations.
     

Dr. Steven Hunt, chief scientist for Unicru, will address employee retention and Alan Fong from AFIS Benefits and Insurance Service will advise attendees on health care cost containment strategies.
     

Other sessions will focus on areas such as emotional intelligence, performance management, executive coaching and high-impact training. The program also offers interactive idea exchanges that address shared concerns in HR, including reference checking, training structures and recognition and rewards.
     

“This year’s conference will provide human resources professionals with an opportunity to learn from industry experts and interact with their peers to develop innovative programs, enhance professional partnerships and manage contemporary challenges in human resources and training,” said Sue Cunningham, director of training, learning and management development at Clemens Markets, Inc., and chair of FMI’s HR/T&D committee.


Maxx Award Recognizes Exceptional HR and Training Initiative

     
FMI’s fourth annual Maximizing People Potential Award will be presented at this year’s conference. The award recognizes a retail or wholesale company that develops a human resources or training initiative that significantly improves the performance of employees or leads to a key business goal. Conference attendees will hear presentations from three award finalists and vote for the most impressive program. The winning company will be announced during an awards banquet at the conference.
     

The HR/T&D Conference is sponsored by AFLAC, Background Information Services, Deploy Solutions, Generative Learning Systems, LearnSomething, Minitab, PCI, Peopleclick, Profiles International, Reflection Software, Unicru, Ward Services and Watson Wyatt Worldwide.
     

To register for the event ($675 members, $935 associate members, $1125 nonmembers), visit the FMI Web site at www.fmi.org/events.