2025 Winter Meeting “Power of an Alliance”

Reflections on the 2025 Winter Member Meeting: A Gathering of Collaboration and Innovation

February marked the 2025 Winter Member Meeting, the bi-annual event that brought together members from districts across the country, Alliance leadership, and select industry guests for an engaging and collaborative experience. The meeting kicked off with an atmosphere filled with handshakes, hugs, smiles, and laughter during the welcome reception, setting the tone for the three-day gathering.

Welcome Reception and Leadership Ice Breaker

The event began with a warm reception, allowing participants to re-connect and establish new relationships. Registration packets were distributed, ensuring everyone had the necessary materials to make the most of the sessions ahead. The “How do you fold your towels” ice breaker with Julie Alexander was a fun way for everyone to engage, fostering an environment of openness and cooperation from the start.

Guest Speakers: 

Day two of the Winter Member Meeting featured three distinguished guest speakers, each offering unique insights and valuable perspectives.

Giuseppe Mastruzzo, Keynote Speaker, University of Turin, Italy: Mastruzzo’s presentation, “The World and the Role of Institutional Food Systems in Food Justice,” delved into the intricate relationship between food systems and social justice, exploring how food policies can promote equitable access to nutritious and sustainable food.

Rick Garcia, Industry Leader: Garcia’s session, “How Powerful is an Alliance in the Marketplace?” highlighted the influence and potential that comes with collaboration within a collective. His insights provided attendees with a deeper understanding of how the strength of an Alliance can create a larger footprint in the industry, and the collective impact it can have on both local and national scales.

Julie Alexander, Professional Speaker: Alexander’s session, “Leading When It’s Hard: A Template for Manager/Regional Supervisor Leadership Training,” provided attendees with valuable tools and strategies for training leaders to effectively navigate challenging situations. Her talk emphasized the importance of leadership resilience and practical frameworks for developing future leaders in a fun and lighthearted way that encouraged leading with laughter, even when it is difficult.

Roundtable Discussions and Key Takeaways

Throughout the meeting, participants took part in roundtable discussions that encouraged open dialogue and shared insights. One of the most thought-provoking sessions was centered around “How do you manage manager training?” The conversation sparked valuable ideas on the best practices and strategies for training managers effectively, a topic that continues to evolve within the industry.

Another roundtable session asked, “What can we do collectively to use the power of the Alliance?” This discussion emphasized the strength in unity, and how harnessing the collective resources of the Alliance could make a significant impact on the marketplace.

The “Doing it differently” roundtable explored the theme of innovation in practice, discussing what it truly means to break away from traditional methods and forge new paths. 

Innovative Ideas and Best Practices

Attendees were encouraged to visit “Table Top Resources,” which showcased innovative ideas from eight companies in the school nutrition industry that are currently making waves with their leading-edge products. The USFA Innovation Award was also voted on and presented to The Vollrath Company for their exemplary product display.

Closing out day two, three member districts shared recent program successes and best practices. Baltimore City Public Schools spoke about a recent visit to Japan to observe local school nutrition practices; Austin ISD shared about their very successful campaign, “I love school meals so much,” which encourages staff to participate in eating and supporting school lunch; and Dallas ISD reviewed their experience with the nine school shelf-stable milk pilot they previously conducted. Sharing best practices is an integral part of the Alliance membership that paves the way for others to follow.

North East ISD Site Visit

On the last day of the meeting, the group spent the morning at Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, TX, where attendees had the opportunity to tour the facilities and see firsthand how the school is implementing best practices in food systems. The visit was followed by a delicious lunch, featuring homemade enchiladas—an authentic (and tasty!) culinary experience that added a personal touch to the event.

Closing Remarks and Looking Ahead

The 2025 Winter Member Meeting wrapped up with a strong sense of community and collaboration – it was clear that the power of networking and shared knowledge is at the heart of the Alliance’s success.  Looking ahead, the meeting provided valuable insights and strategies that will undoubtedly help shape the future of the industry.