FNCE: Part of the Plan

Abstract

Professional development. Education. Expertise. Networking. Research findings. Business opportunities. The latest products and services. At the Academy’s Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE), the opportunities available to every nutrition and dietetics practitioner are endless, incomparable…and growing. For example, more than 80% of the 140-plus educational sessions at FNCE 2015 will be Level 2 and Level 3. Practice applications are incorporated into every session to ensure you can implement your new knowledge on the job. You can experience dynamic educational opportunities that are not available elsewhere; gain access to new trends, perspectives from expert speakers, and applications that you can use in practice right away; and review products and services from more than 330 exhibitors. Looking to change career paths? FNCE allows you to explore topics in 15 specialty tracks, including “Leadership, Professional Skills and Career Development” and “Emerging Integrative Approaches for Nutrition and Dietetics Practice.” FNCE is an important and meaningful event, and I hope you’ll be among the thousands of members I’ll see at our conference October 3 to 6. Recently, I asked some of our fellow Academy members to help me compile a list of Top Ten reasons to attend FNCE. Here’s our list—how does it match up with yours?1.FNCE is the meeting of the world’s food and nutrition experts.2.FNCE 2015 is being held for the first time in beautiful Nashville, TN.3.You can connect with colleagues and friends.4.Discover research insights.5.Identify problems.6.Devise solutions.7.Gain ideas and inspiration.8.Obtain career enhancement and professional development.9.You can recharge … relate … renew … rewind.10.Keynote speakers will challenge us with their insights on capitalism, public health, and the global perspective on issues. Even with all these opportunities, FNCE still means more to the Academy than world-class education and valuable networking. For each of us, and for our Academy, FNCE is closely tied to our current and future success. From the preconference workshops to the Closing Session, FNCE is designed to play an essential part in helping the Academy to achieve our organization’s strategic plan (www.eatrightpro.org/resources/leadership/board-of-directors/strategic-plan), to realize our vision (Optimizing health through food and nutrition), and to fulfill our mission (Empowering members to be the food and nutrition leaders). This close relationship between FNCE and achieving the Academy’s strategic goals will be seen vividly in the three main keynote speeches—at the Opening Session on October 3, the Member Showcase on October 5, and the Closing Session on October 6. At the Opening Session, Doug Rauch, CEO and co-chairman of Conscious Capitalism and the former president of Trader Joe’s, will look at how four tenets—higher purpose, stakeholder integration, conscious leadership, and conscious culture—can simultaneously build stronger businesses and improve society as a whole. His talk, “An Innovative Solution to the Hunger Problem,” will cover a topic that is near and dear to our hearts. How can we create a culture of innovation, build a power brand in a competitive marketplace, and lead with a purpose in battling the hunger crisis? “Health and Human Rights,” presented at the Member Showcase by the former Surgeon General of the United States, Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, is certainly a relevant topic for us on our journey toward a healthier nation. Dr Benjamin’s insights will help us navigate the changing health care environment with increased confidence and competence and create a larger footprint for registered dietitian nutritionists in an evolving system. At the Closing Session, celebrity chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson will share his story of personal discovery; determination; and a passionate, playful pursuit of flavors in his presentation, “The Intersection of Food, Business, Diversity, and Philanthropy.” Through his continuing UNICEF endeavors toward immunization and curbing malnutrition for children around the world, we’ll gain perspective on how registered dietitian nutritionists can serve as national and global leaders in providing sustainable access to vital resources such as food and water. The speakers, sessions, and events at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo give us the opportunity to achieve our mission and vision while enjoying a great time spent with our friends and colleagues. I hope to see you in Nashville in October!