Synergy Day 1
Relax and take a little me time to unwind before the conference and then connect with some old friends and develop new relationships at the poolside lounge.
We’ll kick off our conference outdoors with a welcome reception for attendees to mix, mingle, and have fun as we indulge in tasty hors d'oeuvres and cocktails.
Executives, employees, and staff deal with hundreds of complaints on a daily
basis from both complaining customers and complaining coworkers.
In a fast-paced and funny presentation you’ll learn:
• What’s wrong with complaining? (Complaining’s destructive effects on health,
happiness, relationships, and career)
• What is (and isn’t) a complaint?
• The 5 reasons people complain (as remembered by the acronym G.R.I.P.E.)
• How to get other people (and ourselves) to stop complaining
• Positive leadership in a negative world
You’ll leave inspired, mindful of own complaints, and motivated to approach
complainers with new, simple, and effective strategies.
Synergy Day 2
The networking breakfast will bring attendees and industry partners together at the table. Break out of your shell and talk with peers in your region, city, or elsewhere.
Welcome: Harris Ader, SDA Founder
Keynote Speaker: Will Bowen
Topic: How to Turn Complainers into Collaborators | See above for description
Topic: Implementing a tipping program in senior living that works
Learn about one of the first tipping programs in senior living and the implementation process and results of this program designed to increase retention and resident satisfaction.
Speakers: Jim Epper & Elizabeth Calhoun - Bishop Gadsden
Topic: How do we retain vs recruit? How to take care of and develop our teams better.
The cost of turnover and the benefits of a strong, motivated team make it essential to invest in employee development and growth. But how do organizations balance the needs of retaining existing employees while also attracting new talent?
Moderator: Thad Parton - Mather
Topic: Creating unique dining experiences in assisted living
The goal of this roundtable discussion is to generate ideas and best practices for creating unique dining experiences in assisted living that improves the overall quality for the residents.
Moderator: Susan LoPresti - Brandywine Living
Topic: 7 Strategies leaders can use to keep and attract the very best talent
Attendees will learn at least seven strategies that they can implement in their own organizations to help them keep their best people, as well as attract more great people when they do have vacancies, most costing little to nothing to implement.
Speaker: Mark Iverson - The Warriors Mindset
Topic: Staying ahead of the curve: Current nutrition & wellness trends in senior living
Nutrition is a critical aspect of senior living, and understanding current trends and best practices is essential for ensuring the health and well-being of residents. This presentation is designed to provide an overview of the latest nutrition & wellness trends in senior living and how they can be integrated into your menu.
Speaker: Maggie Roche - Roche Dietitians
Topic: Building a culture of hospitality in your organization from the ground up
Hospitality is a critical aspect of customer service and business success. It is about creating a welcoming and supportive environment where customers and employees feel valued and respected. Attendees will discuss how to create an organizational culture that values and prioritizes hospitality, from the top down.
Moderator: Sabine Dessau - St. Andrews Estates South
Topic: Keeping up with the trends: An exploration of food and menu trends in senior living
This roundtable discussion will provide a platform for senior living industry professionals to share their insights and experiences on the latest food and menu trends, including farm-to-table, plant-based, and international cuisine.
Moderator: Paul Muecke - Hormel
Topic: Centralizing internal dining services: Building a successful internal dining department (removing the dotted line of management)
With many organizations opting to bring all dining services under the umbrella of the home office, this presentation will explore the benefits and best practices of centralization, including how it can improve the overall dining experience for residents and increase efficiency and cost savings.
Speaker: Alan Jarecki - Immanuel Communities
Topic: Connect to communicate: Dementia & dining
Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning — thinking, remembering, and reasoning — to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities. Participate in and bear witness to what it “feels” like to engage in a simulated dining experience. Gain insight and awareness on how to improve the dining experience for people with dementia.
Speaker: Toni Fisk - Author - Dining with Dignity
Topic: Cooking from scratch: Transitioning your dining team to scratch cooking and managing food cost more effectively
This chat is designed to help individuals understand the benefits of scratch cooking, including improved food quality, cost savings, and sustainability.
Moderator: Eric Johnson - Trilogy
Topic: Workplace Wellness: Take care of yourself to take care of others
Attendees will learn tips on how to integrate some simple wellness practices into their work places and in doing so increase productivity and profitability and reduce turnover and safety incidents.
Moderator: Mark Iverson - The Warriors Mindset
Peers come together to discuss challenges and uncover thoughtful solutions. Participants will leave with new ideas and develop new relationships.
SDA | Peer Groups: VP of Dining * Directors of Dining * Executive Chefs * Dietitians * Industry Partners * Executive Directors / C-Suite
Discussion Topics:
Learn about new foods, products, and technologies available to enhance your dining operations during the expo.
Synergy Day 3
The networking breakfast will bring attendees and industry partners together at the table. Break out of your shell and talk with peers in your region, city, or elsewhere.
Topic: Navigating the workforce challenges in senior living hospitality
This panel discussion will provide a platform for senior living industry professionals to share their experiences and insights on strategies for addressing the shortage of skilled workers, including partnerships with educational institutions, workforce development programs, and the use of technology.
Moderator: Cheryl Slavinsky - Senior Dining Association
Panel Participants:
Topic: The future of dining: An exploration of current and future senior living dining experience trends
The senior living dining experience is undergoing significant change, with residents expecting more variety, higher quality, and a greater emphasis on health and wellness. This interactive discussion will explore the latest dining experience trends and what the future holds for senior living dining.
Moderator: Harris Ader - Senior Dining Association
What you need to know and what you can implement today. Learn how successful dining operations use out-of-the-box thinking to keep their dining program moving forward and win over residents.
Participants:
Raising Your Leadership Game: Tools, Techniques and Communication
In this fast paced, hands on, and skills-focused leadership development training, participants will be exposed to over a dozen tangible and ready-to-use leadership resources that can be use in their daily work.
Synergy Day 4
Supply chain in senior living food service moving forward in 2023
Attendees will gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of supply chain management in senior living food service, and learn practical strategies for improving supply chain efficiency and effectiveness.
Moderator: Harris Ader, Senior Dining Association
Panelists:
Keynote Speaker: Eric Rowles
Topic: Raising your leadership game: Tools, techniques and communication
This highly interactive training will incorporate emotional intelligence inventories, communication and collaboration methods, and innovative tactics that SDA attendees can implement as soon as they get back home.
SDA Workforce & Culture Change Symposium to be held in Las Vegas, NV, October 11-13, 2023 at Caesar's Palace. The symposium will bring together senior living leaders from various organizations to discover how to align senior living with hospitality culture with a keen focus on workforce development, recruiting, training, and retention of top talent to remain competitive in the hospitality marketplace.
Schedule is subject to change & will update monthly. Check back regularly for updates.
Copyright © 2023 Senior Dining Association - All Rights Reserved.
Synergy Senior Living Dining Conference
The only dedicated association providing resources, education and networking opportunities for dining & hospitality in the senior living industry.
SDA Synergy Senior Dining Hospitality Conference
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SYNERGY 2024 | APRIL 7 - 10, 2024 | ORLANDO, FL
Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld