Agenda: 2026 Annual Conference

Breakfast and Lunch - Pacific 14-17

Vendor/Dealer Appointments - Pacific Ballroom

Product Vendor Showcase - Pacific Ballroom #26

Serv-Ware Trainings and Showcase - Pacific Ballroom #24

Waves of Wellness and Breaks - Pacific Ballroom #23

Cutting Edge - Member Services - Service Vendors #25

Welcome Reception - Pacific Ballroom Foyer

Dealer and Vendor meetings during meals - Pacific 14-17

Keynotes during meals - Pacific 14-17

USS Midway - Buses Transport off the Pacific Ballroom Foyer

Big Wave Bash and Concert with High Tides Society in the Coronado Terrace after dinner on your own. Join us March 28th from 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm on top the terrace at the Marriott Marquis

Registration Check In - Pacific Ballroom Foyer

Vendor Storage - Temecula #3

USS Midway Celebration Dinner and Awards

Join us for the USS Midway Celebration Dinner and Awards on Friday, March 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Enjoy dinner, awards at 7 p.m., and an exclusive docent tour (8-9 p.m.) on the flight deck. Dress warmly (60°F+ breeze) in layers with comfortable shoes. Buses depart at 6:15 p.m. from Pacific Foyer Drive; no re-entry permitted.

Friday, March 27 | 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Outdoor Flight Deck

Arrival & Transport

Buses: Depart at 6:15 p.m. from the Marriott Marquis Pacific Foyer Drive. Arrive to load buses at 6:00 p.m.
Walking: The vessel is approx. 1 mile from the hotel.
Important: Once you leave the ship, you cannot re-enter.

Event Highlights

6:30 p.m.: Arrival, Dinner, and Beverages.
7:00 p.m.: Awards Ceremony.
8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: Exclusive Docent Tour (Admiral & Captain’s Country, War Room, TFCC).

Dress Code & Comfort

Attire: Business Casual.
Crucial: Wear closed-toe shoes and bring layers (jacket/coat recommended). The outdoor flight deck will be windy and cold (approx. 60°F).
High Heels are not advised due to the flight deck surface.
Name Badge: MUST be worn at all times.

Security & Policies

Screening: All guests pass through metal detectors; bags are subject to inspection.
Prohibited: No outside alcohol, outside food (only clear water bottles allowed), pets (except service animals), or weapons. No computers.
No Smoking/Vaping: The USS Midway is a smoke-free facility. Immediate removal if violated.
Important: Once you leave the ship, you cannot re-enter.

Departure

Buses will begin returning to the Marriott Marquis at 8:45 p.m.

For accessibility requests (wheelchairs, ASL), please contact us in advance.

Docent Tour available at 8:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Admiral & Captain’s Country: Experience the life of the men responsible for the USS Midway and the other ships that protected her for 47 years. Tour includes the War Room, Task Force Command Center (TFCC), Message Center and the living quarters to two of the most pressure-filled jobs at sea.

Dean Hallett is a mission-driven leadership specialist and author, as well as a senior executive
proven to drive innovative organizational change for major brands and corporations. After a
successful career driving leadership and organizational culture as Senior EVP at 20th Century Fox
and EVP/CFO at Disney, Dean now leverages his expertise to support companies in powerfully
transforming their employee cultures from the inside out.

Through accelerated leadership programs, culture change workshops, and CEO coaching and advising, Dean teaches companies best practices for how to successfully elevate collaboration, retain top-talent, and unify large-scale teams around common goals in order to thrive in a world of continual disruption. He also advises on organizational design and effectiveness.

Dean knows that to thrive in today’s world of continual disruption, any organization needs to evolve and constantly align its team around its mission.

In late 2018, Dean launched his new company, Hallett Leadership LLC, which specializes in
accelerated leadership programs, executive coaching, and organizational alignment workshops. In
2022, Manage HR named Hallett Leadership as a Top 10 Executive Coaching Company.

In February 2022, Dean published his book The Missing Piece: How Successful Companies
Develop High-Performance Cultures. In The Missing Piece, Dean shares his leadership journey,
and demonstrates why leadership training and development is essential at all levels of an
organization.

Dr. Joe Ricciardi is a distinguished leader, entrepreneur, and U.S. Army Reserve Major General who brings a unique blend of high-stakes military strategy and deep-rooted food service expertise to the keynote stage.

With over 25 years of experience across the industry, Joe has seen the food service world from every angle. His career includes hands-on experience as the owner and operator of two restaurant concepts in Northwest Indiana, as well as a six-year tenure as Vice President of Operations for SEFA, where he oversaw supplier relations. Furthermore, his time at HAVI Global Solutions saw him leading go-to-market strategies in supply chain analytics working with iconic brands like McDonald’s and Coca-Cola.

In addition to his civilian accomplishments, Joe currently serves as the Commanding General of the 88th Readiness Division, leading an organization of over 11,000 Soldiers and Civilians and a P&L in excess of $1B. Joe is a highly decorated combat veteran, he has commanded complex logistics and combat engineering task forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, and advised Pentagon leadership on multibillion-dollar Army infrastructure and sustainability initiatives around the globe.

Joe holds a Ph.D. in Values-Driven Leadership from Benedictine University, an MBA from Purdue, and is a graduate of the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. By bridging the gap between global military strategy and the fast-paced evolution of the equipment industry, Joe brings a unique set of insights on building data-driven teams, navigating complex supply chains, and leading with purpose in rapidly changing environments.

As America’s leading voice on self-empowerment and The Fully Alive Movement, Dirk is on a mission to empower one million people to live Fully Alive. With over 40 years of work inside businesses—particularly the distribution and manufacturing sectors—he’s seen firsthand what happens when people feel disconnected, depleted, and stuck in survival mode.

Dirk is the visionary and Executive Producer behind the We Supply America tour which had Dirk visiting over 100 distribution and manufacturing companies in the summers of 2021 through 2024 and producing 36 documentary films championing the noble calling of distribution.

Through his dynamic keynotes, including today’s “The Human Advantage: How Self-Empowerment Transforms Cultures and Fuels Organizational Growth,” Dirk challenges leaders to reimagine their businesses as transformative forces that impact both profitability and human well-being.

Highlights

Arrival/Departure

Keynote Speakers