WFF membership runs on a calendar year (January – December.)   All memberships expire on 12/31.  In order to attend the Annual Leadership Development Conference at the member rate, you must have your 2008 dues paid.  If the dues display during the first page of the registration process then our records show you will not be a current member at the time of the conference. 

Welcome!  Nearly 30% of all conference attendees are “first-timers” so we have special programming just for you.  New Members/First Time Attendees are encouraged to take advantage of the New Member Orientation sessions (Sunday 4:30 – 5:00 pm or Monday 7:30 – 8:00 am.)  These important sessions will help you quickly get oriented to get the most out of your Conference experience.  Additionally, we have planned a number of events and networking opportunities to help facilitate your network at Conference. Additionally, we will have a Member Lounge area (in the registration area) for individual attention and WFF information from staff and volunteers.  We want you to feel welcome and have a great experience.

We expect approximately 3,500 attendees this year. 

Bring plenty of business cards and wear layered clothing while in sessions.  Spring in Maryland is variable, so we suggest you be prepared for a range of temperatures. Attendees are encouraged to wear layered business attire to programming. The Welcome Reception will be more casual and held outside on the beautiful banks of the Potomac. The Emerging Leaders Award Celebration is semi-formal or business attire.

You are welcome to bring a guest to the WFF Awards Celebration.  Guest tickets are $120 per person and must be purchased in advance.  Unfortunately, all other events are closed to all but registered attendees.

The on-line registration site and the registration form both have an area to indicate your special dietary needs.  Any other special needs can be communicated by sending them to events@womensfoodserviceforum.com.

The WFF Leadership Award is given each year to a woman executive in the foodservice industry who shows exceptional leadership qualities within her company and the industry at large, and whose professional growth and achievements are recognized through career advancement.  
The WFF Trailblazer Award is reserved for those individuals who are dedicated to improving the foodservice industry through their support of gender diversity, creating new pathways for women in their company and the industry at large, and implementing them at all levels of their organizations.
The WFF Entrepreneur of the Year Award is presented annually to a woman business owner who demonstrates exceptional leadership qualities, within her company and the industry at large, and whose professional growth and business achievements have contributed to the foodservice industry. She has demonstrated an innovative approach to business challenges. She provides visible support and assists women in their professional growth, both inside and outside her organization.
These awards are presented during the WFF Awards and Celebration Dinner on Tuesday night during Conference.

There will be a webinar scheduled in advance of conference for all new members.  This is a great opportunity to learn more and be more prepared for your experience at Conference.  

To prevent overcrowding, and to ensure all pre-registered attendees have a chance to attend, ALL WORKSHOPS will be ticketed.  When you pick up your registration packet onsite, you will receive tickets for all events and workshops that you pre-registered for. All of these will also be listed on your personal agenda.  You will need to present your ticket to gain access to all workshops and events.

No. You will be able to wait until the start of a workshop – if space if available once the speaker has started, you will be able to join the workshop.

Workshop handouts that speakers provide are included at each of the workshop rooms and may be posted on-line depending on the speaker.  Not every speaker elects to provide handouts.

Register for conference early!  Our hotel registration process has changed in 2008.  Room reservations cannot be reserved directly with the hotel, and hotel reservations cannot be made without a completed conference registration.  When you finish registering for the conference, click on the hotel link to be taken directly to the hotel registration site where you’ll be able to select your hotel.  This change in policy will allow more people to get a chance to stay at the host hotel.

The Hampton Inn and the Westin are located across the street and are within walking distance of the Gaylord National.  The Sheraton Suites Alexandria is about 2 miles from the Gaylord. Complimentary shuttle service will be available from the Sheraton each day of the conference.

The WFF Executive Track was created to address our executive-level attendees’ needs by providing unique programming consistent with building executive competencies. Exclusive events, workshops and sessions specifically designed for corporate Vice Presidents, senior management, CEOs and board members are offered throughout conference.  If you wish to attend, but your title does not reflect VP or above, but you report to the President/CEO of your organization, you may also be eligible.  Please contact events@womensfoodserviceforum.com prior to registering so that you can confirm your eligibility.

The Emerging Executive Track is new in 2008 and was developed as a direct result of the feedback attendees gave us last year to provide more advanced sessions for more seasoned managers and director level attendees.  While geared to the director level, these sessions are open to all attendees who feel the content is appropriate for their development plan.

This year, programming during the Annual Leadership Development Conference has been developed to build skills in the following four our of 10 competency areas:  Initiative, Visioning/Setting Direction, Developing Others, and Tough-Mindedness. 
Take your LCA now.

The Emerging Leader track is available to any attendee.

Emerging Leaders and Emerging Executives can customize their conference education by using the color-coding system that identifies which of the four WFF competencies is most applicable to that workshop programming.  
However, the easiest way is to take your WFF Leadership Competency Assessment (LCA).  Based on your results, conference workshops will be recommended.  Take your LCA now.

The WFF Leadership Competency Assessment (LCA) is a tool developed by WFF to help members assess their strengths and weaknesses in the 10 Core Competencies.  Available as an exclusive benefit to WFF members, it is highly recommended that you take the assessment once a year. Attendees are encouraged to take the LCA before they register for Conference since the results of this online assessment will help select the most useful workshops.  Take your LCA now.

The energizing final day of Conference is on your personal development.  Choose one of four new sessions:  Negotiating for Yourself, Strategic Financial Planning, Become a Foodservice Fanatic (with Marilyn Sherman) or the WFF Personal Leadership Development workshop, “How Do I Get There from Here.”  This day is designed to help you clarify your plan for elevation and provide support and suggestions as you strive to achieve your next career goal.

No, but you save $430 by becoming a member!  Registration fee for non-members is $1,425; members pay only $995 if registered by January 31, 2008.  To take advantage of this significant savings, check the 2008 Membership box, and then select Full Conference during the registration process.

Please contact our Registration Coordinator at 1-888-202-4042 for help with registration, the website or other questions you may have.

Registration cancellations must be requested in writing and submitted to our Registration Coordinator at events@womensfoodserviceforum.com and must be received prior to March 1, 2008.  All cancellations are subject to a $175 processing fee.  There will be no refunds issued after March 1, 2008 – no exceptions.

Please contact our Registration Coordinator at 1-888-202-4042 for help with registration, the website or any other questions you may have.  

Yes.  You can register others who work in your company, including multiple people at one time. In the registration section, after you have completed a selection of workshops, you will reach a page that asks if you would like to register someone else from your company.  Select that option each time you want to add another registration.  After you have completed all your registrations, simply continue and you will be able to pay for all your registrations with a single payment.

No.  We know each person who registers carefully considers the workshop choices and which ones best fit their developmental needs. For that reason, and to ensure that everyone who pre-registers for a workshop or event has the chance to attend, all events will be ticketed. 
If you do not have a ticket, you will be able to attend only on a space-available basis.

We do offer a one-day registration on Monday and another one on Tuesday.  Each one-day registration covers all events and sessions from 5:00 a.m. to midnight.  Simply check that option when you register.  The cost is $600 per day up through January 31st.  Beginning February 1st the cost is $750 per day.

Registrations are transferable.  Call our Registration Coordinator at 888-202-4042 to make the change.  There is a $175 processing fee if you make the change on or after March 1, 2008.  Please note that while registrations are transferable, membership fees are not, so if your colleague is not a current WFF member, she will need to become one in order to qualify for the member rate.

No. Registrations with credit card payments must be completed on-line. Check payments must be used when faxing or mailing the registration form (found online at www.womensfoodserviceforum.com.) Please note that mailed/faxes registration forms are assessed a $30 data processing fee.

 

The Executive Reception is reserved for men and women executives, VP level or above. You must select this event during your registration to receive a ticket for this reception.  Please contact events@womensfoodserviceforum.com prior to registering so that you can confirm your eligibility.

There are many opportunities to become involved and contribute resources to the WFF. For complete sponsorship information and program details, click here to view sponsor levels and opportunities or contact our VP of Business Development at 1-866-368-8008 or by email to anickolas@womensfoodserviceforum.com.

The Tuesday Awards Dinner is all new for 2008!  We’ll kick it off with a cocktail reception from 6:30 – 7:30 pm, followed by the gala Awards Presentation from 7:30 – 8:30 pm. Then we finish with a flourish as we move into the After Party with food, drinks and dancing.  There is no pre-assigned seating.

There is no special seating for volunteers at most events – sit anywhere and get to know some new people.  There will be special tables for New Members/First Timers at the lunches and please do attend the Volunteer Breakfast on Tuesday morning.

You should have received a card in your registration packet that you can use at all meals.  It should go on your plate so the waiter knows you have special meals.  If no ticket was included, we have extras at the registration counter.