The Association for Healthcare Foodservice hosted a successful in-person 2021 Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas August 23-26 at the Omni Dallas. AHF brought together nearly 400 operators and vendor partners from across the country to network, learn, and honor 2021 awardees. The conference spanned over three days highlighting key concepts and innovations that operators and vendors have developed over the past 2 years.
The conference theme was "Playbook for the Future: Reset, Renew, and Reconnect". Attendees each received a beautiful design playbook filled with tips, tricks, and information from all of AHF's 2021 speakers allowing them to instantly bring back fresh ideas to their operations. Throughout the week operators built out their Playbook for the Future setting them on a path for future success.
Attendees also celebrate AHF's 2021 national annual awards. Most award winners were honored during the Celebrate Excellence Awards Luncheon Wednesday afternoon August 25th. AHF's Lifetime Achievement Award and Making a Difference Award Winners were honored during AHF's closing reception, Celebrate AHF Wednesday evening August 25th. The award winners are:
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Martha Rardin, Hendricks Regional Health
- Making A Difference Award: Ralph Goldbeck, Kitchens to go by mobile modular
- Future Horizon Award: Alicia Preston, Rogue Valley Manor
- Spotlight Award: Erica Block, Rush University Medical Center
- Exemplary Leadership Award: Angela O'Neill, Hunterdon Medical Center
- Partnership in Leadership Award: Seth Grant and Lois Dennison, Eskenazi Health
- Sustainability Award: Gina Sadowski, Seattle Children's Hospital
- Chapter of the Year Award: New Jersey, Angela O'Neill, President
- Benchmarking Award: Heather Duffy, JFK Medical Center
AHF also hosted its 11th Annual Culinary Competition bringing together 5 of the top culinary teams from across the country to compete for the gold medal. The gold medal winners were David Brue, Derrick Claprood, and Amy Patton, OSU Wexner Medical Center (Columbus, OH). Dish Name: Blackened Red Fish w/ Crispy Brown Rice Cake.
Throughout the week attendees listened to keynote speakers covering a variety of topics including culinary innovation, menu planning, responding to contractor threats, leadership and management, retail and kitchen operations, benchmarking, GPO management, culinary apprenticeship programs, and so much more.
AHF will host it's 2022 Annual Conference August 8-11, 2022 in Scottsdale, AZ. It will open registration in early 2022.