General Session Speakers

Wednesday, August 22nd

Andrew ZimmernPresenter: Andrew Zimmern

A four-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, writer and teacher, Andrew Zimmern is regarded as one of the most versatile and knowledgeable personalities in the food world. As the creator, executive producer and host of the Bizarre Foods franchise on Travel Channel, The Zimmern List and Andrew Zimmern’s Driven by Food, he has explored cultures in more than 170 countries, promoting impactful ways to think about, create and live with food.

Thursday, August 23rd

MichaelLeavitt.jpg"Food As Medicine" - Governor Michael Leavitt

Mike Leavitt is the founder and general partner of Leavitt Partners where he helps clients navigate the future as they transition to new and better models of care. In previous roles, Mike served in the Cabinet of President George W. Bush (as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and Secretary of Health and Human Services) and as a three-time elected governor of Utah.
Mike grew up in Cedar City, Utah, where his upbringing was rooted in the values of the American West, with its emphasis on hard work and common sense. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business while working in the insurance industry. In 1984, he became chief executive of The Leavitt Group, a family business that is now the nation’s second largest, privately held insurance brokerage.
In 1993, Mike was elected governor of Utah. He served three terms (1993-2003). In 2003, he joined the Cabinet of President George W. Bush, serving in two positions: first as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (2003-2005) and then as secretary of Health and Human Services (2005-2009). At HHS, he administered a $750 billion budget — nearly 25 percent of the entire federal budget — and 67,000 employees.
He led the implementation of the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program. The task required the design, systematization, and implementation of a plan to provide 43 million seniors with a new prescription drug benefit. By the end of the first year, enrollments exceeded projections, prices were lower than projected, and seniors expressed high levels of satisfaction.
Mike’s strategic ability can be seen in his redesign of the nation’s system of quality and safety standards for imported goods. In the spring of 2006, President Bush assigned him to lead a government-wide response. Within months, he commended a major strategic shift in U.S. policy on import regulation and trade.
A pattern of innovation runs throughout Mike’s career. When he was elected governor, Utah’s major freeway system was dangerously inadequate. Taking what some thought was a significant political and financial risk, Mike instigated a design-build system, creating cost and quality incentives between the state and its contractors. The project was finished in half the originally projected time and well under budget.
Mike is, at heart, an entrepreneur. As governor, he organized a group of his colleagues to form Western Governors University. At WGU, degrees are earned based on competency rather than credit hours. WGU now has more than 60,000 students who reside in each of the 50 states and several foreign countries. Enrollment is growing at 35 percent a year. In November 2008, TIME magazine named WGU “the best relatively cheap university you’ve never heard of.”
Collaborator is a word that comes up repeatedly when one examines Mike’s background. His skill led his colleague governors to elect him as chairman of the National Governors Association, the Republican Governors Association and Western Governors’ Association. His book—Finding Allies, Building Alliances—was released in September 2013 by Jossey-Bass Publishers and chronicles his expertise and passion for collaboration.
Mike is a seasoned diplomat, leading U.S. delegations to more than 50 countries. He has conducted negotiations on matters related to health, the environment, and trade. At the conclusion of his service, the Chinese government awarded him the China Public Health Award – the first time this award has ever been given to a foreign government official.

Friday, August 24th

Ken_Toong.jpg"UMASS - Putting People First" - Ken Toong

Executive Director of Auxiliary Enterprises, UMass 
Ken Toong is the Executive Director of Auxiliary Enterprises, which is comprised of UMass Dining, Hotel UMass, UMass Conference Services, Licensing, UMass Catering, University Club & Restaurant, as well as the University Bookstore. Auxiliary Enterprises provides the core service that support the academic and extracurricular goals of the university. Ken always puts customer service first and is committed to going beyond simply providing services by creating a unique experience for all customers and visitors. An avid supporter of student health and regional food system, Ken places a strong focus on sustainability, nutrition and community. In his free time, Ken enjoys jogging, reading, traveling, walking the dog, and rooting on the Dallas Cowboys and UMass Minutemen.

GarrettUMASS.jpg"UMASS - Putting People First" Garett Distefano

Director of Residential Dining, UMass 
Garett Distefano is the Director of Residential Dining. His position entails overseeing all residential dining commons and the UMass Bake Shop. Garett assures that all dining commons are running efficiently and effectively while producing high quality food.


 



Mary Lynne Carraway"Life as Plan B" - Mary Lynne Carraway

In her position as the President of Team Washington, Inc. and a Franchisee of Domino’s Pizza LLC, Mary Lynne Carraway oversees the operation of seventy-four of the most successful Domino’s Pizza stores in the system. She is an active member of the Domino’s Franchise Forum, the Domino’s Women’s Leadership Forum and the Domino’s Franchisee Association.
She also serves on the Franchise Communication Council.

Carraway’s ascension to President of Team Washington did not follow a typical career path. As the youngest of seven children, she grew up working in a family owned restaurant. She attended Brigham Young University, worked in hotels and entertainment and spent 10 years in the fashion industry, some of it living abroad in Paris. She thought she had found her dream job when she married her Prince Charming, David Carraway, and they started their family. Instead, Frank Meeks, founder of Team Washington, Inc. passed away in 2004 and within two and a half years of taking over the company, her husband, David, lost his battle with brain cancer. In the midst of all that was happening, Mary Lynne went through a rigorous training process to become a Domino’s Pizza Franchisee.

Team Washington has thrived in the last ten years since Carraway took the reins of the company. Team Washington is recognized as one of the top Franchises in the Domino’s Pizza system and has won six Gold Frannies, the highest award given to a franchisee, under her leadership. She won the Circle of Excellence Award for the Top 10 CEOs in Washington, DC, Woman of the Year for the Eastern Region in 2013 and won the same title for the company worldwide in 2014.

In 2010,Carraway is active in her church and has served with the Young Women’s Youth Group for twenty years (three of those years as president and six years in a stake presidency). She volunteers for numerous school projects, including Students after School Programs and was a group leader in an Ethics Seminar for high school students. She encourages her team members to keep themselves healthy, physically and mentally. She competed in two Adventure races with David, two marathons, completed the AVON Walk for Breast Cancer, and has led her leadership team in several bike races and triathlons. She resides in McLean, VA with her four children, Molly, Carson, Brandon and Hannah.

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