Countdown to MUFES 2024

This coming Monday, Jan. 29, Foodservice Equipment Reports will kick off its Multiunit Foodservice Equipment Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The event will feature two days of education sessions, developed by FER editors and aimed at foodservice equipment and supplies specifiers from commercial and noncommercial operations. Sessions include the following:

• 2024 State of the Industry, by David Henkes, senior principal and head of strategic partnerships, Technomic
• Designing an Optimized, Code-Compliant, Kitchen Ventilation System, by Richard Young, director, Frontier Energy and the Food Service Technology Center
• Real-Life Experiences Designing Ventless Kitchens, by Tarah Schroeder, vice president, Ricca Design Studios
• Deep Dive Into Foodservice Packaging Recovery, by Natha Dempsey, president, Foodservice Packaging Institute
• Bytes & Bites: Navigating the Digital Revolution—Trends, Design, BOH Innovations, and Equipment Insights, featuring Rob Seely, executive director, operations strategy, WD Partners; Michelle Walsh, director of store design, formats and lifecycle programs, Wawa; Scott Warrington, director of engineering and innovation, Panera Bread; and moderator Joanne Heyob, senior vice president of operations strategy and design, WD Partners
• How Artificial Intelligence Impacts Foodservice, featuring Glenn Loughridge, director of campus dining and concessions, Auburn University; Nadine Rodriguez, director of supply chain, Noodles & Co.; Lee Baker, vice president – product management, RATIONAL USA; Nick Patterson, senior vice president of technology, Welbilt; and moderator Pika Patel, global business development manager, UL Solutions
• How to Efficiently Grow Unit Count, featuring Adam Jarboe, equipment/smallwares sourcing, supply chain, Chick-fil-A; Don Roberts, vice president of architecture and design, Dine Brands Global; Rodney Taylor, vice president of construction, Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems; Tiffany Vassos, vice president of design and construction, Dave’s Hot Chicken; and Allison Rezendes, chief content officer, FER
• Overcoming Obstacles in Equipment Maintenance, by Dan Reese, director of training, CFESA
• Myths About Going Electric, by David Zabrowski, vice president, Frontier Energy and the Food Service Technology Center

Be sure to visit fermag.com next week for the launch of the MUFES 2024 Media Gallery, featuring photographs and videos from the event.