Finding the Recipe for Success

FM Staff

Following a year of organizational change, recordbreaking numbers of HFM (National Society for Healthcare Foodservice Management) members gathered at the Wild Horse Pass Resort in Phoenix in late August to explore the latest strategies in driving superior customer service, producing top-quality hospital food and ensuring continuing healthcare program innovation

Dominated by keynote presentations and management case studies, the conference was geared to help attendees improve their department programs. Speakers included J. Walker Smith, president of Yankelovich; Chef Rick Bayless, owner of the Frontera Grill; Chris Wolf, managing director of Noble & Associates Consulting; and Ken Schmidt, a former executive of Harley-Davidson.

Among other key announcements,the organization introduceda completely redesigned version of HFM's industrystandard benchmarking program, which benchmarking committee chairman Barry Schlossberg described as being "a major leap forward in terms of capabilities and functionality for HFM members."

Among other new features, it offers much more powerful data analysis and reporting capabilities-that Schlossberg said would give directors the tools they need to communicate about operational and financial issues with their administrations.

The conference's "Recipe for Success" theme highlighted a new Culinary Competition which is slated to become an annual conference tradition. First place in that program went to Gary Vorstenbosch, manager and chef, and Mary Spicer, director, of Presbyterian Hospital of Plano, for their execution of the winning recipe, Grilled Tender of Beef with Pomegranate Barbeque Sauce and Mango Relish with Southwest Polenta Spring Roll and Steamed Asparagus.

At its awards banquet, HFM presented the Angelo Gagliano Operator of the Year award to Todd Foutty, director of foodservice at MetroHealth Medical Centers, Cleveland. The President's Award went to Marty Rothschild, vice president-marketing for Aladdin Temp-Rite.

Outgoing president Patti Dollarhide pointed to numerous accomplishments the organization had achieved over her term, including the move to a new management group, The Kellen Company.

"Our association has proven to be highly resilient when adapting to change," she said.

"Over the past year, HFM has experienced the strength and power that comes from pooling resources and drawing on the vigor and expertise of its many dedicated members. We must now seize this moment to re-assess our role in the healthcare industry and continue to develop the tools and programs that will best prepare our members to fulfill their professional responsibilities."