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Michelle Obama to appear at WFF 2018 leadership conferenceMichelle Obama to appear at WFF 2018 leadership conference

Former first lady to address advancement of women in workplace

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

January 25, 2018

1 Min Read
michelle obama
Women's Foodservice Forum

Former first lady Michelle Obama will address the advancement of women in the workplace on March 7 during the Women’s Foodservice Forum’s annual leadership development conference in Dallas, the organization said Wednesday. 

Obama will participate at the closing session of the conference, which will be March 4-7 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, the group said. 

“We are thrilled that Mrs. Obama will join us and our other esteemed speakers,” said Hattie Hill, WFF president and CEO, in a statement. “She is a charismatic and inspiring role model that embodies the limitless possibilities that we want women in the food industry to aspire for.” 

Obama served as U.S. first lady from 2009 to 2017 during Barack Obama’s two terms as president. She championed such initiatives as the “Let's Move!” campaign to counter childhood obesity and “Let Girls Learn” to help adolescents around the world go to school.

Obama will address workplace and other issues in conversation format with Hill.

The WFF’s three-day leadership conference, in its 29th year, and brings together more than 3,000 food-industry professionals.

WFF’s incoming board chair, Susan Adzick of McLane Foodservice Inc., added that conference comes at “a historic time in our country, when achieving gender equity has become a spirited national conversation.”

Other speakers scheduled at this year’s WFF conference include: former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson, journalist and author Maria Shriver; and Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. 

Correction: Jan. 29, 2018 An earlier version of this story misstated the date of Michelle Obama's appearance at the Women's Foodservice Forum conference. She will address the conference on March 7.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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