The FCSI Southwest Chapter will host a luncheon on October 21st in conjunction with the Food Service Equipment Exposition at the Southern California Gas Company which will take place October 20th and 21st in Downey California. Click here for details.

Solutions 3 Conference

March 2-3, 2016

Microsoft Headquarters, Redmond, WA

FCSI Nashville Conference

April 14-16, 2016

Conference Sponsorship Details

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FCSI-TA Headquarters has a New Address

FCSI The Americas
3309 Robbins Road #171
Springfield, IL 62704

309-808-2165 (same phone)

Short Survey from MAFSI

MAFSI is working extremely hard on SpecPath�, the commercial foodservice industry's first centralized library of all 11-400 specifications written across North America. They want to hear from our consultant members. Would you mind taking this short 8 question survey?

Take the Survey Now

Leadership and Strategic Planning

Christine Guyott, FCSI, RD

With all of the political candidate discussions, the Pope's visit to the US and our FCSI elections, I can't help but ponder what it takes to be a good leader. Leadership, in my opinion, is about doing what is best for the group, or people, you are honored with leading. It is putting aside what your personal goals are, as well as the possible egotistical reasons you are in the role, and being a positive voice for the association. It is about making the best decisions you can, with the information you have, for the benefit of the group you help lead. Professional association leaders are volunteers, with another full time demanding job, who want to see their group prosper and grow.

We have had a great Americas Board of Trustees in the past year and are very thankful to the members who will be leaving our board. Ian Jameson, Tracy Taraski and Barb Pyper gave us their leadership and time for the past 4 years. Jim Petersen, whom has been a constant TAD voice on the dynamic worldwide Board, will also be missed. A heartfelt THANK YOU from FCSI members.

So...what do you want to see from your FCSI Americas leadership? FCSI TAD Board of Trustees will begin the five-year Strategic Planning process to guide the future of our Division. What goals do you want us to focus on? How can FCSI Americas help you as a professional? What is your opinion on the new trade shows we have had a chance to be a part of: NRA Show, NAFEM, NACUFS, Equipotel (Sao Paulo), Abastur (Mexico City), Espacio (Santiago) and the upcoming HX (formerly IHMRS in New York)?

Are there other shows you want to see us involved in? How do you want FCSI to use your dues? Please reach out to any of the Board members or Wade and his team with your thoughts on where FCSI Americas should put its focus in the future. WE are FCSI, and YOUR voice will guide our strategic plan...if you share it!

FCSI Canadian Chapter Event

The FCSI Canadian Chapter held its annual dinner at Humber College in Toronto on Thursday, September 24. 46 people attended this event, which was planned, cooked and served by students and was a fun social night for our Professional and Allied Regional Members.

Help FCSI Promote Its Student Competition
Now is the time to help FCSI get the word out about its Student Competition! The Committee for Emerging Consultants has been hard at work finalizing details for the Inaugural FCSI Student Competition. Visit the Student Chapters page to see what resources are available to you in order to get the word out about the competition.This includes the 2-sided flyer, a presentation to help you with talking points (whether you are contacting your alma mater or speaking to college students) and the competition rules for entry. Contact Kimberly for more information or to pass along school contacts. View Press Release

Call for Topics - NRA Show 2016

With over 80 education sessions, the goal for the NRA Show� 2016 and BAR at NRA Show is to serve up sessions that are potent, powerful, and provocative. The NRA opened a Call for Topics to help develop educational programming and for the first time, you'll have a chance to add your two cents.

Feel free to submit an idea about a topic that piques your interest. Are you interested in leading a session? Submit it now

FCSI is pleased to be presenting at this year's Hotel Experience Show (formerly the IHMRS Show). Ken Schwartz, FCSI and Juan Martinez, FCSI, will present as part of a panel on Shaping the Hotel F&B Experience. Join them on November 8 from 10:15-11:00 a.m. at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center as they discuss strategies to step it up or tweak your current hotel foodservice experience for the customer of today and tomorrow. We will also be hosting a game of Jeopardy!

Stop by and see us at our booth 3343. FCSI Members can register for FREE using the code FCSI2015. Register Now

Paying Early Pays Off!

2016 membership renewal notices will be sent via email in mid October.

Submit your dues payment by December 31st for a chance to win one of the following prizes:

iPad Pro|Apple Watch|2016 Conference Registration|$250 Visa Gift Card

We value your membership and look forward to serving you in 2016.

Competitors or Partners? A Personal Story

John Turenne, FCSI

Let me get this straight - you want me to join an organization to share experiences with other food service consultants?! Why? Are they not my competitors?

Such is the paradox some of us faced when we considered joining FCSI. We wanted an inside track on what's most relevant in the industry, but on the other hand, we wondered about the consequences of sharing our own business practices.

At the outset, I thought experience, research and study would provide the basic tools to becoming a successful consultant. I felt there was nothing anyone could tell me that I didn't already know, or could at least figure out. Wrong!! I'm here to say the benefits of this collaborative organization far outweigh any drawbacks. In fact I've yet to discover any downside to being a member of FCSI.

After five years 'out there', and countless times being forced to make challenging business decisions, I succumbed to the 'suggestion' to give FCSI membership a try. Now, with an additional five years of business under my belt with the FCSI family behind me, I find I have a new perspective.

In FCSI membership, I've learned how, why and where to market the business. I have participated in many education sessions to enlighten, broaden and learn new industry topics. Opportunities that would have been very difficult, if at all possible to undertake without this organization.

But the ultimate value has come in ways I never anticipated. When recently faced with several new business challenges, it was FCSI's members who provided me with genuine support, experienced direction and honest friendship. To me, these are values one would never expect from a competitor, but would be openly shared with a true partner. FCSI membership will pay significant dividends. You need to make the investment.

Revit Foodservice Equipment Standards Updated for 2015

The Revit Foodservice Equipment Standards document has been updated for 2015. All files and documents pertaining to the Revit Foodservice Equipment Standards can now be found on the Revit Standards Page, and is available for all members and non-members to access. Highlights include newly clarified standards for line subcategories, including their line styles, and a materials library file for family creation to allow for greater consistency. There is also a statement addressing the need to keep Revit Foodservice Equipment families within two versions of the current Revit release. Manufacturers are encouraged to not create families as wall based or face based as this can cause issues with linked files. These updates will aid in better quality families for all users.