The first week in November your FCSI-TA Board of Trustees will be meeting in Chicago to begin our strategic planning process for the next five years. I am honored to participate on your behalf. One of the areas I am passionate about is raising the bar of our profession through education, which benefits not only us, but our clients as well. I will be working hard to do whatever we can to make FCSI more visible and providing the best educational content possible as part of our strategic planning for the future.

I would like to encourage our FCSI Education Providers to continue offering the very best educational opportunities for our members for us to share with clients and peers in the industry. I have benefited greatly from the programs offered by our Education Providers, and I know our members have as well.

I would also like to encourage all of our membership to get involved in some aspect of sharing your knowledge with others. Recently I was asked to be a part of an academic team for a bootcamp seminar sponsored by eight foodservice equipment manufacturers. The program was offered to owner representatives, operators and end users that are charged with overseeing a design or renovation of a facility. The seminar was a great success and everyone agreed afterwards that there was a lot of information passed on and much was learned by all in attendance, including the academic team! I bring this up to highlight that this effort took a lot of time to prepare by many people that were all willing to share knowledge with each other and give back to the profession we love. If you are asked to participate in such opportunities please strongly consider the opportunity. Not only will you benefit from the experience, you will also be educating your audience, as well as enhancing our profession and our Society.

In closing, the long awaited confidential "FCSI-The Americas Compensation and Benefits Survey" has been sent to our membership. This first-ever survey will measure compensation patterns and benefits practices for your companies, include yourself and your staff. FCSI-TA will share a detailed report only with those who participate in the survey, and a white paper that features less detail for all FCSI The Americas members. We are hoping for a lot of participation so we have a great cross section of our membership in both small and large firms. Please note the survey closes November 6 at the end of the day. Contact Kevin Whorton if you need the survey sent to you again.

I wish you and your family a great Holiday season!

Student Competition Entries Due January 8
Now is the time to help FCSI get the word out about its 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

FCSI is pleased present 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 at the show!

Stop by and see us at our booth 3237. FCSI Members can register for FREE using the code FCSI2015. Register Now

2016 Solutions 3 Conference

FCSI-TA at the Abastur Show - Mexico

FCSI-TA also participated at the 2015 Abastur Show August 31-September 3. Thanks to our partnership with UBM Mexico, we hosted a booth on the tradeshow floor as well as an educational session entitled "USA Foodservice Trends affecting Latin America", featuring FCSI Members Juan Matamoros, FCSI, Karen Malody, FCSI, Ed Norman, FCSI, Ernesto Lopez Ortega and Bill Taunton, FCSI. The show floor was very busy and the session was attending by approximately 100 foodservice operators.

FCSI-TA at the Espacio Show - Chile

FCSI-TA was thrilled to participate for the second year at the Espacio Show in Santiago, Chile. There was a noticeable increase of about 20% in not only the exhibitors, but attendees as well.

FCSI-TA at the Equipotel Show - Brazil

From left to right: Bill Taunton, FCSI, Joao Peres, James Camacho, FCSI, Bill Caruso, FCSI, Armando Pucci, FCSI, Wade Koehler, CAE

It was an honor for FCSI-TA to participate in the 2015 Equipotel Show alongside our partners SINDAL in Sao Paolo, Brazil. We hosted a booth on the tradeshow floor along with 2 educational sessions attended by over 200 attendees, including approximately 100 consultants (26 of them members). It was a great success and we look forward to returning to the show in 2016.

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

Attention Consultant Members: Log your CEUs

Have you logged your CEUs for 2015? There are so many ways to earn your continuing education for the year with FCSI's Approved Education Providers, including Set Date Events, Flexible Date Events, 'Your Place' Events and Webinars. Visit the FCSI Calendar for current opportunities.

Associate Members of FCSI are required to earn 3 CEUs annually. Senior Associates need to earn 6 CEUs and Professional Members need to earn 12 CEUs.

Need help understanding CEUs? Visit our Professional Growth page to get an idea of how many CEUs can be earned from a specific education opportunity. Or, contact Kimberly.

Chapter Corner - Southwest Chapter Hosts Successful Event

The FCSI-TA Southwest Chapter had a great first event since the reorganization of the TA Chapter structure. They were able to hold the FCSI event during the 2015 Foodservice Equipment Expo at the Southern California Gas Company. The Chapter hosted the event and provided food free of charge. There were 20 consultants in attendance to hear a presentation on the future of space design, which was presented by Marion Edwards, the Creative Principal for FOODTHINgK.

The presentation focused on the future of space design, specifically the creation of the "third place" that shapes the experience. Edwards also discussed the impacts of foodservice design and the link between Millennial and Gen Z expectations.

Paying Early Pays Off!

You should have received your 2016 membership renewal notices via email.

Consultant members, 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. Questions about your renewal? Ask Penny.

FCSI-TA Election Result

The election for the 2016 Board of Trustees is complete. Congratulations to the following new Board members who will begin their term on January 1:

Canadian Region - Stuart Bellingham
Central Region - Kristin Sedej
Latin America Region - Marco Amatti
Western Region - Brent Hall
At-Large Trustee - Ken Schwartz