PULLMAN, Wash. — The co-founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken enterprises,
the CEO of Outback Steakhouse, Inc., the managing director of The Culinary
Institute of America at Greystone, and the man who oversees new concepts
and menu management for McDonald’s are among food industry leaders
coming to Washington State University March 7 and 8. They will participate in
panels and discussions on the “Restaurant Industry in the New Millennium.”
That’s the chosen theme for this year’s Donald I. Smith Chain Restaurant
Management Conference presented by the WSU Hotel and Restaurant
Administration. Smith, a former HRA professor for whom the conference was
named five years ago, will be on hand to moderate events along with Charles
Bernstein, editor of Chain Leader magazine.
“Nowhere else this year will you have the opportunity to meet, listen to,
network with, and learn from so many industry legends,” says HRA Director
W. Terry Umbreit. “They will give their insights into human resource issues,
and food and menu developers will describe their ideas for future trends. We
believe this will be our best conference yet.”
A conference highlight will be a panel discussion on Wednesday featuring
Leon W. “Pete” Harman, founder of Harman Management Corp. and
co-founder of KFC. A management team from his company will discuss
“Developing and Celebrating Champions.” Team members include Jackie
Trujillo, chairman of the corporation; Shawn Brady, Harman human resources
director; and John Margo, regional director for Washington.
On Tuesday, March 7, experts will discuss food and menu trends.
A Career Night on Tuesday will introduce companies to WSU’s 400 hospitality
students.
“Coach” Don Smith says this is his final year moderating the conference. A
farewell dinner and salute to Smith is set for Wednesday evening.
For more information about the conference, the industry night or the farewell
dinner, contact Andrea Luoma at 509/335-9619, or aluoma@wsu.edu.
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