Building Successful and Enduring Enterprises

The newly upscaled Grand Hyatt in Scottsdale offers an inspiring setting for foodservice equipment and supplies companies looking to bolster their business at the 2025 FEDA conference.

Like many businesses over the past few years, the Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch needed a way to set itself apart in a fiercely competitive and crowded market — in this case, destination resorts in Scottsdale, Arizona. The sunshine-soaked suburb is already home to more than 70 hotels and resorts, so making small improvements or finding ways to trim expenses wasn’t going to cut it. Instead, Hyatt decided to invest $115 million to elevate its resort at Gainey Ranch into a Grand Hyatt — a symbol of luxury and high-end service that truly attracts attention.

It’s a conversion that FEDA members will experience first-hand when they descend on Scottsdale from Sept. 10-13, 2025, for the FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference. The newly rebranded Grant Hyatt Scottsdale Resort has been reimagined to connect guests with the spirit of the American Southwest. Having completed the renovation in October 2024, the hotel now boasts 496 rooms designed to harmoniously blend sophisticated architecture with the raw beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Every guest room features a multi-purpose living space, a spa-inspired bathroom and a private balcony or patio.

The hotel’s refinements are complemented by its six elevated dining experiences. Created in partnership with famed Chef Richard Blais, who co-hosts Next Level Chef alongside Gordon Ramsay and was the first winner of Top Chef All Stars, each dining option aims to provide bold flavors and captivating experiences. LaZozzona is a modern Italian Chophouse, Tiki Taka features global small plates, Mesa Centrale is a Southwestern grill, and Grand Vista Lounge is the resort’s lobby bar. Meanwhile, Sandar and H2Oasis are the resort’s two new poolside concepts.

In between the conference’s many educational sessions and networking activities, attendees can take a swim in the resort’s 2.5-acre outdoor pool or relax at the Grand Hyatt’s Spa Avania, which offers new treatments such as cryo sculpt facials and desert essence wraps. For those looking to use their legs, the property offers winding jogging and biking paths through native flora, as well as tennis and pickleball courts. Finally, the 27-hole championship course at Gainey Ranch Golf Club gives players a way to talk business while working on their swing amidst stunning mountain views.

Keynote Speaker
Thursday, September 11

Chosen as one of the “Greatest Living Business Minds” by Forbes, Jim Collins is one of the world’s most highly regarded business gurus and an authority on what separates good enterprises from great ones. A Socratic adviser to leaders in the business sector, Collins has spent more than a quarter century in rigorous research. He began his career as part of the faculty of the Stanford Graduate School of Business before founding a management laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, focused on engagements with CEOs and senior leadership teams.

Over his esteemed career as a researcher and author, Collins has written seven books aimed at business executives, including Built to Last, an investigation into why some companies are able to become and remain visionary through multiple generations of leaders. He is perhaps best known for his bestselling management book, Good to Great, which uses real-world examples to examine why some companies make the leap and others don’t.

At the FEDA conference, Collins will give a 90-minute presentation covering his decades of research into what it takes to build successful and enduring enterprises. Later, he will conduct an hour-long, leadership-intensive training session.

Opening Night Reception
Wednesday, September 10

The opening night reception and dinner will officially kick off the 2025 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Conference goers will have time to reconnect with their colleagues while enjoying live music and a delectable selection of Arizona-inspired dishes and drinks.

Golf at a Premier PGA Course
Wednesday, September 10

The Gainey Ranch Golf Club provides plenty of challenges, but true golf connoisseurs will want to take part in the 2025 FEDA Golf Tournament, which will be held at TPC Scottsdale, home of the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix Open. FEDA members will compete on the Stadium Course, which features the famous par-3 16th hole, the PGA Tour’s only fully enclosed hole and the location of the iconic grandstands during tournaments.

The tournament will be a scramble format, with teams of four playing from the best ball. The lowest scoring groups and winners of the skills challenges will not only earn bragging rights but there will be special prizes awarded by FEDA. Space is limited, so attendees are encouraged to sign up for the golf tournament as soon as conference registration opens.

The golf tournament will be held Wednesday morning, Sept. 10, but players should arrive the day before. Besides ensuring they are well-rested before a rigorous round of 18, players can enjoy the conference’s Early Arrivers Reception on Tuesday night, Sept. 9.

Chad Autry Myers Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management Haslam School of Business University of Tennessee

Examining the State of the Industry
Thursday, September 11

The 2025 conference will see the return of the State of the Industry reports, which will feature new insights from leaders at FEDA member companies on what is going on within the foodservice equipment and supplies industry and the key challenges and trends dealers and manufacturers are tracking. As part of the conference’s opening general session, the State of the Industry reports will set up the themes that permeate throughout the rest of the conference and tee up presentations from FEDA’s educational partners on critical topics. Among the segments that will build off the State of the Industry reports will be a presentation from Chad Autry, associate dean of faculty and research at the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business, who will cover his work in developing supply chains of the future with FEDA’s Future of Distribution Council.

Adding in the keynote presentation from Jim Collins, and attendees are sure to leave the general session energized by new information and ready to tackle industry challenges with their peers either at the roundtables later that afternoon or around the bar and dinner table.

Roundtables
Thursday, September 11

The industry roundtables at the FEDA conference are where conference attendees can put their insights from the general session into action. Participants will choose their table from a corresponding list of topics, and sit down with similarly interested professionals from dealer, manufacturer and business services companies to dissect the topic and identify potential solutions to challenges. About halfway through the session, participants will switch to a new table and issue, giving them a chance to broaden their understanding and work with a new group of industry peers.

Sports Networking
Thursday, September 11

The 2024 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference introduced a putting challenge and pickleball tournament that were immensely popular with attendees. Designed to help conference goers meet even more people and foster friendly competitiveness, both networking events will return in 2025.

Putting on the Rocks will be a friendly, but competitive putting competition held on the putting green at the Gainey Ranch Golf Club. Participants will play through a set putting course while enjoying a prickly pear margarita, a traditional Southwest cocktail.

For those looking to sweat a bit with their industry peers, the FEDA Pickleball Tournament will be a great opportunity for attendees to pick a doubles partner and square off against other teams. As one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, pickleball at the FEDA conference gives both experienced players and newcomers a chance to play the tennis-like game together and strike up conversations that continue beyond the court.

Erik Brynjolfsson Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki Professor and Senior Fellow Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI

Gold Awards/Special Guest Presentation
Friday, September 12

The Gold Awards Breakfast at the FEDA annual conference is a celebration of the companies and individuals that foster dynamic, innovative workplace cultures, enhance service and operations and support young professionals in becoming future leaders. As in previous years, 2025 attendees will be invited to the stage to share their experiences and showcase their achievements as a model to the industry.

After the breakfast, conference attendees can look forward to an inspiring special guest presentation from Erik Brynjolfsson, the Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki professor and senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI. Brynjolfsson will speak on the future of artificial intelligence and what it means for businesses, the economy and workforce. He’ll also share insights into how companies can harness the possibilities of new technology and the best ways to incorporate AI into business strategies.

Tech Talks
Friday, September 12

Judging by the overflowing lecture room, the Tech Talks proved to be one of the most popular additions to the 2024 conference. It’s no surprise then that the 10-minute presentations covering key technology topics will return in 2025 — this time on the main stage.

Although brief, these presentations will provide a deep introduction to the technologies that dealers and manufacturers are most interested in integrating into their operations and services. The presentations will be led by experts at FEDA member companies who are already actively using those digital solutions and will cover real-world applications and best practices.

Last Night Event
Friday, September 12

Closing out the conference will be the Last Night party, a casual gathering with live music and small plates set against Arizona’s scenic landscapes — the perfect way to end an invigorating week of learning and networking.

Every year the FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference gets more engaging and more substantive. Next year’s event represents the culmination of all the work the association has put into understanding what makes for a successful speaker and program lineup — as well as networking activities — and FEDA is eager to share even more details in the coming months.

“The 2025 conference is a can’t-miss event for foodservice equipment and supplies executives and their key staff,” says Valentina Tomov, director of educational programs and partnerships at FEDA. “We will continue to build on our successful programs from 2024 and deliver more timely insights and expertise on various aspects of the industry, such as emerging technologies, innovation and on leadership strategies in a rapidly evolving world. Make sure to register for the conference early to secure your spot so you may learn from globally renowned visionaries while connecting with inspiring leaders from FEDA member companies.”