Taking Leadership to a Higher Elevation
With Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak as special guest and Utah’s Deer Valley as the backdrop, the 2026 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference will explore the strategies shaping distribution.
Steve Wozniak
By Tim O’Connor
Editor and Communications Manager
Few people have done as much to set the stage for today’s interconnected world as Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple and designer of the Apple I and Apple II computers that launched the personal computing revolution. A pioneering engineer who values thinking outside of constraints and artificial limits, Wozniak understands what it takes for companies to innovate around challenges and break their industries open — two objectives that all FEDA member companies are continuously pursuing.
Wozniak will share his experiences and business knowledge with FEDA members during his special guest presentation at the 2026 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference, taking place Sept. 15-18, 2026, in Park City, Utah. A 2000 inductee into the Inventors Hall of Fame, Wozniak is a philanthropist and has remained involved with technology even after leaving his day-to-day role with Apple in 1985.
Since then, Wozniak has been involved in various business and philanthropic ventures, with a primary focus on advancing computer capabilities in schools and stressing hands-on learning. He was a founding sponsor of the Tech Museum and founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to championing user privacy, free expression and innovation on the internet. For his contributions to advancing technology, Wozniak was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 1984 and in 2014 was honored with a Hoover Medal, a recognition of outstanding extra-career services by engineers to humanity.
The 60-minute fireside chat at the FEDA conference will cover Wozniak’s pragmatic insights into how companies can foster innovation and leverage technology to drive growth. Attendees will hear about lessons Wozniak has learned over his 50-year career in technology, including how his experience building the first Apple I prototypes and continuing work with students informed his perspective on the potential and trajectory of today’s artificial intelligence breakthroughs. Understanding that transformation requires more than will, Wozniak will discuss the strategies business leaders must develop for navigating rapid change and adopting new technologies so that they may confidently shape the future of their industry.
“Having Steve Wozniak share his perspective is a rare opportunity for FEDA members to hear directly from one of the trailblazers who helped define the modern tech landscape,” FEDA CEO Tracy Mulqueen said. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to the FEDA conference, as his stories and guidance inspire leaders to think differently, embrace innovation and approach challenges with the creativity needed to drive their organizations forward.”
Driving Faster Flywheel Momentum
Keynote speaker Verne Harnish’s 4D framework builds on concepts from Jim Collins’ popular 2025 presentation to generate further growth.
One of the highlights of the 2025 FEDA conference was Jim Collins’ powerful keynote on what sets great, enduring companies apart from those that are merely good. Using his flywheel model as a guide, Collins illustrated how organizations can define a set of disciplined, reinforcing actions that build momentum and fuel sustained success. His message resonated strongly with distribution and manufacturing leaders, many of whom left eager to help their teams develop flywheels of their own.
Building on that foundation, the 2026 keynote speaker will show attendees how to extend those ideas and drive the next stage of growth within their organizations. A leading authority on strategic growth, Verne Harnish has spent more than four decades helping companies translate vision into disciplined execution. His experience spans a wide range of industries — from designing HVAC systems that helped Pizza Hut turn cooking scents into sales tools, to serving as vice chair of The Riordan Clinic, a medical center focused on complex chronic illnesses — giving him a uniquely broad perspective on what it takes to scale effectively.
Using that knowledge, Harnish founded the world-renowned Entrepreneurs’ Organization, a global community of more than 18,000 business starters. He is also the former chair of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s CEO program and author of the widely read business book Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It… and Why the Rest Don’t. A friend and colleague of Collins, Harnish connects the flywheel concept to practical business rhythms that generate momentum and measurable results.
Known for highly energetic and insight-rich presentations, Harnish will show distribution and manufacturing leaders how to apply his 4D framework (drivers, demands, disciplines, and decisions) across the four critical areas of people, strategy, execution, and cash. The keynote presentation will be packed with real-world examples from his career and will expand on the principles presented in Scaling Up, a copy of which will be distributed to every conference attendee. CEOs and executives will leave with clear ideas for strengthening their flywheels, maintaining strategic focus amid disruption, and driving compounding growth.
“Verne Harnish has a remarkable ability to deliver valuable, actionable content that is relevant to every executive — no matter their size of their business or stage of growth,” said Erin Bagley, education program manager at FEDA. “His practical, how-to guidance on scaling a business with proven systems and frameworks gives leaders real tools they can put into practice right away at their organizations.”
World-Class Accommodations
Beyond the inspiring wisdom from world-class speakers like Wozniak and Harnish, the 2026 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference offers attendees an exceptional setting for learning and networking. Nestled in the heart of Park City, Utah, the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley combines luxury accommodations with stunning mountain scenery, providing the perfect backdrop for unforgettable conversations and meaningful industry connections.
The resort opened in late 2024 and is already making a name for itself as a premier events venue. In January, it was the official hotel sponsor of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, the largest independent film showcase in the United States. While the FEDA conference may not draw as much global media attention, members will surely be just as impressed with the resort as Sundance’s established filmmakers and up-and-coming actors.
A part of the ongoing Deer Valley East Village expansion, the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley is the anchor of North America’s first luxury alpine village to be constructed since 1981. That means it features all of the top-tier amenities found in Hyatt’s best hotels, including a hammam-inspired spa, heated year-round pool, fitness center, and four restaurants led by Chef Marc Marrone, Executive Chef Viktor Merenyi and legendary New York City Mixologist Frank Maldonado.
With 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space — including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom — the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley is one of the largest mountainside event facilities in the United States. Located about 40 minutes from Salt Lake City, the hotel offers a secluded but contemplative atmosphere that will help attendees get into the right mindset for four days of industry learning and networking.
Although it will be too early in the year to take advantage of the resort’s more than 300 skiable acres, there will be plenty of other activities available to FEDA conference attendees. The hotel offers a heated outdoor pool, three oversized hot tubs and a spacious pool deck with panoramic mountain views. There’s also the Nexus Lounge & Arcade, where guests can enjoy classic arcade games or talk business over air hockey. For those wanting to get outside, the resort is surrounded by 60 miles of bike trails over six mountains and the nearby Jordanelle Reservoir is a favorite local fishing spot.
Impactful Sessions
While the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley provides an inspiring environment to relax and connect, the conference’s educational sessions will deliver equally compelling experiences. After enjoying the resort’s luxury and recreational offerings, attendees will dive into the 2026 conference programming, starting with the highly anticipated State of the Industry Reports.
Featuring fresh insights from executives at FEDA distributor and manufacturer member companies, the State of the Industry Reports will spotlight how companies are addressing the most pressing challenges, emerging trends and untapped opportunities facing the industry. Presented during the Opening General Session, the reports will frame the key themes permeating throughout the conference and set the stage for presentations on today’s most critical business issues.
Following the State of the Industry Reports, the Dealer Focus segment of the Opening General Session will expand on the concepts being explored by the FEDA Future of Distribution Council in developing solutions and testing initiatives to modernize the industry’s supply chain. Panelists will discuss the barriers to improving the supply chain and share proven examples of how organizations are streamlining their networks.
After detailing the Opening General Session’s insights on current industry conditions and efforts to modernize the supply chain, the conference will shift focus to one of the most dynamic areas driving change in distribution: technology. Now in its third year, the Tech Talks at the FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference are designed to help distributors and manufacturers explore how the right technology choices can improve operations, enhance competitive advantage and elevate the customer experience. Each 10-minute presentation highlights real-world applications of cutting-edge technology in use at FEDA member companies, with insights on implementation and measurable results from senior technology leaders.
Between the guest speakers, industry reports and technology presentations, FEDA conference attendees will have a lot to think about. The industry roundtables are where those ideas all coalesce. By bringing together dealers, manufacturers and other industry leaders, the roundtables create a space for candid conversation about shared business challenges and practical solutions. Through guided discussion, participants will collaborate with peers to formulate actionable approaches to the industry’s most persistent issues, then report their findings to the larger group so that common trends and the most promising solutions can be identified.
Unmatched Networking
After gaining insights from speakers, industry reports and roundtable discussions, attendees will have plenty of new thoughts to bounce off their peers. The conference’s organized social events provide the perfect bridge to the unmatched networking opportunities FEDA is known for, allowing executives to connect, share experiences and build relationships that extend beyond the conference itself.
The FEDA Golf Tournament is one of the conference’s networking highlights. Park City may be best known for its ski runs, but the area’s mountainous slopes and uneven elevations make it a sought-after destination for golfers wanting a challenge. The 2026 golf tournament will take full advantage of this setting, pairing a memorable day on the fairways with an unmatched networking opportunity for leaders at distributor and manufacturer companies. The event will feature a scramble format that has each foursome playing from the best ball and working together to achieve the lowest score. There will also be awards for longest drive and closest to the pin, with winners receiving a basket of gift cards, apparel and golf supplies. More details on the golf tournament, including its location, will be shared in early 2026.
For those seeking a more casual way to mingle, the conference’s popular sports networking activities will return. FEDA is also bringing back the Connection Corner, a refreshment and networking area outside the main conference ballroom that debuted at the 2025 event.
For more spontaneous networking, any of the resort’s four restaurants and bars make for a great spot to sit down and enjoy a bite or drink with fellow conference attendees. The resort also offers ample meeting spaces, breakout rooms and lounge areas designed for comfortable conversation.
Finally, evenings during the conference will include several social events, from the Early Arrivers Reception and Young Industry Leaders Reception, to the vibrant Opening Night Welcome Reception and Dinner, which features live music and a lineup of delicious dishes and drinks. Those sticking around the final day of the conference can also enjoy the Last Night in Park City event, a more close-knit gathering with music, small plates and drinks.
Celebrating Members
With the industry’s biggest names gathered to learn and network, the conference presents the perfect opportunity to recognize the contributions and achievements of FEDA members.
It begins with the Chairman’s Lunch. Following the Opening General Session, attendees will enjoy a three-course meal and commentary from from FEDA’s chairman. As part of the special event, FEDA will recognize the contributions of the association’s dedicated past and present board directors.
Returning to the conference is the Gold Awards Breakfast, a celebration of the companies and individuals driving innovation, service and leadership across the foodservice equipment and supplies industry. The 2026 honorees will share their stories on stage, highlighting workplace cultures, operational excellence and professional development programs that serve as industry models and inspire the next generation of executives.
Save the Date!
There’s so much to look forward to at the 2026 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference. From high-profile speakers like Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, to meaningful education programming and exclusive executive-level networking, every moment of the conference is designed to help members further their business objectives and equip them with the knowledge and tools they need to compete in today’s foodservice equipment and supplies industry.
Make sure to save the dates, Sept. 15-18, 2026, to be a part of what is shaping up to be the best FEDA conference yet. Registration will open March 2, so make sure to register early to take advantage of early bird pricing.