May 2016 – The National Leadership Conference
Posted: May 18, 2016
A Message from Your Industry Representative,
In our world today we look to our leaders for guidance and direction. That holds true for us as members of our Association. The National Leadership Conference (NLC) is one vehicle from which we are able to see the future in front of us and receive the guidance we need to navigate it successfully.
I am in awe of those passionate, selfless people who step forward to take their shot at impacting change and guiding others. Leadership is defined as ” the action of leading a group of people or an organization,” it’s doesn’t state old or young, short or tall.
The key words are “action of leading.” The people that I saw at NLC are committed to impacting the future of child nutrition and making their role within the State Affiliates and SNA the most affective it can be.
I want to thank all of you who have served in a role within the Association, or are just now getting involved. It doesn’t come without sacrifice, but the rewards that come, that feeling in your heart, makes it all worthwhile.
To paraphrase the words of President Kennedy with a slight change: “Ask not what your association can do for you, ask what you can do for your association.”
Thank you all for your service,
Gary Vonck
SNA Industry Representative
Published in – Industry Insider: News from SchoolNutrition.org – May, 2016
About the Author:
Gary Vonck
VP - Education Division
Gary Vonck has been with KeyImpact since 2007, adding to an impressive 40-year foodservice career. His knowledge and passion for child nutrition are unsurpassed. Gary oversees the Education Division, which includes sales, bid, and commodity teams across the entire nation.
Gary is an active member of the SNA and was the first and only broker/agency representative on the School Nutrition Association’s Industry Advisory Board, as the appointed Industry Representative, in 2008 and again 2014. Gary has also served on numerous SNA Task Forces and co-chaired several SNA events. Gary was also on the NSFMI national advisory council. In January 2013, Gary was awarded the Silver Friend of Child Nutrition FAME Award.
Gary Vonck is based in Illinois and can be reached at gvonck@kisales.com.