Senior Dining Association upcoming events

SDA Member Chat with Chef Brendan Krebs (Wednesday, November 11, 2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Complimentary SDA Member Chat

The Chef as a Community Leader

What changes when the chef becomes one of the most visible and engaged leaders in the community?

Join Harris Ader for a live conversation with Chef Brendan Krebs, Culinary Director at Taylor Glen and SDA’s 2026 Executive Chef of the Year.

With more than 35 years of foodservice experience, Brendan joined Taylor Glen during a pivotal period of growth and transformation. In his first year, he helped strengthen the team, improve resident satisfaction, and open two new dining venues, a storefront, and a memory care dining room.

Brendan will share how he leads beyond the kitchen by attending resident councils, communicating at town halls, collaborating across departments, mentoring employees, promoting from within, and providing cooking classes and ServSafe training.

This conversation will explore how an approachable, hands-on culinary leader can strengthen the entire community while creating memorable experiences for residents and employees.

The program includes live audience polls and Q&A and will be recorded for an SDA Member Chat Podcast episode.

Webinar: The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Taking Risks, Building Culture, and Leading with Purpose (Wednesday, December 02, 2026)

Wed, 02 Dec 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Complimentary Webinar

The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Taking Risks, Building Culture, and Leading with Purpose

What inspires someone to take the leap into entrepreneurship, and what can that journey teach us about leadership?

Join Harris Ader for a candid conversation with Culinesse co-founders Lisa Schairer and Mitch Possinger about the experiences, motivations and decisions that shaped their entrepreneurial journey. They’ll share challenges, unexpected moments and lessons learned, including how leadership, culture, relationships, and perseverance influence the organization you build.

The discussion will also explore how entrepreneurial thinking can benefit leaders within established organizations. From questioning familiar practices to encouraging creativity and taking calculated risks, attendees will discover ways to bring fresh thinking and a greater sense of ownership to their work.

Whether you aspire to start a business or want to lead with more initiative in your current role, this conversation will offer practical perspectives on turning ideas into action and leading with purpose.

Panelists:

Lisa Schairer, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Culinesse
Mitch Possinger, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Culinesse

Moderator:

Harris Ader, CEO/Founder, Senior Dining Association

SDA Member Chat with Laurent Bosc (Tuesday, December 08, 2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Complimentary SDA Member Chat

Inside Dining Operations: A Conversation with Laurent Bosc

Join us for an engaging SDA Member Chat webinar featuring Laurent Bosc, Director of Dining Services at Cypress Cove!

Get an inside look at the day-to-day operations of senior living dining as Laurent shares insights on managing teams, navigating operational challenges, improving efficiencies, and creating exceptional dining experiences for residents.

Gain valuable insights and practical takeaways to help strengthen dining operations within your community!

SDA Member Chat with Robert Linder (Wednesday, January 06, 2027)

Wed, 06 Jan 2027 19:00:00 GMT

Complimentary SDA Member Chat

Leading Culinary Excellence in Senior Living

What does it take to build a strong culinary program while creating an exceptional dining experience for residents?

Join Harris Ader for a live conversation with Robert Linder, Director of Culinary at Arbutus Manor and SDA’s 2026 Director of Dining Services of the Year.

Robert will share his approach to culinary leadership, building strong teams, creating a positive dining culture and making the everyday decisions that help elevate the resident experience.

Storytelling & Communication Leadership Series (Thursday, January 14, 2027)

Thu, 14 Jan 2027 19:00:00 GMT

Elevating Hospitality Through Better Conversations, Stronger Teams, and Human Connection

Series Overview

Hospitality is more than what comes out of the kitchen. It’s how residents are greeted, how teams communicate, how leaders set expectations, and how every interaction makes someone feel.

This four-part live virtual series gives culinary leaders practical storytelling and communication tools to create a stronger hospitality experience with residents, employees, colleagues, and leadership.

Participants won’t just learn the concepts. They’ll practice them, apply them between sessions, and learn how to teach them to their teams. The goal is better resident experiences, more engaged and accountable teams, and stronger culinary leaders.

Who Should Attend

This series is designed for:

VP of Dining & Regional Support Positions
Director of Dining Services
Front of the House Managers
Executive & Sous Chefs
Rising Stars
Leaders responsible for developing customer-facing dining teams

What You Will Learn

Participants will learn how to understand and connect with different audiences, identify and communicate their own value, adapt their communication to residents, employees, and leadership, and use storytelling to create stronger hospitality experiences.

This isn’t about becoming a great public speaker. It’s about becoming a more intentional communicator and leader.

Series Dates

Thursday, January 14, 2027
Understanding Your Audience to Create Better Experiences

Thursday, January 21, 2027

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Friday, January 29, 2027
Communicating With Residents, Employees & Leadership

Thursday, February 4, 2027
Advanced Storytelling Tools for Hospitality Leaders

Thursday, February 25, 2027
Follow-Up Peer Discussion | 60 Minutes

Time: 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Session 1: Start With Them

Understanding Your Audience to Create Better Experiences

The best communicators don’t start with what they want to say. They start with who they’re talking to.

This session introduces audience-first communication and explores how understanding another person’s needs, expectations, experiences, and perspective can change the way we communicate.

Participants will apply these principles to the people culinary leaders interact with every day—from residents and families to employees and executive leadership.

Key Takeaways

Understand what different audiences need from you and why the same message doesn’t work for everyone.
Use curiosity, questions, and listening to create more meaningful resident and employee interactions.
Identify small communication changes that can immediately improve the hospitality experience.

Put It to Work

Participants select one important audience in their community and complete an Audience Snapshot: What matters to them? What do they need from us? What do we want them to think, feel, or do?

Session 2: What’s Your Story?

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Everyone has a story, but most of us aren’t particularly good at telling it.

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn how to move beyond job titles, responsibilities, and lists of accomplishments to articulate the value they bring to their residents, teams, and organizations.

They’ll identify the experiences, strengths, and impact that make up their professional story and practice communicating that story in a way that is clear, memorable, and authentic.

Key Takeaways

Identify the strengths, experiences, and impact that define your professional story.
Move beyond what you do to communicate why what you do matters.
Build a concise story that can be used to advocate for yourself, your team, and your ideas.

Put It to Work

Participants develop and practice their own “What’s Your Story?” statement and use it in a real conversation before the next session.

Session 3: Same Story, Different Audience

Communicating With Residents, Employees & Leadership

Great communication isn’t one-size-fits-all.

A resident, a 19-year-old server, a sous chef, and an executive director may all need to hear something different from you, even when the underlying message is the same.

This session takes the principles from Sessions 1 and 2 and puts them to work across the relationships that matter most in senior living.

Key Takeaways

Adapt messages for residents, employees, peers, and senior leadership without losing the core story.
Communicate expectations and feedback in ways that strengthen engagement and accountability.
Manage up by translating operational details into concise stories about challenges, solutions, and impact.

Put It to Work

Participants take one real message and create three versions: one for a resident, one for an employee, and one for senior leadership.

Session 4: Lead Through Story

Advanced Storytelling Tools for Hospitality Leaders

The strongest leaders don’t just communicate information. They help people understand why it matters.

The final session brings the series together with practical storytelling techniques leaders can use to make messages more memorable, create stronger emotional connections, recognize employees, navigate change, and reinforce the hospitality experience they want their teams to deliver.

Just as importantly, participants will learn how to teach these techniques to their teams so storytelling and communication aren’t dependent on one leader.

Key Takeaways

Use simple storytelling structures to make messages clearer, more human, and more memorable.
Use stories to reinforce expectations, recognize great work, navigate change, and connect employees to purpose.
Coach servers, cooks, and emerging leaders to become stronger communicators and ambassadors for the resident experience.

Put It to Work

Participants create and deliver a short Hospitality Story they can use with their team, then build a 10-minute huddle exercise to teach one storytelling principle to their staff.

Learning + Application + Accountability

This is designed as a working series, not four webinars.

Each session combines instruction, senior living scenarios, discussion, individual exercises, and live practice. Participants receive a simple Storytelling & Communication Action Workbook that follows them throughout the series.

After each session, participants complete one real-world challenge:

Learn it > Try it > Document it > Share it > Teach it.

Participants submit a short reflection on what they tried, what happened, and what they’ll do differently next time, creating accountability while building their own practical communication playbook.

Follow-Up Peer Discussion | 60 Minutes

Approximately 30 days after the final session, participants reconvene for a facilitated peer discussion focused entirely on application.

Participants share what they’ve tried, what worked, where they’ve struggled, and how their communication has affected residents, employees, and leadership. Together, the group will troubleshoot challenges, exchange successful practices, and identify the habits they want to continue.

The goal isn’t simply to tell better stories. It’s to create better leaders, stronger teams, and hospitality experiences people can feel.

About the Speaker

Andy Siegel is an award-winning storyteller and culture strategist with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations bring their values and purpose to life. He has led storytelling and content strategies for major brands and held executive producer roles with the ACC Digital Network and NBC Sports Washington. Andy is also co-owner of Flour Power Cooking Studios.

Cancellation:

No refunds will be given for cancellations received 5 days prior of the start date (January 8, 2027). Cancellations made due to unforeseen circumstances are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. email Kathie@seniordining.org to cancel your registration.

No-Shows: Refunds will not be issued to participants who do not attend the training.

Storytelling & Communication Leadership Series (Thursday, January 21, 2027)

Thu, 21 Jan 2027 19:00:00 GMT

Elevating Hospitality Through Better Conversations, Stronger Teams, and Human Connection

Series Overview

Hospitality is more than what comes out of the kitchen. It’s how residents are greeted, how teams communicate, how leaders set expectations, and how every interaction makes someone feel.

Who Should Attend

This series is designed for:

VP of Dining & Regional Support Positions
Director of Dining Services
Front of the House Managers
Executive & Sous Chefs
Rising Stars
Leaders responsible for developing customer-facing dining teams

What You Will Learn

This isn’t about becoming a great public speaker. It’s about becoming a more intentional communicator and leader.

Series Dates

Thursday, January 14, 2027
Understanding Your Audience to Create Better Experiences

Thursday, January 21, 2027

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Friday, January 29, 2027
Communicating With Residents, Employees & Leadership

Thursday, February 4, 2027
Advanced Storytelling Tools for Hospitality Leaders

Thursday, February 25, 2027
Follow-Up Peer Discussion | 60 Minutes

Time: 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Session 1: Start With Them

Understanding Your Audience to Create Better Experiences

The best communicators don’t start with what they want to say. They start with who they’re talking to.

This session introduces audience-first communication and explores how understanding another person’s needs, expectations, experiences, and perspective can change the way we communicate.

Participants will apply these principles to the people culinary leaders interact with every day—from residents and families to employees and executive leadership.

Key Takeaways

Understand what different audiences need from you and why the same message doesn’t work for everyone.
Use curiosity, questions, and listening to create more meaningful resident and employee interactions.
Identify small communication changes that can immediately improve the hospitality experience.

Put It to Work

Participants select one important audience in their community and complete an Audience Snapshot: What matters to them? What do they need from us? What do we want them to think, feel, or do?

Session 2: What’s Your Story?

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Everyone has a story, but most of us aren’t particularly good at telling it.

They’ll identify the experiences, strengths, and impact that make up their professional story and practice communicating that story in a way that is clear, memorable, and authentic.

Key Takeaways

Identify the strengths, experiences, and impact that define your professional story.
Move beyond what you do to communicate why what you do matters.
Build a concise story that can be used to advocate for yourself, your team, and your ideas.

Put It to Work

Participants develop and practice their own “What’s Your Story?” statement and use it in a real conversation before the next session.

Session 3: Same Story, Different Audience

Communicating With Residents, Employees & Leadership

Great communication isn’t one-size-fits-all.

A resident, a 19-year-old server, a sous chef, and an executive director may all need to hear something different from you, even when the underlying message is the same.

This session takes the principles from Sessions 1 and 2 and puts them to work across the relationships that matter most in senior living.

Key Takeaways

Adapt messages for residents, employees, peers, and senior leadership without losing the core story.
Communicate expectations and feedback in ways that strengthen engagement and accountability.
Manage up by translating operational details into concise stories about challenges, solutions, and impact.

Put It to Work

Participants take one real message and create three versions: one for a resident, one for an employee, and one for senior leadership.

Session 4: Lead Through Story

Advanced Storytelling Tools for Hospitality Leaders

The strongest leaders don’t just communicate information. They help people understand why it matters.

Just as importantly, participants will learn how to teach these techniques to their teams so storytelling and communication aren’t dependent on one leader.

Key Takeaways

Use simple storytelling structures to make messages clearer, more human, and more memorable.
Use stories to reinforce expectations, recognize great work, navigate change, and connect employees to purpose.
Coach servers, cooks, and emerging leaders to become stronger communicators and ambassadors for the resident experience.

Put It to Work

Participants create and deliver a short Hospitality Story they can use with their team, then build a 10-minute huddle exercise to teach one storytelling principle to their staff.

Learning + Application + Accountability

This is designed as a working series, not four webinars.

After each session, participants complete one real-world challenge:

Learn it > Try it > Document it > Share it > Teach it.

Follow-Up Peer Discussion | 60 Minutes

Approximately 30 days after the final session, participants reconvene for a facilitated peer discussion focused entirely on application.

The goal isn’t simply to tell better stories. It’s to create better leaders, stronger teams, and hospitality experiences people can feel.

About the Speaker

Cancellation:

No-Shows: Refunds will not be issued to participants who do not attend the training.

Storytelling & Communication Leadership Series (Friday, January 29, 2027)

Fri, 29 Jan 2027 19:00:00 GMT

Elevating Hospitality Through Better Conversations, Stronger Teams, and Human Connection

Series Overview

Hospitality is more than what comes out of the kitchen. It’s how residents are greeted, how teams communicate, how leaders set expectations, and how every interaction makes someone feel.

Who Should Attend

This series is designed for:

VP of Dining & Regional Support Positions
Director of Dining Services
Front of the House Managers
Executive & Sous Chefs
Rising Stars
Leaders responsible for developing customer-facing dining teams

What You Will Learn

This isn’t about becoming a great public speaker. It’s about becoming a more intentional communicator and leader.

Series Dates

Thursday, January 14, 2027
Understanding Your Audience to Create Better Experiences

Thursday, January 21, 2027

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Friday, January 29, 2027
Communicating With Residents, Employees & Leadership

Thursday, February 4, 2027
Advanced Storytelling Tools for Hospitality Leaders

Thursday, February 25, 2027
Follow-Up Peer Discussion | 60 Minutes

Time: 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Session 1: Start With Them

Understanding Your Audience to Create Better Experiences

The best communicators don’t start with what they want to say. They start with who they’re talking to.

This session introduces audience-first communication and explores how understanding another person’s needs, expectations, experiences, and perspective can change the way we communicate.

Participants will apply these principles to the people culinary leaders interact with every day—from residents and families to employees and executive leadership.

Key Takeaways

Understand what different audiences need from you and why the same message doesn’t work for everyone.
Use curiosity, questions, and listening to create more meaningful resident and employee interactions.
Identify small communication changes that can immediately improve the hospitality experience.

Put It to Work

Participants select one important audience in their community and complete an Audience Snapshot: What matters to them? What do they need from us? What do we want them to think, feel, or do?

Session 2: What’s Your Story?

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Everyone has a story, but most of us aren’t particularly good at telling it.

They’ll identify the experiences, strengths, and impact that make up their professional story and practice communicating that story in a way that is clear, memorable, and authentic.

Key Takeaways

Identify the strengths, experiences, and impact that define your professional story.
Move beyond what you do to communicate why what you do matters.
Build a concise story that can be used to advocate for yourself, your team, and your ideas.

Put It to Work

Participants develop and practice their own “What’s Your Story?” statement and use it in a real conversation before the next session.

Session 3: Same Story, Different Audience

Communicating With Residents, Employees & Leadership

Great communication isn’t one-size-fits-all.

A resident, a 19-year-old server, a sous chef, and an executive director may all need to hear something different from you, even when the underlying message is the same.

This session takes the principles from Sessions 1 and 2 and puts them to work across the relationships that matter most in senior living.

Key Takeaways

Adapt messages for residents, employees, peers, and senior leadership without losing the core story.
Communicate expectations and feedback in ways that strengthen engagement and accountability.
Manage up by translating operational details into concise stories about challenges, solutions, and impact.

Put It to Work

Participants take one real message and create three versions: one for a resident, one for an employee, and one for senior leadership.

Session 4: Lead Through Story

Advanced Storytelling Tools for Hospitality Leaders

The strongest leaders don’t just communicate information. They help people understand why it matters.

Just as importantly, participants will learn how to teach these techniques to their teams so storytelling and communication aren’t dependent on one leader.

Key Takeaways

Use simple storytelling structures to make messages clearer, more human, and more memorable.
Use stories to reinforce expectations, recognize great work, navigate change, and connect employees to purpose.
Coach servers, cooks, and emerging leaders to become stronger communicators and ambassadors for the resident experience.

Put It to Work

Participants create and deliver a short Hospitality Story they can use with their team, then build a 10-minute huddle exercise to teach one storytelling principle to their staff.

Learning + Application + Accountability

This is designed as a working series, not four webinars.

After each session, participants complete one real-world challenge:

Learn it > Try it > Document it > Share it > Teach it.

Follow-Up Peer Discussion | 60 Minutes

Approximately 30 days after the final session, participants reconvene for a facilitated peer discussion focused entirely on application.

The goal isn’t simply to tell better stories. It’s to create better leaders, stronger teams, and hospitality experiences people can feel.

About the Speaker

Cancellation:

No-Shows: Refunds will not be issued to participants who do not attend the training.

Storytelling & Communication Leadership Series (Thursday, February 04, 2027)

Thu, 04 Feb 2027 19:00:00 GMT

Elevating Hospitality Through Better Conversations, Stronger Teams, and Human Connection

Series Overview

Hospitality is more than what comes out of the kitchen. It’s how residents are greeted, how teams communicate, how leaders set expectations, and how every interaction makes someone feel.

Who Should Attend

This series is designed for:

VP of Dining & Regional Support Positions
Director of Dining Services
Front of the House Managers
Executive & Sous Chefs
Rising Stars
Leaders responsible for developing customer-facing dining teams

What You Will Learn

This isn’t about becoming a great public speaker. It’s about becoming a more intentional communicator and leader.

Series Dates

Thursday, January 14, 2027
Understanding Your Audience to Create Better Experiences

Thursday, January 21, 2027

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Friday, January 29, 2027
Communicating With Residents, Employees & Leadership

Thursday, February 4, 2027
Advanced Storytelling Tools for Hospitality Leaders

Thursday, February 25, 2027
Follow-Up Peer Discussion | 60 Minutes

Time: 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Session 1: Start With Them

Understanding Your Audience to Create Better Experiences

The best communicators don’t start with what they want to say. They start with who they’re talking to.

This session introduces audience-first communication and explores how understanding another person’s needs, expectations, experiences, and perspective can change the way we communicate.

Participants will apply these principles to the people culinary leaders interact with every day—from residents and families to employees and executive leadership.

Key Takeaways

Understand what different audiences need from you and why the same message doesn’t work for everyone.
Use curiosity, questions, and listening to create more meaningful resident and employee interactions.
Identify small communication changes that can immediately improve the hospitality experience.

Put It to Work

Participants select one important audience in their community and complete an Audience Snapshot: What matters to them? What do they need from us? What do we want them to think, feel, or do?

Session 2: What’s Your Story?

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Everyone has a story, but most of us aren’t particularly good at telling it.

They’ll identify the experiences, strengths, and impact that make up their professional story and practice communicating that story in a way that is clear, memorable, and authentic.

Key Takeaways

Identify the strengths, experiences, and impact that define your professional story.
Move beyond what you do to communicate why what you do matters.
Build a concise story that can be used to advocate for yourself, your team, and your ideas.

Put It to Work

Participants develop and practice their own “What’s Your Story?” statement and use it in a real conversation before the next session.

Session 3: Same Story, Different Audience

Communicating With Residents, Employees & Leadership

Great communication isn’t one-size-fits-all.

A resident, a 19-year-old server, a sous chef, and an executive director may all need to hear something different from you, even when the underlying message is the same.

This session takes the principles from Sessions 1 and 2 and puts them to work across the relationships that matter most in senior living.

Key Takeaways

Adapt messages for residents, employees, peers, and senior leadership without losing the core story.
Communicate expectations and feedback in ways that strengthen engagement and accountability.
Manage up by translating operational details into concise stories about challenges, solutions, and impact.

Put It to Work

Participants take one real message and create three versions: one for a resident, one for an employee, and one for senior leadership.

Session 4: Lead Through Story

Advanced Storytelling Tools for Hospitality Leaders

The strongest leaders don’t just communicate information. They help people understand why it matters.

Just as importantly, participants will learn how to teach these techniques to their teams so storytelling and communication aren’t dependent on one leader.

Key Takeaways

Use simple storytelling structures to make messages clearer, more human, and more memorable.
Use stories to reinforce expectations, recognize great work, navigate change, and connect employees to purpose.
Coach servers, cooks, and emerging leaders to become stronger communicators and ambassadors for the resident experience.

Put It to Work

Participants create and deliver a short Hospitality Story they can use with their team, then build a 10-minute huddle exercise to teach one storytelling principle to their staff.

Learning + Application + Accountability

This is designed as a working series, not four webinars.

After each session, participants complete one real-world challenge:

Learn it > Try it > Document it > Share it > Teach it.

Follow-Up Peer Discussion | 60 Minutes

Approximately 30 days after the final session, participants reconvene for a facilitated peer discussion focused entirely on application.

The goal isn’t simply to tell better stories. It’s to create better leaders, stronger teams, and hospitality experiences people can feel.

About the Speaker

Cancellation:

No-Shows: Refunds will not be issued to participants who do not attend the training.

Storytelling & Communication Leadership Series (Thursday, February 25, 2027)

Thu, 25 Feb 2027 19:00:00 GMT

Elevating Hospitality Through Better Conversations, Stronger Teams, and Human Connection

Series Overview

Hospitality is more than what comes out of the kitchen. It’s how residents are greeted, how teams communicate, how leaders set expectations, and how every interaction makes someone feel.

Who Should Attend

This series is designed for:

VP of Dining & Regional Support Positions
Director of Dining Services
Front of the House Managers
Executive & Sous Chefs
Rising Stars
Leaders responsible for developing customer-facing dining teams

What You Will Learn

This isn’t about becoming a great public speaker. It’s about becoming a more intentional communicator and leader.

Series Dates

Thursday, January 14, 2027
Understanding Your Audience to Create Better Experiences

Thursday, January 21, 2027

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Friday, January 29, 2027
Communicating With Residents, Employees & Leadership

Thursday, February 4, 2027
Advanced Storytelling Tools for Hospitality Leaders

Thursday, February 25, 2027
Follow-Up Peer Discussion | 60 Minutes

Time: 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Session 1: Start With Them

Understanding Your Audience to Create Better Experiences

The best communicators don’t start with what they want to say. They start with who they’re talking to.

This session introduces audience-first communication and explores how understanding another person’s needs, expectations, experiences, and perspective can change the way we communicate.

Participants will apply these principles to the people culinary leaders interact with every day—from residents and families to employees and executive leadership.

Key Takeaways

Understand what different audiences need from you and why the same message doesn’t work for everyone.
Use curiosity, questions, and listening to create more meaningful resident and employee interactions.
Identify small communication changes that can immediately improve the hospitality experience.

Put It to Work

Participants select one important audience in their community and complete an Audience Snapshot: What matters to them? What do they need from us? What do we want them to think, feel, or do?

Session 2: What’s Your Story?

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Everyone has a story, but most of us aren’t particularly good at telling it.

They’ll identify the experiences, strengths, and impact that make up their professional story and practice communicating that story in a way that is clear, memorable, and authentic.

Key Takeaways

Identify the strengths, experiences, and impact that define your professional story.
Move beyond what you do to communicate why what you do matters.
Build a concise story that can be used to advocate for yourself, your team, and your ideas.

Put It to Work

Participants develop and practice their own “What’s Your Story?” statement and use it in a real conversation before the next session.

Session 3: Same Story, Different Audience

Communicating With Residents, Employees & Leadership

Great communication isn’t one-size-fits-all.

A resident, a 19-year-old server, a sous chef, and an executive director may all need to hear something different from you, even when the underlying message is the same.

This session takes the principles from Sessions 1 and 2 and puts them to work across the relationships that matter most in senior living.

Key Takeaways

Adapt messages for residents, employees, peers, and senior leadership without losing the core story.
Communicate expectations and feedback in ways that strengthen engagement and accountability.
Manage up by translating operational details into concise stories about challenges, solutions, and impact.

Put It to Work

Participants take one real message and create three versions: one for a resident, one for an employee, and one for senior leadership.

Session 4: Lead Through Story

Advanced Storytelling Tools for Hospitality Leaders

The strongest leaders don’t just communicate information. They help people understand why it matters.

Just as importantly, participants will learn how to teach these techniques to their teams so storytelling and communication aren’t dependent on one leader.

Key Takeaways

Use simple storytelling structures to make messages clearer, more human, and more memorable.
Use stories to reinforce expectations, recognize great work, navigate change, and connect employees to purpose.
Coach servers, cooks, and emerging leaders to become stronger communicators and ambassadors for the resident experience.

Put It to Work

Participants create and deliver a short Hospitality Story they can use with their team, then build a 10-minute huddle exercise to teach one storytelling principle to their staff.

Learning + Application + Accountability

This is designed as a working series, not four webinars.

After each session, participants complete one real-world challenge:

Learn it > Try it > Document it > Share it > Teach it.

Follow-Up Peer Discussion | 60 Minutes

Approximately 30 days after the final session, participants reconvene for a facilitated peer discussion focused entirely on application.

The goal isn’t simply to tell better stories. It’s to create better leaders, stronger teams, and hospitality experiences people can feel.

About the Speaker

Cancellation:

No-Shows: Refunds will not be issued to participants who do not attend the training.

Senior Dining 101: Industry Sales Training (Thursday, March 04, 2027)

Thu, 04 Mar 2027 18:00:00 GMT

Serving Senior Living Starts With Understanding Senior Living

Successfully selling and marketing to senior living requires more than knowing your products. Your team must understand how communities operate, who influences purchasing decisions, the challenges dining leaders face, and how to communicate value without relying on a traditional sales pitch.

Senior Dining 101 gives sales and marketing professionals an inside look at community dining operations while helping them develop more effective messages, campaigns, conversations, and relationships.

Who Should Attend

Sales and business development professionals
Marketing and communications teams
Manufacturers, brokers and distributors
Food, beverage and culinary product representatives
Equipment, technology and service providers
New associates entering the senior living industry
Leaders responsible for sales and marketing strategy

YOU WILL LEARN:

Senior Dining Operations: Analyzing daily dining operations in various types communities and challenges operators face.
Meal Plans and Resident Choice: Understanding various types of meal plans from past to present.
Spend: Discussing food, labor & direct costs and how budgets are developed for different sized communities revenue.
Revenue Opportunities: Learning how communities can generate revenue internally & externally.
Senior Dining Trends: Diving into current trends and best practices as modeled around the country.
Marketing to Senior Living: Learn to reach senior living decision-makers, address operator priorities, tailor messaging, build credibility, and strengthen outreach.
Round-table Discussion & Networking: Reinventing the role of industry partners supporting senior dining operators and open discussion.

SESSION DATES & TIMES:

1. Thursday, March 4, 2027, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

2. Friday, March 5, 2027, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

____________________________________

FACILITATOR:

Harris Ader

Harris Ader has more than 20 years of operational experience in the senior living industry. His extensive background includes experience in contract foodservice management, the national school lunch program, hotels and restaurants. Prior to founding Senior Dining Association, Harris was the Vice President of Dining Service at Senior Living Communities, based in Charlotte, NC. Harris’ areas of expertise include conceptual development, financial and business acumen, organizational effectiveness, project management, talent development and strategic vision & planning. Harris graduated from Johnson & Wales University.

____________________________________

INFORMATION:

Cancellation: No refunds will be given for cancellations received 5 days prior of the start date. Cancellations made due to unforeseen circumstances are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. email kathie@seniordining.org to cancel your registration.

No-Shows: Refunds will not be issued to participants who do not attend the training.

C.E. Credits - Participants will receive a certificate of completion and a copy of the agenda to submit for C.E. credits

Senior Dining 101: Industry Sales Training (Friday, March 05, 2027)

Fri, 05 Mar 2027 18:00:00 GMT

Serving Senior Living Starts With Understanding Senior Living

Who Should Attend

Sales and business development professionals
Marketing and communications teams
Manufacturers, brokers and distributors
Food, beverage and culinary product representatives
Equipment, technology and service providers
New associates entering the senior living industry
Leaders responsible for sales and marketing strategy

YOU WILL LEARN:

Senior Dining Operations: Analyzing daily dining operations in various types communities and challenges operators face.
Meal Plans and Resident Choice: Understanding various types of meal plans from past to present.
Spend: Discussing food, labor & direct costs and how budgets are developed for different sized communities revenue.
Revenue Opportunities: Learning how communities can generate revenue internally & externally.
Senior Dining Trends: Diving into current trends and best practices as modeled around the country.
Marketing to Senior Living: Learn to reach senior living decision-makers, address operator priorities, tailor messaging, build credibility, and strengthen outreach.
Round-table Discussion & Networking: Reinventing the role of industry partners supporting senior dining operators and open discussion.

SESSION DATES & TIMES:

1. Thursday, March 4, 2027, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

2. Friday, March 5, 2027, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

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FACILITATOR:

Harris Ader

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INFORMATION:

No-Shows: Refunds will not be issued to participants who do not attend the training.

C.E. Credits - Participants will receive a certificate of completion and a copy of the agenda to submit for C.E. credits

SDA Virtual Expo: Operator Registration (Wednesday, March 24, 2027)

Wed, 24 Mar 2027 14:00:00 GMT

Discover New Ideas, Products and Solutions for Your Community

The SDA Virtual Expo brings the senior dining community together for a full day of discovery, conversation and connection. This interactive virtual experience gives operators an easy way to explore new products, see innovations in action and speak directly with industry partners who understand senior living dining.

Attendees can move throughout the virtual expo, visit industry partner booths, and participate in live product demonstrations.

Terms and Conditions:

As an SDA Virtual Expo attendee, you agree to share your contact information including email with exhibiting partners.

SDA Virtual Expo: Exhibitor Registration (Wednesday, March 24, 2027)

Wed, 24 Mar 2027 14:00:00 GMT

Exhibit or Sponsor AT the SDA Virtual Expo

Put Your Brand in Front of Senior Living Dining Leaders

Wednesday, March 24, 2027
10:00 AM–4:00 PM ET

The SDA Virtual Expo brings senior living dining, culinary, hospitality and operations professionals together to discover new products, explore innovative solutions and connect directly with industry partners.

Attendance is complimentary for senior living professionals, creating an accessible environment where operators can visit booths, watch demonstrations, participate in education and have meaningful conversations throughout the day.

This is more than logo placement. It is an opportunity to show what your company does, share your expertise and build relationships with the people your solutions are designed to support.

Why Participate?

The SDA Virtual Expo gives your company opportunities to:

Introduce your products and services to senior living professionals
Meet operators through live video and instant messaging
Demonstrate how your solutions work
Share educational insights and industry expertise
Capture leads from interested attendees
Build awareness without the expense of traveling to an in-person expo
Receive useful analytics for post-event follow-up

Exhibitor Opportunity

Create an interactive space where attendees can learn about your company, explore your resources and connect directly with your team.

Investment: Exhibitor Booth $525 Member $725 Non-Member

Exhibitors Will Receive:

One interactive virtual booth
A customizable booth featuring brochures, videos, product catalogs, images, PDFs, social media links and website links
A clickable Register Interest button that allows visitors to provide their contact information
One live networking table that can serve as your virtual office
Live video chat and screen-sharing capabilities
Instant interaction through face-to-face video conversations
The ability to answer questions and schedule future conversations
Post-event analytics, including an event summary, booth visitor contact details and available attendee registration information
Access to leads generated through your booth following the event

Sponsorship Opportunities

Increase your visibility and bring your company’s expertise to life through a live demonstration or educational presentation.

Every sponsorship includes a 20 minute product demonstration or interactive educational component.

Sponsors can showcase a product, teach a practical skill, discuss an emerging trend or share expertise that helps operators improve their programs.

Investment: Sponsorship $1,050 Member $1,250 Non-Member

Possible presentation topics may include:

Product applications and demonstrations
Leadership development
Change management
Culinary trends and techniques
Workforce support
Operational efficiency
Resident dining experiences
Technology and innovation
Emerging industry trends

Sponsors Will Receive

Everything included with the exhibitor opportunity, plus:

A live product demonstration or interactive educational presentation
Branding on the event landing page
Priority booth placement based on sponsorship level
Recognition throughout event promotions
Access to educational sessions
Additional interactive networking tables based on sponsorship level
Greater opportunities to share company expertise
Enhanced visibility throughout the virtual platform
Select live engagement statistics during the event
Expanded post-event analytics for marketing and sales follow-up

Create an Experience Around Your Brand

Sponsors and exhibitors can customize their presence to make it informative, engaging and easy to explore.

Your virtual booth may include:

Multiple layout options
Welcome videos
Product and company videos
Downloadable brochures and catalogs
Website and social media links
Customizable button text
Instant messaging and face-to-face video conversations
Screen sharing for personalized demonstrations
Special event offers or discounts
One-on-one meetings inside your virtual office
Networking within your booth and shared social spaces

Share Your Expertise

Operators want more than a sales pitch. They want practical ideas, relevant education and a clear understanding of how a product or service may support their community.

Sponsorship gives your company time to educate attendees while demonstrating the knowledge behind your brand. Show operators what is in your wheelhouse and help them better understand the challenges your company is prepared to solve.

Follow-Up Data Your Marketing Team Will Love

Your participation continues to deliver value after the expo ends.

Post-event reporting will help your team understand booth traffic, visitor interest and attendee engagement. Sponsors will also receive select live statistics during the event, including visitor and click activity, followed by expanded analytics for future outreach.

Connect With the Senior Dining Community

Position your company as a resource, demonstrate your solutions and start meaningful conversations with senior living professionals from across the country.

Reserve your exhibitor booth or explore an SDA Virtual Expo sponsorship today.

Terms: All sales are final. No refunds will be given for this event.