Senior Dining Association upcoming events

Webinar: How Are Dining Leaders Actually Using AI? (Wednesday, September 09, 2026)

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Complimentary Webinar

How Are Dining Leaders Actually Using AI?

AI is showing up everywhere, but what does it really look like inside a senior living dining operation?

This panel brings together dining leaders who are actively experimenting with AI and using it in practical ways to support their teams and operations. Panelists will share where AI is helping them save time, improve communication, develop menus, analyze food cost, create training, respond to resident feedback, prepare reports and solve everyday operational challenges.

The conversation will focus on real examples, lessons learned, what has worked, what has not, and where leaders still believe the human touch matters most. Attendees will leave with fresh ideas, practical applications and a better understanding of how their peers are beginning to use AI today.

Panelists:

Chad Lauderbaugh, Director of Culinary, The Sharon at SouthPark

Gary McBlain, National Director of Culinary Services, Amica Senior Lifestyles

Moderator:

Harris Ader, CEO/Founder, Senior Dining Association

The Culinary Leadership Series (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Senior living kitchens are being asked to do more than ever, deliver restaurant-quality meals, maintain consistency across teams, elevate modified texture dining, and lead with confidence in a fast-paced, high-expectation environment. At the same time, many culinary leaders are navigating staffing challenges, training gaps, and increasing pressure to improve resident satisfaction.

If you’re looking to sharpen your skills, strengthen your team, and bring fresh energy and consistency back to your kitchen, this series is built for you.

The Culinary Leadership Training Series is a 4-part live educational virtual experience designed specifically for executive chefs, sous chefs, culinary managers, and rising culinary leaders who want to elevate both their food and their leadership.

Through a powerful combination of culinary education, live demonstrations, leadership development, and real-world strategies, you’ll gain practical tools you can immediately apply helping you improve plate presentation, streamline execution, train your team more effectively, and deliver a consistently better dining experience for your residents.

In addition, this series provides a clear pathway for professional development, helping you build the skills, confidence, and leadership capabilities needed to grow into your next role and advance your culinary career within senior living.

Why Attend

By the end of the series, participants will have practical tools to:

Improve plate presentation
Strengthen consistency across shifts
Coach cooks more effectively
Build pride and ownership in the kitchen
Improve IDDSI meal presentation
Create better daily execution

Certificate of Completion

Participants who complete the full 4-part series will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Senior Dining Association.

Series Dates

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
The Art of the Senior Living Plate: Using Food Artistry, Color, and Presentation to Improve Perception

Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Same Plate, Every Shift: Mastering Consistency

Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Developing Cooks into Culinary Leaders

Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Improving IDDSI Plating: Making Modified Textures Look and Feel Like Hospitality

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

Format: Live virtual education series

Includes: Culinary demos, leadership development, practical takeaways, and certificate of completion

Who Should Attend

This series is designed for:

Executive chefs
Sous chefs
Culinary managers
Lead cooks
Rising culinary leaders
Dining leaders who support culinary training and execution

What You Will Learn

Participants will learn how to improve plate presentation, strengthen consistency across shifts, develop cooks into stronger team members, and make IDDSI meals look more intentional, dignified, and appetizing.

This is not a basic cooking demo. It is a practical education series built around the real challenges culinary leaders face every day.

Session 1: The Art of the Senior Living Plate

Using Food Artistry, Color, and Presentation to Improve Perception

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

This session helps executive chefs and sous chefs rethink the plate as more than a meal. It is a first impression. Darin will teach practical food artistry principles that make everyday menu items look fresher, more balanced, and more intentional without adding unnecessary complexity to service.

Participants will learn how color, height, contrast, sauce placement, garnish, portion layout, and primary food color principles can improve the way residents see and experience food before the first bite.

Culinary Demo:

Darin will take a common senior living plate and show it in three stages: basic execution, improved execution, and elevated but realistic execution. The demo will highlight how simple visual changes can quickly improve the perception of the meal.

Key Takeaways:

Learn how color, height, balance, and contrast can improve plate appeal and resident perception.
Understand how to use proteins, vegetables, starches, sauces, and garnishes to create stronger visual impact.
Build simple plate presentation standards that cooks can repeat during real service.

Session 2: Same Plate, Every Shift Mastering Consistency

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Inconsistent execution is one of the biggest challenges in senior living kitchens. One cook plates beautifully, another rushes through service, and the resident experience changes from shift to shift.

This session helps executive chefs and sous chefs identify where consistency breaks down in prep, cooking, holding, plating, timing, and service. Participants will learn how to create simple, repeatable standards that help every cook execute the same menu item the same way.

Key Takeaways:

Identify the common causes of inconsistent execution.
Build repeatable standards for prep, cooking, plating, and service.
Coach the team in a way that improves consistency without blame.

Session 3: Developing Cooks into Culinary Leaders

Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Strong kitchens are built when cooks begin to think beyond the task in front of them.

This session helps executive chefs and sous chefs develop cooks who take more ownership of quality, timing, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Participants will learn how to identify leadership potential on the line and give cooks small, meaningful ways to lead from their station.

The goal is to help chefs create a stronger bench of future sous chefs, lead cooks, and culinary leaders.

Key Takeaways:

Teach cooks to think about quality, timing, and resident experience.
Identify team members with leadership potential.
Give cooks small leadership responsibilities that build confidence and ownership.

Session 4: Improving IDDSI Plating Making Modified Textures Look and Feel Like Hospitality

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Modified texture meals should never feel like an afterthought. This session helps executive chefs and sous chefs improve the appearance, consistency, and dignity of IDDSI meals while maintaining proper texture requirements and testing expectations. Participants will learn how to use color, shape, sauces, garnishes, portion balance, molds, and plate layout to make IDDSI meals look more intentional and appetizing.

Culinary Demo:

Darin will demonstrate how to take a modified texture meal from basic service to a more thoughtful plate presentation. The demo will show how color contrast, shaped components, sauce work, portion balance, and clean plate layout can improve the visual appeal of IDDSI meals while still respecting texture requirements.

Key Takeaways:

Learn practical ways to make IDDSI plates look more intentional, colorful, and appetizing.
Understand how to improve presentation while still following required texture and testing standards.
Build simple plating standards that help cooks serve modified textures with more consistency and pride.

About the Speakers

Chef Darin Leonardson with Transformed Culinary Solutions

Chef Darin Leonardson is the President and CEO of Transformed Culinary Solutions and the founder behind Transformed Culinary Kits. With more than 30 years of culinary leadership experience, including work as a former Google culinary leader and guest chef with Holland America Line, Darin helps senior living, hospitality, and foodservice teams elevate dining through chef-driven training, menu development, operational excellence, and practical innovation. Based in Dallas, he is passionate about transforming everyday meals into meaningful moments through better food, stronger teams, and hospitality served with purpose.

Kim Watson with Aspire Senior Solutions

Kim Watson is the founder of Aspire Senior Solutions, bringing 30 years of clinical, operations, and leadership experience in the senior living industry. A Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, Certified CliftonStrengths Coach, and Organizational Development Process Consultant, Kim combines deep operational expertise with a strengths-based approach to help leaders and teams perform at their best.

Cancellation:

Cancellation: No refunds will be given for cancellations received 5 days prior of the start date (September, 10, 2026). 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.

SDA Member Chat with Chef Sarah Wagner (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Complimentary SDA Member Chat

Growing Culinary Leaders Across Communities

How does someone grow from a cook into a regional culinary leader—and then help others follow the same path?

Join Harris Ader for a live conversation with Chef Sarah Wagner, Regional Manager of Culinary Services at Delmanor and a 2026 Corporate Dining Executive of the Year.

Since joining Delmanor in 2003, Sarah has advanced from cook to sous chef, executive chef and regional leadership. She now supports culinary teams across multiple communities while maintaining high standards for quality, creativity, consistency and resident choice.

Sarah will discuss developing future leaders, introducing new dining concepts, using resident feedback to improve menus and implementing technology across communities. She will also share how Delmanor achieved resident satisfaction scores above 95%, reduced food costs and waste, and developed more than 10 team members into leadership positions.

The Culinary Leadership Series (Tuesday, September 22, 2026)

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

If you’re looking to sharpen your skills, strengthen your team, and bring fresh energy and consistency back to your kitchen, this series is built for you.

Why Attend

By the end of the series, participants will have practical tools to:

Improve plate presentation
Strengthen consistency across shifts
Coach cooks more effectively
Build pride and ownership in the kitchen
Improve IDDSI meal presentation
Create better daily execution

Certificate of Completion

Participants who complete the full 4-part series will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Senior Dining Association.

Series Dates

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
The Art of the Senior Living Plate: Using Food Artistry, Color, and Presentation to Improve Perception

Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Same Plate, Every Shift: Mastering Consistency

Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Developing Cooks into Culinary Leaders

Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Improving IDDSI Plating: Making Modified Textures Look and Feel Like Hospitality

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

Format: Live virtual education series

Includes: Culinary demos, leadership development, practical takeaways, and certificate of completion

Who Should Attend

This series is designed for:

Executive chefs
Sous chefs
Culinary managers
Lead cooks
Rising culinary leaders
Dining leaders who support culinary training and execution

What You Will Learn

This is not a basic cooking demo. It is a practical education series built around the real challenges culinary leaders face every day.

Session 1: The Art of the Senior Living Plate

Using Food Artistry, Color, and Presentation to Improve Perception

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Culinary Demo:

Key Takeaways:

Learn how color, height, balance, and contrast can improve plate appeal and resident perception.
Understand how to use proteins, vegetables, starches, sauces, and garnishes to create stronger visual impact.
Build simple plate presentation standards that cooks can repeat during real service.

Session 2: Same Plate, Every Shift Mastering Consistency

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Key Takeaways:

Identify the common causes of inconsistent execution.
Build repeatable standards for prep, cooking, plating, and service.
Coach the team in a way that improves consistency without blame.

Session 3: Developing Cooks into Culinary Leaders

Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Strong kitchens are built when cooks begin to think beyond the task in front of them.

The goal is to help chefs create a stronger bench of future sous chefs, lead cooks, and culinary leaders.

Key Takeaways:

Teach cooks to think about quality, timing, and resident experience.
Identify team members with leadership potential.
Give cooks small leadership responsibilities that build confidence and ownership.

Session 4: Improving IDDSI Plating Making Modified Textures Look and Feel Like Hospitality

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Culinary Demo:

Key Takeaways:

Learn practical ways to make IDDSI plates look more intentional, colorful, and appetizing.
Understand how to improve presentation while still following required texture and testing standards.
Build simple plating standards that help cooks serve modified textures with more consistency and pride.

About the Speakers

Chef Darin Leonardson with Transformed Culinary Solutions

Kim Watson with Aspire Senior Solutions

Cancellation:

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

The Culinary Leadership Series (Tuesday, September 29, 2026)

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

If you’re looking to sharpen your skills, strengthen your team, and bring fresh energy and consistency back to your kitchen, this series is built for you.

Why Attend

By the end of the series, participants will have practical tools to:

Improve plate presentation
Strengthen consistency across shifts
Coach cooks more effectively
Build pride and ownership in the kitchen
Improve IDDSI meal presentation
Create better daily execution

Certificate of Completion

Participants who complete the full 4-part series will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Senior Dining Association.

Series Dates

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
The Art of the Senior Living Plate: Using Food Artistry, Color, and Presentation to Improve Perception

Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Same Plate, Every Shift: Mastering Consistency

Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Developing Cooks into Culinary Leaders

Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Improving IDDSI Plating: Making Modified Textures Look and Feel Like Hospitality

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

Format: Live virtual education series

Includes: Culinary demos, leadership development, practical takeaways, and certificate of completion

Who Should Attend

This series is designed for:

Executive chefs
Sous chefs
Culinary managers
Lead cooks
Rising culinary leaders
Dining leaders who support culinary training and execution

What You Will Learn

This is not a basic cooking demo. It is a practical education series built around the real challenges culinary leaders face every day.

Session 1: The Art of the Senior Living Plate

Using Food Artistry, Color, and Presentation to Improve Perception

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Culinary Demo:

Key Takeaways:

Learn how color, height, balance, and contrast can improve plate appeal and resident perception.
Understand how to use proteins, vegetables, starches, sauces, and garnishes to create stronger visual impact.
Build simple plate presentation standards that cooks can repeat during real service.

Session 2: Same Plate, Every Shift Mastering Consistency

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Key Takeaways:

Identify the common causes of inconsistent execution.
Build repeatable standards for prep, cooking, plating, and service.
Coach the team in a way that improves consistency without blame.

Session 3: Developing Cooks into Culinary Leaders

Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Strong kitchens are built when cooks begin to think beyond the task in front of them.

The goal is to help chefs create a stronger bench of future sous chefs, lead cooks, and culinary leaders.

Key Takeaways:

Teach cooks to think about quality, timing, and resident experience.
Identify team members with leadership potential.
Give cooks small leadership responsibilities that build confidence and ownership.

Session 4: Improving IDDSI Plating Making Modified Textures Look and Feel Like Hospitality

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Culinary Demo:

Key Takeaways:

Learn practical ways to make IDDSI plates look more intentional, colorful, and appetizing.
Understand how to improve presentation while still following required texture and testing standards.
Build simple plating standards that help cooks serve modified textures with more consistency and pride.

About the Speakers

Chef Darin Leonardson with Transformed Culinary Solutions

Kim Watson with Aspire Senior Solutions

Cancellation:

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

Webinar: Building a Workplace People Don't Want to Leave (Wednesday, September 30, 2026)

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Complimentary Webinar

Building a Workplace People Don't Want to Leave

Turnover continues to challenge dining operations, but retaining great employees takes more than better pay or occasional recognition. It requires a workplace where people feel respected, supported, connected and able to grow.

This panel brings together dining leaders to share what they are doing to create stronger team cultures and improve retention. Panelists will discuss leadership practices, communication, scheduling, recognition, career development, onboarding and the everyday experiences that influence whether employees stay or start looking elsewhere.

The conversation will focus on practical ideas that are working in real operations, including how leaders build trust, develop supervisors, create a sense of belonging, manage different generations and address workplace issues before they become turnover problems. Attendees will leave with new approaches they can use to strengthen engagement, improve culture, and build teams people want to be part of.

Panelists:

Daniel Spicer, Vice President of Dining Services, Agemark Senior Living

Brandon Kiefer, VP of Hospitality, Encore Healthcare Services

Matt Fredericks, Director of Culinary Experience, Sunnyside Communities

Moderator:

Harris Ader, CEO/Founder, Senior Dining Association

The Culinary Leadership Series (Tuesday, October 06, 2026)

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

If you’re looking to sharpen your skills, strengthen your team, and bring fresh energy and consistency back to your kitchen, this series is built for you.

Why Attend

By the end of the series, participants will have practical tools to:

Improve plate presentation
Strengthen consistency across shifts
Coach cooks more effectively
Build pride and ownership in the kitchen
Improve IDDSI meal presentation
Create better daily execution

Certificate of Completion

Participants who complete the full 4-part series will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Senior Dining Association.

Series Dates

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
The Art of the Senior Living Plate: Using Food Artistry, Color, and Presentation to Improve Perception

Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Same Plate, Every Shift: Mastering Consistency

Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Developing Cooks into Culinary Leaders

Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Improving IDDSI Plating: Making Modified Textures Look and Feel Like Hospitality

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

Format: Live virtual education series

Includes: Culinary demos, leadership development, practical takeaways, and certificate of completion

Who Should Attend

This series is designed for:

Executive chefs
Sous chefs
Culinary managers
Lead cooks
Rising culinary leaders
Dining leaders who support culinary training and execution

What You Will Learn

This is not a basic cooking demo. It is a practical education series built around the real challenges culinary leaders face every day.

Session 1: The Art of the Senior Living Plate

Using Food Artistry, Color, and Presentation to Improve Perception

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 | 2:00–3:00 PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Culinary Demo:

Key Takeaways:

Learn how color, height, balance, and contrast can improve plate appeal and resident perception.
Understand how to use proteins, vegetables, starches, sauces, and garnishes to create stronger visual impact.
Build simple plate presentation standards that cooks can repeat during real service.

Session 2: Same Plate, Every Shift Mastering Consistency

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Key Takeaways:

Identify the common causes of inconsistent execution.
Build repeatable standards for prep, cooking, plating, and service.
Coach the team in a way that improves consistency without blame.

Session 3: Developing Cooks into Culinary Leaders

Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Strong kitchens are built when cooks begin to think beyond the task in front of them.

The goal is to help chefs create a stronger bench of future sous chefs, lead cooks, and culinary leaders.

Key Takeaways:

Teach cooks to think about quality, timing, and resident experience.
Identify team members with leadership potential.
Give cooks small leadership responsibilities that build confidence and ownership.

Session 4: Improving IDDSI Plating Making Modified Textures Look and Feel Like Hospitality

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 2:00–3:00PM EST | 1:00 - 2:00PM CST

Culinary Demo:

Key Takeaways:

Learn practical ways to make IDDSI plates look more intentional, colorful, and appetizing.
Understand how to improve presentation while still following required texture and testing standards.
Build simple plating standards that help cooks serve modified textures with more consistency and pride.

About the Speakers

Chef Darin Leonardson with Transformed Culinary Solutions

Kim Watson with Aspire Senior Solutions

Cancellation:

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

SDA Member Chat with Nick Testa (Wednesday, October 07, 2026)

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Complimentary SDA Member Chat

Leading Dining Through Change

How do you maintain quality, consistency and resident confidence when major construction disrupts dining operations?

Join Harris Ader for a live conversation with Nick Testa, Director of Dining Services at Glenmeadow and a 2026 Director of Dining Services of the Year.

Just six months after joining Glenmeadow, Nick began navigating a 16-month renovation that affected two of the community’s three major dining venues. He continually adjusted workflows while maintaining service through venue closures, holidays, special events and daily dining.

Nick will discuss leading teams through disruption, opening a new lounge, introducing a liquor program and training employees for new service expectations. He will also share how creativity, humor and thoughtful details help turn dining and community events into memorable experiences.

SDA & LeadingAge NC Hospitality Summit for Operators (Thursday, October 08, 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Senior Living Professionals Registration

Hosted by the Senior Dining Association
and LeadingAge North Carolina

Location: The Pines at Davidson, 400 Avinger Ln, Davidson, NC 28036

Date: October 8, 2026

Time: 8:30am - 4:00pm ET

Hosted by the Senior Dining Association and LeadingAge North Carolina, this one-day summit brings together senior living professionals, dining leaders, and industry partners for meaningful conversations and actionable takeaways. The agenda will spotlight dining innovation, workforce development, and leadership growth—focusing on strategies that strengthen culture, inspire teams, and elevate the hospitality experience across communities.

Meals

We will serve continental breakfast, lunch and snacks.

Who Should Attend

All Senior Living & Dining Professionals

Director of Dining, Executive Directors, Chefs, VPs of Dining and Operations, Managers and Supervisors should attend this event.

Attire

Fall Casual - Dress to learn, network, and have fun.

Continuing Education

A certificate of attendance will be provided to all event attendees upon request. 4.0 hours of continuing education credit for Nursing Home Administrators through the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators and the North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation for Adult Care Licensure.

Payment

We accept Visa, MasterCard & American Express.

Cancellations & Refunds

Written requests for cancellation must be received at kathie@seniordining.org no later than September 25, 2026. All cancellations received prior to September 25, 2026 will be refunded less a $25.00 administrative fee per registration. All cancellations received after September 25, 2026 will be non-refundable. Substitutions are encouraged.

SDA & LeadingAge NC Hospitality Summit to Exhibit & Sponsor (Thursday, October 08, 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Exhibit & Sponsor Registration

Hosted by the Senior Dining Association
and LeadingAge North Carolina

Location: The Pines at Davidson, 400 Avinger Ln, Davidson, NC 28036

Date: October 8, 2026

Time: 8:30am - 4:00pm ET

Position your brand in front of North Carolina’s senior living decision-makers at this one-day, high-impact event focused on dining, hospitality, and workforce innovation.

Sponsorship Includes

2 Complimentary registrations
Participation in all sessions & meals
6ft Display table in the Industry Partner Showcase
Logo placement on event marketing materials
Verbal recognition during the event
Post-event registration list

Payment

We accept Visa, MasterCard & American Express.

Cancellations & Refunds

Webinar: Disrupting the Status Quo Rethinking Dining and Service (Tuesday, October 13, 2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Complimentary Webinar

Disrupting the Status Quo Rethinking Dining and Service

Senior living dining has relied on familiar habits for decades, but many no longer serve today’s teams or residents. This panel brings together leaders willing to challenge long-held assumptions and share what they’ve changed on the ground. Through real stories and differing viewpoints, panelists will discuss what they’ve stopped doing, what they’re doing differently, and what’s delivering results in culture, service, and leadership.

Panelists:

Matthew Perez, VP of Hospitality, Transforming Age

Matthew Ross, Director of Operations, Delmanor Seniors Community

Dr. Milton McGowian, Chief Operating Officer, The Sharon at SouthPark

Moderator:

Harris Ader, CEO/Founder, Senior Dining Association

SDA Member Chat with Chef Mark Davies (Thursday, October 15, 2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Complimentary SDA Member Chat

Building Culinary Ownership

How do you give cooks the freedom to create while maintaining quality, consistency and cost control?

Join Harris Ader for a live conversation with Mark Davies, Executive Chef at Cypress Glen and a 2026 Executive Chef of the Year.

Mark’s culinary journey has included serving as a chef aboard a nuclear submarine, graduating from Johnson & Wales University and competing nationally as a pitmaster. At Cypress Glen, he has used those experiences to develop a disciplined, creative and team-focused kitchen culture.

Mark will discuss mentoring without micromanaging, turning resident requests into successful menu items and using the Daily Chef Special to empower cooks, reduce waste and providing greater variety. He will also share how his team maintained high standards after moving into a smaller modular kitchen located across campus during a major expansion.

Attendees can participate through live polls and audience Q&A.

Webinar: Developing Supervisors and Managers Before You Need Them (Thursday, October 29, 2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Complimentary Webinar

Developing Supervisors and Managers Before You Need Them

Strong supervisors and managers are rarely developed overnight. Waiting until a leadership position opens often leads to rushed promotions, limited preparation and talented employees being placed into roles before they are ready.

This panel will bring together dining leaders to share how they identify leadership potential and prepare team members for greater responsibility. Panelists will discuss mentoring, cross-training, stretch assignments, coaching and the essential skills new leaders need to manage people effectively.

The conversation will also explore how to create clear advancement pathways, build confidence in emerging leaders, and develop a stronger pipeline of supervisors and managers. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for building leadership readiness before the next opening occurs.

Panelists:

Dominick Patrevito, Culinary Services Support, Trilogy Health Services

Stacey Sheerin, Senior Regional Director of Dining Services, Charter Senior Living

Jennifer Moore, VP of Culinary Services, Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina

Moderator:

Harris Ader, CEO/Founder, Senior Dining Association

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.

Senior Dining 101: Industry Sales Training (Thursday, November 19, 2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 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, November 19, 2026, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

2. Friday, November 20, 2026, 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, November 20, 2026)

Fri, 20 Nov 2026 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, November 19, 2026, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

2. Friday, November 20, 2026, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

____________________________________

FACILITATOR:

Harris Ader

____________________________________

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, December 02, 2026)

Wed, 02 Dec 2026 15:00:00 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, December 02, 2026)

Wed, 02 Dec 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Exhibit or Sponsor AT the SDA Virtual Expo

Put Your Brand in Front of Senior Living Dining Leaders

Wednesday, December 2, 2026
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.

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, 202

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Thursday, January 28, 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, 202

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Thursday, January 28, 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, January 28, 2027)

Thu, 28 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, 202

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Thursday, January 28, 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, 202

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Thursday, January 28, 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, 202

Understanding Your Value and Communicating What Matters

Thursday, January 28, 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.