Page 8 - 2018 Jan Feb CFESA Magazine
P. 8
ALLIED CORNER
KEVIN FINK
PRESIDENT
NAFEM
It’s All About the Services. When Paul moved into the CFESA
Service... president’s chair, he very quickly reached
out to FCSI, FEDA, MAFSI and NAFEM
leaders and asked if we’d take the time to
I like to consider myself a business optimist come together and just talk. As a result,
– certainly optimistic about our industry and the “Five Families” as we affectionately
what the future holds. Having been a part call ourselves, was born. Paul, Joe Ferri
of the foodservice industry for more than (MAFSI), Bill Taunton (FCSI), Mike Whiteley
40 years, from restaurant dishwasher to (NAFEM) and Brad Pierce (FEDA), got the
manufacturing company president, it always ball rolling.
struck me as odd that as industry partners,
we often were very siloed in our approach Here’s the kicker – by the time these
to our businesses. While manufacturers, industry icons passed the leadership batons
consultants, dealers, service technicians to the next “family” member – James
and manufacturers’ representatives work Camacho (FCSI), Jeff Couch (MAFSI), Gary
together, it didn’t seem like we truly Potvin (CFESA), Joe Schmitt (FEDA) and
collaborated – shared our long-term myself, we had already worked together
missions for our businesses or our industry – in our respective industry roles – so
segments, or learned together as industry collaboration was in our blood and we were
segments. all over any opportunity to work, learn and
succeed together.
That’s why I am so excited about The Future
Starts Here: E&S Industry Summit, the After getting together for a long-range
blending of CFESA’s, FEDA’s and NAFEM’s planning meeting in Denver in June 2016, we
usually exclusive annual meetings into recognized that we all held annual meetings,
one dynamic industry learning event, this and we thought it would be just the coolest
coming March. to do that together. Now, we also are
realists and know that if we suggested this
Anyone who has had the opportunity to 15 years ago, which many of us had, it just
serve on the board or as an officer of our wouldn’t have worked.
industry associations always approaches But business is different, communication
their term with what they can do to bring and team lines are so blurred in today’s
the industry together – to truly improve environment, that as the saying goes, timing
the sharing of information, best practices, is everything. FCSI and MAFSI already had
experiences and insights. I must tip my hotel commitments that made one family
hat to Paul Toukatly, Duffy’s Equipment
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8 CFESA Magazine | JAN / FEB 2018 | www.cfesa.com
