Welcome to the NC Specialty Foods Association’s
‘Summer of Expansion’ series of events
Throughout the Summer of 2024, the NCSFA will offer a series of live, online events designed to help our members learn and grow in this season of change. Please review, sign up early (as soon as registration is open) to reserve your spot and take advantage of this opportunity to connect with your peers and expand your knowledge on a variety of topics.
Each event will be a live, interactive format using the Zoom video platform. No account or login required. You will receive complete information when you register.
Current NCSFA Members: Free
Guests: $10 per event
** Exclusive – NCSFA Member Only Benefits **
- Official NCSFA swag mailed to you from NCDA if you attend at least one event
- Door prize for each event if you register AND attend the live event
- Incentive bonuses for members that register AND attend the events
Grand Prize: $200 grant from the Carlye Teague Education fund
First Prize: Two members will receive a one-year extension on your membership
Second Prize: Three members will receive a six-month extension on your membership
Here is how the incentive bonuses work:
Incentive awards will be drawn at random during our Grand Finale on August 21st. Members will receive one entry for each session you actually login and attend. If you are a member, please register using the Member Ticket and login to Zoom with your real name, otherwise, you may lose your chance to win.
NOTE: Registration alone does not qualify you for an entry. Attend more sessions – get more chances to win!
** NEW! Click the big Register button for all events with one ticket**
Free for members – guests save $10!
~Navigating the Amazon Effect: Strategies for Success in the Digital Marketplace~
In his presentation, cancerART founder Martin Smith delves into the “Amazon Effect,” illuminating its profound influence on consumer behavior and the e-commerce landscape. He underscores the importance of understanding and leveraging this phenomenon to thrive in the digital marketplace. Smith offers insights into embracing Amazon as a partner, providing strategies for success on the platform, and diversifying beyond Amazon to build a resilient e-commerce strategy. He emphasizes adaptability and innovation as key drivers for navigating the ever-changing trends shaped by the Big A.
Who: Martin Smith, cancerArt
Date: Wednesday, June 12th, 2024
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
~eCommerce – Beginning to Advanced~
Hart discovered his passion for marketing when his first small efforts at Telluride.com started yielding a serious impact on revenue. He saw how much marketing could help businesses grow and communities flourish, and he was sold. Now back in his hometown of Raleigh, Hart is always searching for fresh, creative ways to gain exposure and bring companies closer to their customers at his creative marketing agency, Chair 8. He and his team of 10 specialize in full-service marketing campaigns for small-to-medium challenger brands.
Who: Hart Roberts, Chair 8 Media
Date: Wednesday, June 26th, 2024
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
~Tradeshows – A to Z~
Who: NCSFA Panel
Denise Goga, Food Cravings
Becca Wright, Piedmont Pennies
Scott Stephens, Hampton Farms
Patrick Ford, Ford’s Gourmet Foods
Join our panel of NCSFA Board Members as they share their best advice on everything from in-store sampling, Farmer’s Markets, regional shows, national shows, inbound trade missions and international shows. Here is your chance to learn from members who have real experience to share.
Date: Wednesday, July, 10th, 2024
Time: 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
~Selling with Faire~
Kyle helps lead the Food & Beverage brand partnerships team at Faire. He grew up in Northern California and has spent the majority of his career working in food. Since moving back to San Francisco in 2012, Kyle has immersed himself in the local food movement. He’s previously led wholesale programs at 4505 Meats, Black Oak Coffee Roasters and Bellwether Coffee, and co-founded a Food & Beverage consulting company to advise emerging brands on growing their businesses.
Who: Kyle Hughes, Faire
Date: Wednesday, July, 24th, 2024
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
~Scaling a food business~
Jamie Valenti-Jordan, CFS is the CEO of Catapult Commercialization Services Inc, a 90-person consulting group focused on providing technical and operational solutions for food and beverage companies. Prior to this, he has spent his 20 year career at Campbell Soup, Del Monte Foods, and JUST in process R&D, engineering, and operations. During his career, he has installed over $100M in capital equipment, commercialized over 1000 products, and received a patent in tomato peeling. He teaches Food Engineering and Food Processing at Mount Mary University. He serves on the Board of Directors for IFT and is a strong advocate for emerging and scaling brands.
Who: Jamie Valenti-Jordan, Catapult Commercialization Services
Date: Wednesday, August 7th, 2024
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
~The Grand Finale and Awards Presentation~
Finance Panel – Loans, Grants and alternative fund raising
Mike Goddard- Senior Vice President/Business Development Officer, Fidelity Bank NC. Mike has worked in financial services for more than 20 years, with the majority of that time in some facet of bank lending including consumer and commercial lending, credit analysis, credit approval, portfolio management, and SBA lending. In his role as a SBA program specialist, Mike helps entrepreneurs finance business acquisitions, partner buyouts, and significant expansions.
Leigh is the Grant Support Manager at NC IDEA, where she provides administrative support to the MICRO and SEED grant programs for entrepreneurs.
Breanna Golestani is cofounder and CEO of Kokada, a creator of coconut-powered, refined-sugar-free spreads and snacks. As a recovering management consultant, Breanna started Kokada with experience in technology-enabled marketing, business strategy, and finance fundamentals.
Who: Michael Goddard, Fidelity Bank NC, Leigh Blancato, NC IDEA, Breanna Golestani, Kokada
Date: Wednesday, August 21st, 2024
Time: 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.