Snack World - August 2013 - (Page 13)

SFA CEO Profile Dempsey Develops Bold Strategy SFA’s new CEO expects to boost services and expand memberships. by bob Gatty A new era of service to a broader sector of the snack industry lies ahead for the Snack Food Association (SFA), if its new CEO Tom Dempsey, former Utz Quality Foods president, achieves one of his main objectives. At the same time, Mr. Dempsey, who assumed his role with SFA on July 1, intends to increase the organization’s direct contacts with member companies to better meet their needs and expectations as they seek to compete in an ever-changing and complex marketplace. “As a 24-year veteran of our industry, I know how important this trade association is to our member companies’ health and vitality and that of the overall industry,” Mr. Dempsey told Snack World in an exclusive interview at SFA’s Arlington, VA, offices. “I also know that for the SFA to continue to be relevant, we need to make sure we are pursuing agendas that are beneficial and, oftentimes, critical to our business and associate members.” SFA has done a great job of representing the industry on important governmental issues and concerns, and those initiatives will continue under SFA President Jim McCarthy’s leadership, Mr. Dempsey said. “Jim and our lobbyists have done a great job with government affairs, but it is going to get even more challenging at both the federal and state level, so we need to strengthen those efforts,” he said. “But we also have to make sure we are membercentered, and that is a challenge because of the diversity of our membership. We need to stay relevant to all of them.” Mr. Dempsey believes the organization can do more to broaden its reach and attract new members; however, at the same time, he wants to strengthen ties with existing members and more sharply focus all programs and services. To this end, the new CEO and other staff members have embarked on a series of visits to member companies. These visits will become part of Mr. Dempsey’s modus operandi going forward. Meanwhile, he said, SFA’s leadership on New SFA CEO Tom Dempsey outlines his goals to grow the association’s membership and make SFA more relevant to its members moving forward. www.sfa.org August 2013 Snack World 13 http://www.sfa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Snack World - August 2013

Snack World - August 2013
Table of Contents
Letter from SFA - An Invasion and a Boot Camp
Supplier’s Corner - Get Involved
News - SFA updates TQM program to focus on innovation
FDA defines gluten-free
Farm Bill to wait until September
SFA CEO Profile - Dempsey Develops Bold Strategy
Government Affairs - SFA Hits Capitol Hill
SFA analyzes ‘Smart Snacks in School’ rule
Meeting Preview - Boot Camp!
New Snacks
Products & Services
Ad Index

Snack World - August 2013