Hello, folks! Rob White here, President of Envision Strategies, with a personal recap of the NACAS Central/East CX conference in Philadelphia. I'm always looking for innovative ideas and growth opportunities that we can bring to the campuses we serve, and this conference provided both in spades.
The joint regional concept was intriguing, and I appreciated the daily registration option. I was just returning from vacation and debated even attending, but I’m glad I did! It was like a family reunion, where East Coast met Midwest, except at this gathering, everyone got along swimmingly. Even with Philly as the venue, I was pleased to see strong representation from the Central region, proving that distance is no barrier for dedicated auxiliary service professionals.
The sessions were excellent – here are some of my highlights:
1. The NACAS Town Hall: NACAS CEO Matt Marcial shared highlights from the recent member survey, revealing fascinating data on student experience and auxiliary services trends. Full results will be released later this summer, so stay tuned.
2. Virginia Commonwealth University – “Makin’ Groceries”: Stephen Barr, Director of Business Services at VCU, recounted the events leading to the development of a neighborhood grocery store on the ground level of a residence hall. His team turned an unwelcomed development (Walmart pulling out of the space) into an opportunity to better meet the needs of students and potentially local residents. Stephen presented valuable data, lessons learned, and fun facts about popular items sold in the store, like 36-count cases of half-liter water bottles (hydration is important), diapers (college parenting, anyone?), and noodles (because, college). Can't wait for Stephen's update at the national conference!
3. Temple University's Branded Concepts: Mike Scales, AVP for Business Services at Temple, showcased his campus's branded concept success, including partnerships with Grubhub and a meal plan policy that lets students redeem meals at retail locations. With all those options, it's like a foodie's paradise on campus!
4. Flash Presentations: I appreciated these concise and informative 20-minute presentations, packed into a single 60-minute session.
Here are my key takeaways:
Supporting affordability and access remains a top priority for auxiliary services.
While staff availability has improved post-pandemic, increased costs continue to challenge auxiliaries.
Innovative revenue-generating methods were shared, like leveraging market data and mining user data to maximize underutilized spaces and services.
Most campuses are embracing technology for better experiences and increased efficiency.
Speaking of technology, let me introduce you to Envision 360, our program designed to help institutions optimize their foodservice operations. Want to see how e360 can revolutionize your organization? Request a personal demo, and together, we'll explore how to boost operational performance and excellence in your dining program.
If you're interested in learning more about how Envision Strategies can support your university foodservice needs, check out our full range of services. Feel free to reach out to me and the Envision team – we're here to help you succeed.
In conclusion, the NACAS Central/East CX conference was an incredible experience filled with innovation, networking, and growth opportunities. I look forward to applying these learnings and sharing them with our clients and most of all, we can’t wait to see you at C3X in Toronto!
Rob White
President, Envision Strategies
Envision360 is a subscription-based program that provides the custom tools and resources you need to measure and self-monitor your Dining Services program. If you want to learn how e360 can help optimize and improve your program, visit env360.net, email support@env360.net or call us at 720.458.6480.
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