UPCOMING EVENTS
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Don't miss out on all the excitement and events during Florida Week
February 5th - 7th, 2024
February 2024 will be here before you know it and that means so will our 2024 NICA Business Expo and Fare Food Show. Our theme of this year’s event is “Tomorrow Starts Today”. This is a great opportunity for you to visit with vendors and other customers and share new ideas and products for the upcoming season.
Join us at the beautiful Sheraton Tampa Brandon Hotel, located at 10221 Princess Palm Ave. Tampa, FL, for the
2024 NICA Business Expo and Fare Foods Food Show.
We'll kick of the event on Monday where we invite you to attend the Annual General Membership Meeting, where we will hold our Year in Review, install the 2024 Board of Directors, hold the Coca-Cola Membership Contest, and hear from Benefit Partners. During the evening’s Annual Gala, we will highlight the NICA Foundation, honor a new Hall of Fame Recipient, and enjoy delicious buffer courtesy of Fare Foods.
The NICA Business Expo will be held Tues. through Wed., providing Workshops and Discussion Groups which cover the issues and the daily challenges our Industry is faced with today.
The Fare Foods Food Show will run Tuesday through Wednesday and will feature exhibitors showcasing the latest food trends and technology that will define and kickstart the 2024 Fair Season.
2024 Fare Foods Food Show
The food show has five two-hour sessions: two on Tuesday, February 6th (5:00 – 7:00 PM, 7:00 – 9:00 PM) and three on Wednesday, February 7th (3:00 – 5:00 PM, 5:00 – 7:00 PM, 7:00 – 9:00 PM). This schedule will give you and your favorite Exhibitors time to try new items and discuss your buying program. See over 50 Exhibitors inside the Food Show including Berk, Fanestil, Heinkel’s, McGowen Allied, Mr. G’s, RIO Syrup, Swanel, WNA, and many more. Exhibitors on your way into the Food Show will include Audio Innovators, Color Image Design, Eco Trikes, Fiserv, Food Concession Signs, Hummel Group, NICA, OA Finance, and Schantz/Craftsmen. Each night will be capped off with a Hospitality Reception hosted by Fare Foods.
2024 Schedule of Events
Sunday, February 4th
6:30-9:00 PM: Welcome Reception hosted by Fare Foods (Palm Room)
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Monday, February 5th
8:30 AM-12:30 PM & 4:30-5:30 PM: Onsite Registration (Lobby)
9:00-11:30 AM: Heartsaver CPR Class: $30 Fee • Limited class size (Palm Room)
Sponsored by NICA Foundation, Sweet Cheeks & The Thomas Hodson Company
Presenter: Melissa Mashaw, Tampa Bay CPR
11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Lunch Buffet (Panfilo’s Grill)
12:30-4:30 PM: ServSafe Food Manager Class: $90 Fee • Limited class size
(Palm Room) Presenter: Dave Steck, Serve it Up Safe!
Sponsored by NICA Foundation, Leimon’s Pizza & The Thomas Hodson Company
5:30-6:45 PM: Annual General Membership Meeting • wristband required
Sponsored by Southern Oregon Food & Beverage
Door Prizes: 2 Busch Gardens tickets
6:45-7:15 PM: Cocktails • wristband required (Ballroom Foyer)
7:15-10:00 PM: Legacy Dinner & Celebration • wristband required (Ballroom Foyer)
Dinner & Cocktails sponsored by Fare Foods
Celebration sponsored by Pacific Crest Concessions & R.E. Smith
Winner’s Hour Activities sponsored by Fluffy’s Donuts & Jack’s Fries
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* Must Pre-Register for CPR & ServSafe Classes - Limited Space Available
Please Call NICA Office (813) 438-8926 to Sign Up​
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Tuesday, February 6th
Tuesday Educational Workshops sponsored by Brad Ribar, CCE, Meester Mikes of Coral Gables & The Apple Cart
8:00 AM-8:00 PM: Registration Open (Lobby)
9:00-10:30 AM: DOT Update (Palm Room)
Sponsored by Hummel Group
Moderator: Phil Teague, Hummel Group • Presenter: Buddy Walls, Carrier Software
10:45-11:45 AM: Food & Beverage Trends (Palm Room)
Moderators: Audrey Poole & Trampas Porter, Fare Foods
Vendors: Alpha Baking; Berk Enterprises; Gold Medal Products; WNA Specialty Prints; Whirley Drinkworks!
11:45 AM-1:00 PM: Box Lunch & Roundtable Topics (Palm Room)
Sponsored by The Best Around • Topics: Food Trucks, Hours and Days of Operation, Internet Infrastructure, Multi-Year Agreements, and Weather Protocols
1:15-2:15 PM: Blue Ribbon Guest Service Tips (Palm Room)
Presenter: Rey O’Day, Executive Director
2:30-3:30 PM: The Next Generation is Here (Palm Room)
Moderator: Kim Barr, CCE, President • Panelists: Dennis Fraleigh, F&W Concessions; Ryan Hagy, East Council and DeAnna’s Steak Sundaes; Rachel Lough, Assistant Rental Director, Ohio State Fair; Nathan Wells, CCE, West Council; Rebecca Wells,
Pacific Crest Concessions
3:45-4:45 PM: Fiserv/Clover Update (Palm Room)
Moderator: Jennifer Giordano, CCE, Foundation Treasurer
Presenter: Tina Hollis, Fiserv/Clover
4:50 PM: Food Show Ribbon Cutting (Lobby & Entrance Hall)
Sponsored by F&W Concessions
5:00-7:00 PM: Fare Foods Food Show Group 1-T• wristband required
(Entrance Hall & Ballroom) Food Show Windfall Drawings, sponsored by Fare Foods & NICA, will be held at 6:50 & 8:50 PM in the NICA Booth
7:00-9:00 PM: Fare Foods Food Show Group 2-T• wristband required
(Entrance Hall & Ballroom)
9:15-11:00 PM Fare Foods Hospitality Reception• wristband required (Palm Room)
Wednesday, February 7th
Wednesday Educational Workshops sponsored by Miller & Company, The Ringmaster & Wells Concessions
10:00AM-8:00 PM: Onsite Registration (Lobby)
10:30-11:30 AM: NICA Foundation Annual Meeting/Board Installation • Invitation Only (Brandon 2)
11:45 AM 1:45 PM: NICA Leadership Luncheon Invitation Only (Palm Room) Sponsored by Vinnie’s Fine Foods
12:00-3:00 PM: OABA Educational Workshops (Brandon 6)
• 12:00 Presented by: John Hanschen, Thomas Carnival - How I Learned To Stop Worrying & Love ASTM Standards
• 1:00 Presented by: Drew Tewksbury, McGowan Allied Specialty Insurance - Managing Your Risk In 2024
2:00-2:45 PM: NICA & OABA Workshop: Smart Transactions - Reducing Chargebacks in Your Business (Palm Room) Presented by: Brian Kames, 123iMP
3:00-4:30 PM: Lobbying Update (Palm Room) Presenter: HB Strategies (NICA & OABA Workshop)
3:00-5:00 PM: Fare Foods Food Show Group 1-W• wristband required (Entrance Hall & Ballroom)
Food Show Windfall Drawings, sponsored by Fare Foods & NICA, will be held at 4:50, 6:50 & 8:50 PM in the NICA Booth
4:45-5:45 PM: Safety & Security (Palm Room) Sponsored by Hummel Group
Moderator: Dan Lusenhop, Treasurer • Panelists: Kelly Grout, 1st Vice President and Jack’s Fries; Tasha Hyder, Clay County Fair;
Vincent Nelson, CCE, Immediate Past President; Phil Teague, Hummel Group
5:00 PM: NICA East Council Vacation Package Drawing (NICA Booth)
5:00-7:00 PM: Fare Foods Food Show Group 2-W• wristband required (Entrance Hall & Ballroom)
7:00-9:00 PM: Fare Foods Food Show Group 3-W• wristband required (Entrance Hall & Ballroom)
8:45 PM: NICA Foundation For Our Future Drawings (NICA Booth)
9:15-11:00 PM: Farewell Reception Wristband required (Palm Room)• Cocktails & Appetizers Sponsored by Fare Foods
Thursday, February 8th
8:30 – 9:30 AM: OABA Board Breakfast with Partners (Sheraton - Salon 1)
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: OABA Board Meeting (Sheraton - Cypress Room)
1:00 PM: NEW! OABA Tabletop Trade Show (Sheraton - Salon 2 & 3)
7:00 – 10:00 PM: 8th Annual OABA Top Golf H-2B Advocacy Fundraiser (Tampa, FL TopGolf)
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Friday, February 9th
6:00 – 9:30 PM: OABA's 59th Annual Membership Meeting and Chair's Reception
Sponsored by Fare Foods (Sheraton - Ballroom) All OABA members Welcome
10:00 – 11:30 AM: SLA Scholarship Meeting (Sheraton - Brandon II)
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM: SLA Board Lunch (Sheraton - Palm Room)
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February 13th - 16th
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: IISF Trade Show 2024 - 6915 Riverview Dr. Gibsonton, FL