SNAC International’s Executive Leadership Forum (ELF) is the premier education, strategy, and networking event for leaders across the snack industry value chain—producers, marketers, suppliers, and innovators.
Over the course of 2.5 days, senior executives come together in an intimate, scenic setting to engage in high-level discussions and build meaningful connections with peers. The agenda is designed with a business-first mindset, offering strategic insights on navigating today’s complex landscape—from shifting consumer expectations and economic uncertainty to regulatory challenges under a new Administration.
What to Expect:
Thought-provoking sessions on consumer decision-making, economic trends, and engaging the next generation
A customizable agenda with optional activities designed to encourage informal networking
A chance to recharge and reflect with leaders shaping the future of snacks—from challenger brands to global companies
With limited attendance and curated programming, ELF delivers a rare opportunity to step back, think big, and lead forward.
Leadership Development Incentives
To support the next generation of industry leaders, SNAC offers 50% registration discounts for:
Rising Stars – First-time attendees nominated by member companies
Women in Snacks (WinS) – First-time female attendees advancing leadership diversity
Nominate team members by contacting Lauren Sokoll at lsokoll@snacintl.org.
The Forum has shifted to take place from Monday to Wednesday, which means you can now travel without having to worry about interrupting your weekend plans. This change represents a departure from the previous schedule, which spanned from Sunday to Tuesday.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6
- SNAC Committee Meetings by invitation only
- 12:30 – 5:00pm: Optional Recreation – Golf Tournament
- 12:15 – 5:00pm: Optional Recreation – Trap Shooting
- Opening Reception and Dinner
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7
7:30 – 8:45am: Women in Snacks (WinS) Breakfast with featured guest Susan Madsen, Ph.D., Professor, Scholar, Expert on Women and Leadership
8:00 – 9:00am: Breakfast
9:00 – 9:30am: Welcome and State of the Association presented by Christine Cochran, SNAC International
9:30 – 10:15am: Olympic Games: Helping Unify Our World presented by Fraser Bullock, Salt Lake City-Utah 2034
10:15 – 10:30am: Break
10:30 – 11:15am: Economic Roadmap for Uncertain Times presented by Robert Spendlove, Senior Economist, Zions Bank
11:15am – 12:00pm: Consumer Decision-Making Right Now presented by Chad Lusk, Alvarez & Marsal Consumer & Retail Group
12:00 – 1:00pm: Lunch
1:00 – 2:30pm: Interactive Workshop: Leading Relationships presented by Steve McClatchy, Best-Selling Author and Keynote Speaker
2:30 – 2:45pm: Break
2:45 – 3:30pm: Product Development in Challenging Times presented by Barb Stuckey, Chief New Product Strategy Officer, Mattson
5:00 – 6:00pm: SnackPAC Reception
6:15pm: Open Evening and Dine Around
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8
8:00 – 9:00am: Breakfast
9:00 – 9:45am: Gen-Z Decoded: The Forces Shaping a Generation presented by Amy He, Morning Consult
9:45 – 10:30am: Gen-Z Snacking: Digital, Convenient, and Delivered presented by Michael Peroutka, GoPuff
10:30 – 10:45am: Break
10:45 – 11:30am: Gold Medal Mindset presented by Apolo Ohno, Olympic Champion, Author, and Keynote Speaker
11:30am: Closing Remarks and Adjourn
- 12:15 – 5:00pm: Optional Recreation – UTV Tour
- 12:30 – 5:00pm: Optional Recreation – Fly Fishing
- Closing Reception and Dinner
MEET OUR PRESENTERS
Women in Snacks (WinS) Featured Guest Speaker
Susan Madsen, Ph.D., Professor, Scholar, Expert on Women and Leadership
Professor Susan R. Madsen is a Professor of Organizational Leadership in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. Dr. Madsen is considered one of the top global thought leaders on the topic of women and leadership, has authored or edited nine books, and has published hundreds of articles, chapters, and reports. Her research has been featured in the U.S. News and World Report, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Parenting Magazine, Chronicle of Higher Education, The Washington Post, and she is a regular contributor to Forbes. She is a well-known speaker in local, national, and international settings. Susan has founded many women’s networks, and she serves on a host of nonprofit, community, and association boards and committees. Madsen has received numerous awards for her teaching, research, and service.
- Tuesday, October 7
- 7:30 - 8:45am
Olympic Games: Helping Unify Our World
presented by Fraser Bullock, Executive Chair and President of Salt Lake City-Utah 2034
Since the rekindling of the Ancient Olympic Games in 1896, the Olympic and Paralympic Games have become a movement that has helped bring unity to our world. While for 17 days, the Games capture the attention of the planet as athletes seek their dreams of gold, what the Olympic Movement brings universally is a unifier of humankind.
In 1999, Fraser Bullock left a thriving business career to partner with Mitt Romney and serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Through the challenge of 9/11, the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games rose to be recognized as one of the best of all time. Even more importantly, the surplus funds from the well-managed Games created a legacy of sport that is still thriving today nearly a quarter century later.
And in 2024, Bullock, who previously served as President and CEO of the successful Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 bid, now acts as Executive Chair and President after leading the committee to secure the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Bullock will tell heart-warming stories of athletes, provide insightful looks into global sport, re-live poignant Olympic memories, and speak to the power the Olympic Movement brings to our world today.
LEARN MORE ABOUT FRASER
Fraser Bullock
Salt Lake City 2034 and Sorenson Capital
Known as one of the most influential leaders in Olympic sport, Fraser Bullock served as president and CEO of the successful Salt Lake City 2034 bid. He began his Olympic journey In 1999, setting aside his business career to help lead the 2002 Games as COO and CFO after successful tenures at Bain & Company, Bain Capital, and corporate leadership positions. Since 2002, he served as a partner at Sorenson Capital and in board roles for a host of global companies, as well as staying closely connected with Olympic and Paralympic sport. He holds an MBA and BA from BYU. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Alpine, and he is frequently found on the slopes in Park City.
- Tuesday, October 7
- 9:30 - 10:15am
Economic Roadmap for Uncertain Times
presented by Robert Spendlove, Senior Economist, Zions Bank
2025 has seen many economic twists and turns, from tariffs, imposed, paused, and cancelled, to swings in the prices of inputs, and a consumer anxiously watching it all play out. Trying to make business decisions in such an environment can be challenging, but this session will help decode the present and suggest a path ahead for the near future. Robert Spendlove, Senior Economist at Zions Bank, a former advisor to four Utah governors and himself a five-term member of the Utah Legislature, joins to share his perspective on global forces, domestic policy, and the role of the consumer.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ROBERT
Robert Spendlove
Senior Economist, Zions Bank
Robert Spendlove is the Senior Economist for Zions Bank. In this capacity he monitors and reports on economic indicators and public policy developments for the bank. Founded in 1873, Zions Bank is a division of Zions Bancorporation, which is one of the nation’s premier financial services companies and operates throughout much of the western United States. Robert’s research interests are primarily in the areas of macroeconomics, demographics, financial markets and public policy. He frequently advises and briefs policymakers, as well as business and civic groups throughout the western United States. He is also regularly called on to give expert analysis in the media, through print, radio, and television. He is known for his insightful and understandable approach to explaining economic trends.
- Tuesday, October 7
- 10:30 - 11:15am
Consumer Decision-Making Right Now
presented by Chad Lusk, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal Consumer & Retail Group
Alvarez & Marsal’s twice-a-year Consumer Sentiment Survey is a treasure trove of data and insights on the consumer’s point-of-view about their needs, their wallets, and how they shop. More than just a report about what is up and what is down in products and brands, this session will pull back the curtain on consumer behavior at-large, with takeaways for executives from snack companies of all types and sizes as they look ahead into 2026.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CHAD
Chad Lusk
Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal Consumer & Retail Group
Chad Lusk is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal, Consumer and Retail Group, where he specializes in large-scale organization and commercial transformations across consumer-facing industries, with a focus on growth strategy, marketing, and innovation. In his role, Chad brings together nearly 20-years of top-tier consulting and senior executive operator experience. Following his tenure at McKinsey & Company, Chad held multiple Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Marketing Officer positions across CPG snacking companies and retail, including Ferrara Candy, Hostess Brands, and Mid-Atlantic Convenience Stores.
- Tuesday, October 7
- 11:15am - 12:00pm
Interactive Workshop: Leading Relationships
presented by Steve McClatchy, Best-Selling Author and Keynote Speaker
In this 90-minute, interactive workshop, Steve McClatchy, esteemed leadership mentor and entrepreneur, offers a clear path to improving workplace dynamics. His thoughtful approach tackles the pervasive problems of workplace drama and ineffective relationship management, providing leaders with practical tools to build trust, confidence, and respect among colleagues. Delving into his flagship Five Levels of Maturity framework, McClatchy outlines how to progress from basic interactions to deep, meaningful connections in both personal and professional contexts.
LEARN MORE ABOUT STEVE
Steve McClatchy
Best-Selling Author & Keynote Speaker
New York Times bestselling author Steve McClatchy works with the Fortune 1000 leaders to accelerate their performance.
Steve’s longtime expertise includes leadership development, consultative selling skills, team building, work/life balance, and time management.
Philadelphia-based Steve McClatchy is a:
– Consultant to the Fortune 1000
– High-energy, inspiring keynote speaker
– Facilitator of workshops and interactive seminars; a trainer
– Media commentator to national business publications
– Author of the New York Times bestseller, DECIDE
- Tuesday, October 7
- 1:00 - 2:30pm
Product Development in Challenging Times
presented by Barb Stuckey, Chief New Product Strategy Officer, Mattson
As the definition of “snacking” evolves rapidly, so too are consumer demands around flavors, formats, nutrition, and ingredients. In this environment it can be hard to know when to innovate for a new trend, or if you risk the trend turning before you even get to shelf. And as the food industry looks to more natural ingredient options, where is there both efficacy and sufficient supply to displace older synthetic options? Join this session where an experienced food innovation expert breaks down her point-of-view on the challenges facing R&D teams and executives in this moment.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BARB
Barb Stuckey
Chief New Product Strategy Officer, Mattson
Barb has been at Mattson since 1997 and is currently Chief New Product Strategy Officer at the country’s most successful independent developer of foods and beverages for the retail food, industrial ingredient, and chain restaurant channels. Barb is known as a taste, food trend, innovation, consumer insights, and product development expert.
As part of Barb’s role in the innovation projects that make up her daily job, she is required to taste food and drinks and figure out how to make them better. After more than 25 years of doing this, she’s honed her tasting skills and ability to help others make food taste better. She shared this insight with the world when her book Taste What You’re Missing was published. Later, the paperback edition was released under the simplified title Taste.
Barb was instrumental in helping The San Francisco Cooking School integrate the science of taste into their curriculum. She taught the Fundamentals of Taste to each entering class.
She also was a contributor to Forbes.com for 5 years, where she wrote about the food industry.
In the past, Barb has sat on the advisory board of the Plant Based Foods Association and on the Board of Directors of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science at the University of California, Davis and La Cocina, the San Francisco food incubator for low income women of color.
Barb lives with her hypertaster husband, two artisan cats, and splits her time between San Francisco and Healdsburg, in the heart of Sonona wine country. She can be bribed with good tomatoes.
- Tuesday, October 7
- 2:45 - 3:30pm
Gen-Z Decoded: The Forces Shaping a Generation
presented by Amy He, Head of Industry Analysis, Morning Consult
Wednesday’s opening session will be an anthropological deep-dive into the forces shaping the Gen-Z cohort. Among these forces are their friends and immediate close circles, their obsession with health and wellness, and their (sometimes abysmal) finances. How have these forced made these older youth and young adults into the people they are today, and what does that mean for them as super consumers? Amy He, Head of Industry Analysis for Morning Consult, and an author of multiple studies on Gen-Z, join us to share her insights on this important group.
LEARN MORE ABOUT AMY
Amy He
Head of Industry Analysis, Morning Consult
Amy leads Morning Consult’s industry analysis team, which identifies trends affecting key demographics across media, retail, food, and travel. Prior to joining Morning Consult, Amy oversaw content at Suzy and was executive editor at eMarketer, publishing research on consumer, marketing and advertising trends. She graduated from New York University and has been published in The Atlantic and The Guardian, among others. She is based in New York City.
- Wednesday, October 8
- 9:00 - 9:45am
Gen-Z Snacking: Digital, Convenient, and Delivered
presented by Michael Peroutka, Head of Partnerships, Gopuff
Gopuff, the instant commerce platform fulfilling consumers’ evolving, everyday needs, is a go-to resource for many Gen-Z and Millennial shoppers in more 500 cities, suburbs and towns across the United States. The digital platform’s first-party insights offer valuable tools to understand, engage, and grow sales with Gen-Z and Millennials. These generations prioritize value, speed, and relevance when making purchase decisions, and meeting their expectations is essential to converting them into loyal online customers. This session will explore these demographics’ preferences and behaviors, providing actionable strategies to boost your success.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MICHAEL
Michael Peroutka
Head of Partnerships, Gopuff
Michael Peroutka is the Head of Gopuff Ads & Agency Partnerships at Gopuff, the leading instant commerce company. In this role, Michael ensures the company’s marketing and advertising efforts move at the speed of culture and leads a team forging meaningful relationships with value-aligned brands. Over the past 15 years, Michael has helped organizations like Disney, AOL, Imgur, and Tremor Video develop digital media ecosystems and experiences that drive value for consumers and brands alike.
- Wednesday, October 8
- 9:45 - 10:30am
The Gold Medal Mindset
presented by Apolo Ohno, Olympic Champion, Author, and Keynote Speaker
Eight-time Olympic medalist Apolo Ohno joins us to share the inspiring insights gained from conquering a sport defined by fractions of an inch and fractions of a second. Apolo will explain how to train the mind, win the moment, and lead from within. He will translate how Olympic strategy meets executive execution and the high-performance habits that fuel Apolo’s journey from elite athlete to successful operator, speaker, and investor.
LEARN MORE ABOUT APOLO
Apolo Ohno
Olympic Champion, Author, and Keynote Speaker
Apolo Anton Ohno claimed his first major speed skating title at the U.S. Championships at the age of 14—after just six months of training. Over the next decade and a half, he transformed from a young prodigy to the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian in history—a title he still holds—earning eight Olympic medals in short-track speed skating across the 2002, 2006, and 2010 Winter Games.
Since then, he has transformed himself into a bestselling author, recognized by The New York Times, and traveled the world to apply his athletic achievements to business. As a captivating speaker, Apolo has empowered countless business leaders to embrace a high-performance mindset and thrive amidst the prevailing uncertainty of the modern world. He is passionate about helping others not only achieve but exceed what they believe to be possible in both life and in business.
- Wednesday, October 8
- 10:45 - 11:30am
OPTIONAL RECREATION
Note: If you have previously registered & would like to participate in optional recreation, email Lauren Sokoll to sign-up.
