FPSA Launches Leadership Development Conference for Early- to Mid-Career Food Manufacturing Professionals

Image courtesy of FPSA

The Food Production Solutions Association (FPSA) has announced the launch of “Cultivate: Leadership Growth Lab,” a two-day leadership development conference for early- to mid-career professionals in food production and manufacturing. The inaugural event is scheduled for November 5–6, 2026, in Lexington, Kentucky.

Addressing Industry Leadership Needs

According to FPSA, the conference was developed in response to an industry leadership gap identified through workforce research. The association cited findings from its 2025 Member Research: Trends in U.S. Workforce Gap and Solutions study, which reported that 75 percent of fabricators and 64 percent of service technicians demonstrated leadership skill deficiencies at the time of hire or promotion. The study also found that 48 percent of surveyed companies had formal leadership training programs.

Event Overview

FPSA said the program is designed to emphasize practical leadership development through three core components: leadership labs, team challenges, and ongoing accountability. Participants will complete a DiSC behavioral assessment before the conference and will be assigned to small peer groups, called "Cultivate Circles," that will work together throughout the event and continue as post-conference accountability networks.

The conference will open with a keynote presentation by Jason Burke, Founder and CEO of The New Primal, who will discuss leadership lessons from his career in the food industry. Additional programming will include interactive sessions focused on communication, managing difficult conversations, and leading without formal authority.

The second day will feature a tour of a local food production facility, followed by a team-based operational leadership simulation in which participants will apply concepts introduced during the conference.

Registration and Details

Registration is open through October 30, 2026. Registration fees begin at $995 for FPSA members and $1,495 for nonmembers, and include the DiSC assessment, conference sessions, transportation between event venues, and an opening reception. FPSA also announced a promotion allowing organizations that register two attendees to receive a third registration at no additional cost.

Attendance will be limited to approximately 80 participants. Attendees are expected to participate in the full two-day program because of the collaborative group format.

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The Food Safety Magazine editorial team comprises Bailee Henderson, Director of Content Strategy and news editor ✉, and Adrienne Blume, M.A., Director of Editorial and Industry Engagement.