Kathleen Wood, renowned restaurant industry consultant and co-owner of Suzy’s Swirl, has been invited to join a delegation from the Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) to participate in the organization’s first White House issues briefing.
The meeting is an opportunity for top women business leaders from across the nation to engage in dialogue with the White House about issues that affect women in the foodservice industry. More than 30 executives are expected to join the delegation, which is being led by WFF Board Chair Lorna Donatone and President & CEO Fritzi Woods.
“I’m obviously very excited and honored to be part of the WFF’s delegation,” says Kathleen Wood. “Each of us feels very strongly about cultivating more women leaders in our industry, advancing small businesses, and supporting the strategic direction of the WFF. This meeting will be another important step in advancing these important initiatives.”
The delegation is scheduled to hear remarks from senior White House officials including Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Obama and chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, and Sam Kass, assistant White House chef and senior policy advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives. Other members of the President's staff will brief the delegation on the Administration's jobs and economic priorities and domestic policy issues related to immigration and education.
“The foodservice industry is the second-largest private industry employer in the nation. With only fifteen percent of executive leadership roles filled by women, building a strategic partnership with the White House will help us drive attention to our mission of advancing women leaders,” says Fritzi Woods, president and CEO, WFF.
Joining the WFF’s leaders and Ms. Wood are representatives from The Coca-Cola Company, Darden Restaurants, KFC Corporation, McDonald’s, PepsiCo, Sodexo, Starbucks, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, and YUM! Brands, among others.
