The Southeast Produce Council has completed what is surely another hugely successful event — its 2014 conference and trade show — with record overall attendance, including record attendance by members of the retail and foodservice sector, all leading SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees to state, "I'm very pleased."

The event, known as Southern Exposure, was held Feb. 27 to March 1 at the Caribe Royale Conference Center & Hotel in Orlando, FL.

One of the highlights of the event came Thursday, Feb. 27, with the annual golf tournament, which has been renamed the Tom Page Golf Classic, in honor of Tom Page, one of the founders of the council and who also served as a former president.

"I was a little concerned on Thursday because of the cooler temperatures and the light rain," said Vorhees. "But the golf tournament turned out to be a great success. And the fact that it was the inaugural Tom Page tournament made it very special."

The foursome of Nate Branch, Kellen Copeland, Sam Harden and Dug Schwalls, all of Southern Valley, placed first on the Watson course and first overall in the tournament. Their names will be engraved on the new Claret Jug Perpetual Trophy that will reside forever at the SPC headquarters, according to Andrew Scott of Coosemans Worldwide and president of the council.

For the first time at Southern Exposure, a retail-foodservice luncheon was held Friday, Feb. 28, as just one way to show the council's appreciation for the support of all the retail and foodservice members.

"I think [the entire event] went very well," Vorhees told The Produce News Monday, March 3. "I'm very pleased that we had record attendance." The total number didn't quite hit the 1,800 mark, but "we came in at 1,793 in total attendance."

And within that number, "We did have the highest retail and foodservice attendance ever," he stated proudly. "And that number is 383."

Another highlight, of course, was the trade show, which was a bit larger than last year and which took place in two separate but adjacent areas this time.

"We added 33 exhibits and used a tent for the first time," he noted, bringing the number of exhibits to a record 267. "I was a little concerned at first about traffic, but I spoke to a number of exhibitors, and they all said the traffic was very, very good."

The council keeps a close eye on the trade show, always trying to accommodate both new companies that want to exhibit for the first time as well as the strong desire by the retail-foodservice attendees and the membership to maintain the personal atmosphere of the show. It is an admittedly tough balancing act every year.

With those factors in mind and with Southern Exposure returning to the Caribe Royale next year, Vorhees said that the maximum number of exhibits will remain at 267. In 2016, the show will move to a new venue, the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, in Hollywood, FL, where the trade show will again take place under one roof. But even then, "I believe that the maximum number of exhibits we will have will be 275," declared Vorhees.

The executive director was also pleased with the keynote lunch, which featured Bill Cowher, a former head coach of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers and currently an analyst on the CBS television show "The NFL Today."

"We had record attendance at the keynote lunch," said Vorhees, close to 900 people. "And I really enjoyed hearing Bill Cower speak."

Looking at the overall conference and how it has grown over the years, Vorhees said, "We are really blessed. We have great attendance. And let's face it, what really makes [Southern Exposure] work is the great support from retail and foodservice buyers. This year we got attendance from some retail and foodservice companies that were never there before. So each year we continue to pick up new retail and foodservice attendees."

Bobby Creel, director of business development at L&M Cos. and chairman of Southern Exposure 2014, agreed wholeheartedly.

"It's still a little mindboggling to me that we had that many attendees there," he said. "This event is so different than anything else that's done in the produce industry because of all of the retail and foodservice attendees who are there. It's incredible to watch."

Creel was an integral part of the festivities at Saturday's keynote luncheon. "I looked over the crowd and thought, "This ballroom has over 900 people. That's just amazing to me. I thought Bill Cower did a great job as the keynote speaker. He spent all the time that anybody could have asked of him. At least 75 people stopped me to say what a great job he did and how good the expo was in general. And I'm so proud of Tom Page," who received the council's 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award.

"It was good to see all the young people who were there," continued Creel. "This industry needs young, talented people, and was good to see them there."

Creel has been involved in the council since its very early days, and takes special pride in its remarkable growth. "To remember where we came from, that's what resonates with me," he said. "What is really meaningful to me is the team that has formed around this organization."

He continued, "This is all about collaboration. No one person does [everything]. The whole team has put so much time and support into this organization. There's nothing else that can match what we're doing."

However, he quickly declared, "None of this would be possible without Terry Vorhees and his team of people. Terry's a remarkable person."