MYRTLE BEACH, SC — A variety of events, including informative workshops, a keynote speech from a legendary football coach, receptions, parties, a dinner-dance and a golf tournament, all combined with a new venue to make the Southeast Produce Council’s 2014 fall conference a success.

Close to 300 people attended this year’s annual fall conference, held Sept. 25-28, here, at the Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes, according to SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees.

Legendary football coach Bobby Bowden gave the keynote address.“My overall impression of this year’s conference is that it was a success,” Vorhees told The Produce News Sept. 30. “The workshops on Friday were pretty much standing room only, Bobby [Bowden] did a great job at the keynote lunch and we recognized some people who certainly deserved to be recognized.”

This was the first time that the Southeast Produce Council had chosen a beach resort for its annual fall conference, a somewhat risky decision considering that the timing falls during the Atlantic hurricane season.

But the weather was excellent during the entire conference, especially for the 14th annual Ken Lanhardt Memorial Golf tournament, with sunny days and cool nights. “So it turned out really nice,” said Vorhees.

After the traditional Get Acquainted Cocktail Party Thursday evening, the conference got under way Friday morning with two workshops.

The first one was titled Best Hiring Practices: What Can You Do to Retain Talent, moderated by Dave Stornetta, owner and president of Produce Careers Inc. Panelists were Angela Spry, commodity buyer for Delhaize America; Bob Massive, president of FreshPoint Atlanta; and Harold Paivarinta, director of sales and business development for JemD Farms.

“Today there’s a war on talent, and talent is winning,” Stornetta said in his opening remarks. He noted that 10,000 baby boomers are retiring every week, “and the labor pool is shrinking.”

“Turnover costs money,” said Spry, the first panelist. “It’s a cost benefit to retain good employees.” She said that people leave a company “if they feel their talents aren’t being utilized,” they leave because of a lack of “quality supervision,” they leave “if they don’t believe they’re being treated fairly or equitably,” and they leave “if they don’t think they’re appreciated.”

Massive said that regarding recruitment and hiring, “I look for people who are interested. Do they want a job or a career? Find a person to fit in and build a team.” He looks not necessarily for a “home run hitter” but for a “good utility man,” since the chemistry of a team can be crucial.

He said that “experience is very important” in the produce industry and that even part-time employees with a lot of experience “can be very helpful.” Likewise, retirees with a lifetime of experience “who still want to work a little can contribute to our industry.”

Paivarinta said that at his company, “We really put people first,” adding, “We’re constantly evolving; we embrace change.” In that effort “to have and keep a good balance,” his company looks to have “a good mix of experienced and new talent.” Or as he put it, “45s and iPods.”

The second workshop was titled Locally Grown Produce: Direct from the State Agriculture Departments, moderated by Steve Pinkston, senior buyer for the local sourcing team at Walmart Stores. Panelists were Kimberly Coker, marketing representative II at the Division of Marketing & Development for the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services; G.W. Stanley, domestic marketing supervisor for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture; Butch Nottingham, marketing specialist at the Virginia Department of Agriculture; Martin L. Eubanks, South Carolina’s assistant commissioner of agriculture; and R.H. (Sonny) Dickinson, retail merchandiser and assistant director of marketing for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.

In his opening remarks, Pinkston noted that for Walmart, the definition of local is, “If it’s grown in the state and sold in the state, it’s local.”

Coker said that the “Fresh from Florida” logo is a hallmark for the department in a “very competitive market.” Education campaigns target young children and their parents on using Florida products. The state also uses traditional print and television media as well as online social media to reach consumers.

Stanley spoke of his department’s official marketing program, known as “Got to Be NC Agriculture,” noting that the department gets the word out in part by attending trade events such as the National Restaurant Association show.

Nottingham said that there is “a lot of diversity” to Virginia agriculture, which is the largest industry in the state. Vegetables are grown mostly in the eastern part of the state, and fruit is grown mostly in the central part of the state.

“They say that local is the new organic,” he said, and “Virginia Grown” is the “cornerstone of our promotion of local products.” His state conducts four to five buyer tours each year, organized around the needs of the individual buyer. It also attends about four trade shows each year, he said, adding, “The SPC expo gives tremendous value.”

Eubanks said that his state’s “Certified South Carolina” program and other programs “are designed to enhance the programs of retailers.” State programs “can reinforce retailers’ programs.”

Dickinson stated, “We continue to reach out to the consumer,” adding, “We try to build a brand. This is a serious commitment to South Carolina agriculture.”

After the workshops came the luncheon and general session, where Bobby Bowden, former head football coach at Florida State University, delivered the keynote speech.

“I coached for 57 years,” said the legendary coach, whose teams achieved enormous success. Why was Bowden so successful? “Loyalty is the key,” he said. “You’ve got to have people that believe in you, and I’ve got to be loyal to you.”

In looking for the right players — or business associates — it is vitally important to look for those with what the coach called “it.”

In other words, Bowden said, look for those with heart, desire and positive thinking. “It’s true in my business,” he stated, “and it’s true in your business.”

Following Bowden’s remarks, SPC President Andrew Scott of Superior Sales Inc. gave the annual State-of-the-Council address.

He noted that the council’s 2013 Southern Exposure retail conference expo last March drew a total attendance of 1,619. The 2014 event will be held at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, FL, with the theme, “Join Us Under the Big Top.” Bill Cowher, former coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers and now an analyst for the NFL Network’s studio show, “The NFL Today,” will be the keynote speaker. Southern Exposure will also be held in Orlando in 2015, move to Hollywood, FL, in 2016, and return to Orlando in 2017.

Up next were committee reports from marketing and membership, education, sponsorship, attendance, Southern Exposure and community outreach, as well as reports on the various SPC programs: scholarships, the James & Theresa Nolan Family Foundation Scholarship, STARS, STEP-UPP, the Society of St. Andrew, RAMP and Strong 4 Life.

Drew Read, chief operating officer of the Paul Anderson Youth Home, spoke a little about that organization.

To conclude the general session, the winners of the inaugural Shed the Pounds Contest were announced: Rick Murrah of Flavor Pic Tomato came in third, Jennifer Pierce of the Southeast Produce Council came in second, and Tom Coufal of Lakeside Produce came in first.

Friday concluded with the president’s dinner-dance, which included a surprise announcement about the group’s annual golf tournament being renamed for Tom Page.

Also at the dinner-dance, three new members of the SPC board of directors were announced: Tim Forseth of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Dug Schwalls of Southern Valley Fruit & Veg Inc. and Harold Paivarinta of JemD Farms.

Attendees relaxed on Saturday, with some participating in the sporting clays tournament, while others enjoyed the golf tournament. The event concluded Saturday evening with the Ultimate Tailgate & Margaritaville Party.

The 2014 SPC fall conference is scheduled for Sept. 25-27 at the Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa in Young Harris, GA.