"We just hit the 300 mark in attendance for the Southeast Produce Council Fall Conference," Terry Vorhees, executive director of the SPC, told The Produce News Aug. 22. "We have a full and exciting venue planned and are looking forward to an outstanding event."

The conference, scheduled for Sept. 20-22, will be held at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, which is where the organization's very first fall event was held in 2000.

Mr. Vorhees said that everyone is voicing excitement that Roy Williams, head basketball coach at the University of North Carolina, will be the guest speaker at the general session and luncheon Sept. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

On Sept. 19, the evening before the conference officially opens, the council will host a reception and dinner for the 2012 Southeast Training Education Program for Upcoming Produce Professionals, commonly referred to by its acronym, STEP-UPP.

"The SPC's goal of helping young people learn about the produce industry and inspire them to make their careers in it was the inspiration behind the Step-Upp Program," said Mr. Vorhees. "The inaugural STEP-UPP class, in 2011, set the bar by donating $500 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through the Produce for Kids Program. The first STEP-UPP class was awarded their certificates at last year's fall conference, and the second class will be awarded at this year's conference."

Kicking off the official conference opening on Sept. 20 will be the STEP-UPP continental breakfast, followed by field tours for the participants.

The registration desk opens at 11 a.m. The directors' meeting will run from 1-4 p.m., and from 3:30-5 p.m. the STEP-UPP review will be held.

The Get Acquainted cocktail reception, which will be held in the country club of the resort, is from 6-8 p.m.

Following the cocktail reception, the SPC will host a night golf event. The cost is $10 per shot, and SPC will provide clubs. All proceeds will go to support the RAMP program. The first place winner will receive a prize gift card.

On Terry VorheesFriday, committee meetings and the STEP-UPP Team Building Program are scheduled from 8-11 a.m. The general session and luncheon will be held in the A&B Ballrooms.

A change for the SPC's fall conference this year will be at the general session and luncheon, when President John Shuman will give his annual State of the Council address, and committee chairs will give brief reports on their respective committees' programs. This will be followed by a question and answer session.

The luncheon is also when Coach Roy Williams will address conference attendees.

Owner of two NCAA championships and the best winning percentage of any active coach in the nation, Coach Williams is in his ninth season at the University of Carolina and his 24th overall as one of the great college head coaches of all time. Over the last 10 years, Mr. Williams has won 288 games -- second-most in the country -- and coached four National Players of the Year. He won 33 NCAA tournament games and led Kansas and UNC to the Final Four five times. That's more NCAA Tournament victories and more Final Fours than any coach in the nation, according to the SPC website.

"He's pretty much a legend in college basketball," said Mr. Vorhees. "We were fortunate to get him."

Amy Guerrieri, president and founder of RAMP, an association that works to fight poverty in the United States, will also speak at the luncheon. Originally known as The Rockin' Appalachian Mom Project, RAMP's vision is "to significantly improve the well-being of children and families across rural Appalachia," as its website notes, and its mission is to "connect resources, invest in communities, and empower children and families to lift themselves out of poverty, beginning in Martin County, KY."

Following the luncheon, the STEP-UPP Final Review will be held from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

The invitation-only sponsors VIP reception will be held in Vanderbilt Terrace from 6-7 p.m., followed by the president's dinner dance in the Grand Ballroom. During the dinner dance, the council will introduce its new officers and board of directors. Mr. Shuman's term as president will end, and as he steps down all the other officers will move up. Andrew Scott, sales and procurement manager for General Produce Inc. will become president, David Sherrod of Apio Inc. will become first vice president, Mark Daniels of Military Produce Group will become second vice president, Sheila Carden of the National Mango Board will become secretary, and a new treasurer will be elected.

"When my term as president ends, I will have been on the board for one decade," said Mr. Scott. "I attended my first SPC Valentine's Day dinner dance in 2001, when I was working for C.H. Robinson. Over the years I have gotten to know so many wonderful produce people, and I have formed some strong friendships."

Mr. Scott said that his goal for his two-year term is to continue the trend of successes of past presidents. His leadership style is teamwork-oriented. He listens to what others have to say about an issue and moves forward in decision making as a strong and united team.

Saturday, the last day of the session, is packed full of enjoyable events for everyone. Registration for the 13th annual Ken Lanhardt Memorial Golf Tournament opens at 7:30 a.m., and tee time is at 8:30 a.m.

"The SPC's first fall event in 2000 was known as the Ken Lanhardt Memorial Golf Tournament," said Mr. Vorhees. "Ken was the director of produce at Cub Foods in Atlanta when we put the original SPC committee together. I asked him to serve on that original committee, which met for the first time in August of 1999."

"Ken died of cancer in the spring of 2000," he continued. "We felt that because he never made it to our real first event, that we would name it in his honor."

Sporting Clays' event on Saturday will be held at River Bend, a private hunting club in upstate South Carolina. Participants will meet at 6:45 a.m. for a 7 a.m. departure.

The Spouse Tour is also scheduled for Saturday. Participants will depart the resort at 9:30 a.m., and travel with a guide who will offer a windscreen tour of Asheville, including the entertaining background about its history, the impact of George Vanderbilt and his Biltmore Estate on the region and Asheville's phenomenal Art Deco architecture.

Conference attendees are also offered an exclusive 10 percent discount at Illusions Day Spa of Asheville. Located just minutes from Grove Park, the spa offers a wide range of spa services.

The conference will conclude with the Ultimate Tailgate Party beginning at 5 p.m.