When Southern Roots, the Southeast Produce Council's new leadership program for women in produce, held its first organizational meeting in late September during the council's fall conference in Young Harris, GA, its leaders brainstormed to come up with a memorable and exciting inaugural event.

That event will take place during Southern Exposure 2015 at the end of February, when skiing champion Picabo Street will be the featured speaker at the Southern Roots luncheon. The luncheon is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Caribe Royale All-Suite Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, FL, site of Southern Exposure 2015, scheduled for Feb. 26-28.

"It is very nice to have someone of her caliber at our first event," SEPC First Vice President Teri Miller, who is chairing the new Southern Roots program, told The Produce News Nov. 10, adding that the luncheon will be open only to women.

Picabo StreetStreet is expected to talk about her sport as well as how she blended her skiing career in what was in the 1980s a male-dominated sport, said Miller, who is with Delhaize America.

Born April 3, 1971, Picabo Street has won numerous World and Olympic medals, including a gold medal in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Shortly after winning her gold medal, Street careened off course while racing in Switzerland. She crashed, snapping her left femur and tearing a ligament in her right knee. She was in rehabilitation for two years following the accident before retiring in front of her hometown crowd at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Beyond her achievements in sports, Street has worked to make an impact on people of all ages, especially children. Founder of Picabo's Street of Dreams Foundation, her mission is to help children achieve their dreams.

Dividing her time between Park City, UT, and Birmingham, AL, she and her husband, John, have four young boys.

For additional information about Southern Exposure or to register for the event, visit www.sepcsouthernexposure.com.