Food Industry Executive Program

Elevate your potential with our program designed exclusively for preparing the food industry’s future leaders, in partnership with the Western Association of Food Chains.

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Program Information

Elevate your potential with our program designed exclusively for preparing the food industry’s future leaders, in partnership with the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC).

In an immersive four days of business curriculum tailored specifically for industry executives, the Food Industry Executive Program (FIEP) delivers innovative knowledge and critical skills essential for executives to elevate their personal leadership and management skills and effectively lead their organizations. Learn the latest industry trends while networking with your peers.

EXECUTIVE-IN-RESIDENCE: Oscar Gonzalez, Co-President of Northgate Gonzalez Market, named 2020 USC FIEP Executive-in-Residence

The USC Marshall School of Business Food Industry Executive Program (FIEP) has named Oscar Gonzalez, Co-President at Northgate Gonzalez Market, as Executive-in-Residence for FIEP 2021/22.

Gonzalez is a graduate of the Pepperdine University Executive MBA program. He serves on the boards of the Food Marketing Institute, the Western Association of Food Chains, and Homeboy Industries. He has also served on the board of Unified Grocers, as well as being on the Coca Cola Retailing Council. In addition, Gonzalez is active in the Young Presidents Organization. In 2018 Oscar and his family received the Robert B Wegman Award and The Stars & Stripes Good Scout Award in 2013. In 2020, Oscar was named Executive of the Year for the USC Food Industry Management Program.

“I have seen first-hand the transformational impact that the USC FIEP program has had on our many associates who have graduated from the program. Not only has the program produced a well-rounded growth in their overall business knowledge, but it has helped them develop a heightened level of self-confidence and thirst for learning, which has positively shaped all aspects of their lives” says Gonzalez.

Gonzalez lives in Southern California with his wife Silvia and four children – Karla Teresa, Clarissa, Oscar Miguel, and Victoria Nicole. His personal life revolves around family activities associated with his immediate and large extended family – including 12 siblings and 50 nephews and nieces.

EARN A DIGITAL BADGE AND CERTIFICATE:

We understand that an important aspect of our programs is the ability to share your accomplishment with important stakeholders. Upon completing the Food Industry Executive Program, you will earn a digital badge recognizing your new proficiency. Share and showcase your achievements by posting your digital badge on online resumes and social networks such as LinkedIn.

Key Takeaways / Curriculum:

Strategic Mindset
Industry Evolution and Disruption
Strategic Marketing
The Science of Bias, Diversity and Inclusion
Leadership, Power and Influence
Executive Presence and Communication

Who Should
Attend

The program is geared to high-potential food industry managers, directors and executives seeking to grow and strengthen their leadership and strategic thinking skills, foster teamwork and collaboration, and increase revenue. Attendance by multiple company representatives will amplify the program's impact and will enable the organization to align performance more quickly throughout the organization.

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Time

7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

TIME REQUIREMENT

4 days, totaling 32 hours

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Dates

First Dates –September 19 to 22, 2022

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Second Dates –March 13 to 16, 2023

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Program Cost

$3,995

COURSE DISCLAIMER– Every reasonable effort will be made to ensure this course runs as described on this webpage. Please note that course dates and professors can be subject to change. You will be notified by email in advance if there is a date change as we understand that you may require travel and hotel to attend.

TEACHING
METHODS

Taught by both USC Marshall faculty and relevant food industry subject matter experts, FIEP equips the next generation of food and CPG leaders with the tools and skills to compete in today’s marketplace.

Program Faculty

Cynthia McCloud

Director, Food Industry Programs, and Adjunct Professor of Management and Organization

Cynthia McCloud joined USC with a 40 year career in the food industry. She has led teams in both the U.S. and in international markets including: France, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, Singapore and Australia. She is a certified executive coach and has held leadership roles in multi-national companies and start-ups. Her focus today is on organizational leadership and development.

Cynthia Alt

Adjunct Professor of Clinical Business Communication

Cynthia Alt has over 25 years of experience consulting in the areas of organizational and leadership development. Her expertise resides in her ability to align individual and organizational goals in order to maximize productivity and obtain desired results. Dr. Alt's approach focuses on partnering with clients as they work together to achieve goals. She has extensive experience helping clients improve communication on a personal and organizational perspective. Past research focused on encouraging team creativity, profit sharing in organizations, and identifying factors leading to employee engagement and performance. Dr. Alt has been teaching for the CMC since 2014.

Diane Badame

Professor of Clinical Marketing

Diane Badame specializes in the fields of marketing management, customer satisfaction and new product development. She currently serves as the Academic and Program Director of the Master of Science in Marketing Program. Professor Badame received Marshall's Golden Apple Teaching Award in 2010 and 2018. Before joining Marshall, she held senior management positions with major consumer packaged goods and financial services companies. Professor Badame also consults with business organizations in the areas of marketing strategy, new product developments and customer satisfaction.

Nathanael Fast

Associate Professor of Management and Organization

Nathanael Fast studies the underpinnings of power and influence in organizations and society. His research examines the psychological determinants and consequences of hierarchy, social networks, and new technology adoption, with implications for the future of work. He directs the Hierarchy, Networks, & Technology Lab (HiNT Lab) at USC and is Co-Director of the Psychology of Technology Institute. He received his PhD in Organizational Behavior from Stanford University and has been recognized for both teaching and research, including USC’s Golden Apple Teaching Award, the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research, and Poets & Quants "best 40 b-school profs under the age of 40."

Shon Hiatt

Associate Professor of Management and Organization

Shon Hiatt is an associate professor at USC Marshall School of Business and faculty affiliate of the Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. He researches entrepreneurship, ESG strategy, and He is the recipient of numerous scholarly and teaching honors, including the Kauffman Junior Faculty Fellowship in Entrepreneurship and the Academy of Management and ARCS Emerging Scholar Awards. Prior to joining USC, he was on the faculty at Harvard Business School. sustainable innovation in domestic and international contexts. Professor Hiatt’s research has been published in academic journals and featured in media outlets.

Sarah Townsend

Interim Assistant Vice Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Associate Professor of Management and Organization

Sarah Townsend studies the psychological foundations of inequality. Her research reveals the dysfunctional behaviors and physiological costs that can result when individuals’ cultural norms collide with the dominant cultural norms of organizations. She examines how these “cultural divides” are often a hidden source of inequality, but how they can be used to lessen opportunity gaps and fuel greater cross-group understanding. The director of the Culture, Diversity, and Psychophysiology lab (CPD Lab) at USC, Dr. Townsend has received recognition including, being named a “Rising Star” by the Association for Psychological Science and “Professor of the Week” by Poets & Quants.

Kyle Mayer

Chair and Professor of Management and Organization

Kyle Mayer studies how firms govern relationships with other firms, with particular attention to the contract and its role in establishing a framework for the relationship. His research has been published in Organizational Science, Academy of Management Journal, Management Science, and Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization. He served on the editorial board of Academy of Management Journal, Organization Science, Academy of Management Review, and Strategic Management Journal. He received a Golden Apple Award in 2003, Marshall's Educator of the Year Award in 2006, and a Mellon Mentoring Award from USC in 2006.