Announcements
Do you have any announcements that you would like to share with the NICA membership? Contact us today!
Join Us in Vegas December 3-6 for NICA Marketplace!
"Together" We Will Share Ideas, Networking, Products, and Services
We are proud to announce the upcoming NICA Marketplace, where "Together!" we will share ideas, networking, products, and services, taking place December 3-6, 2023 at the Tuscany Suites and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. In 48 hours you will network with colleagues, discuss practical solutions, enjoy storytelling, and return enriched.
Who:
YOU, Business Owners/Managers, Fair Industry Leaders, and Trade Show Exhibitors.
What:
NICA Marketplace will feature a non-exclusive Trade Show, Educational Sessions led by hands-on Event Industry Thought Leaders, and Networking Opportunities that are welcome and comfortable. A place where we all understand we are customers of each other and Together we share a Fair guest to serve.
Where:
Tuscany Suites and Casino, 255 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89169. $79 Room Rate Sunday, December 3rd through Thursday, December 7th, with no resort fee ($39 waived), suite sized rooms with kitchenettes, free Wi-Fi, and Free Parking! Hotel is located six blocks off the strip on Flamingo Road (directly behind Bally’s and Paris) and six minutes from the McCarran International Airport.
When:
Sunday, November 6, 2022 through Tuesday, November 8, 2022, with an optional field trip on Wednesday, November 9th.
Why:
- This is YOUR convention: programming content is focused on Industry relationships using effective communication, benefits, education, leadership, and solutions.
- Share what is working in our Fair Community.
- Place Manufacturers and Suppliers in front of Business Owners and Managers.
- Showcase Commercial Exhibitors.
- Opportunity to streamline Practices and Procedures Together.
- Share Tips and Trends.
- Connect with your Fair Friends and Family.
- The Price is Right!
How:
Thank You For Attending the 2023 NICA Business Expo & Fare Foods Food Show
At this year's event, we were proud to celebrate the theme of "All In!" On Monday and Tuesday, important topics were discussed by Concessionaire, Fair, and Associate voices at the NICA Business Expo:
- "How To" Sessions on Propane and Accessibility
- New Products That Draw Media Attention
- Why the Choices You Make During Move-In Matter
- Successful Exit Strategies
- Nuts and Bolts of Successful Selling (held at the Florida State Fair)
- Making Social Media and Marketing Work for You
- Working Together on Affordability
- What's On Your Mind?
We also featured a sold-out Heartsaver CPR Class that trained a group of attendees on Monday morning and two sessions of Roundtables that encouraged NICA Members to discuss Convenience Fees, Sustainable Packaging, Staffing, Tipping Practices, Product Duplication, and Fair Hours/Length of Stay. On Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon, the Fare Foods Food Show showcased over 50 Exhibitors in the Ballroom, Cypress Room, and Entrance Hall.
Wednesday's events featured the NICA Leadership Luncheon and the Annual General Membership Meeting, including the Passing of the Gavel, Board Installation, Greetings from IAFE, Partnerships, Coca-Cola Membership Contest Winners, NICA Year in Review, and CCE Award Presentation. Our Annual Gala closed out the evening with a Cocktail Reception, Dinner, Industry Speakers, NICA Foundation Spotlight, Hall of Fame, and Auctions. Congratulations to Hall of Fame Recipient Don Delahoyde, CCE, and thank you to all of our attendees, speakers, panelists, and presenters. We couldn’t have done it without your continued support. "Together We Are All In!"
Additional Congratulations go to Cupid's Quik Pick winners Randy Reichert, CCE, Norm Keene, Libby Class, and Cecelia Kenna, our Food Show Windfall winners Kurt Miller (Fry Cutter), Chris Conkle, CCE (2 Night Hotel Stay), Myong Burcham ($200), Mark Granum (Fry Cutter), and Todd Desgranges (2 Night Hotel Stay), as well as our many Educational Workshop Door Prize and Auction winners. The Gift of Travel Membership Prize, sponsored by Coca-Cola, was awarded to Bryan Blair, the National Leadership Prize went to Tom Hodson, CCE, the Member Referral Prize was given to Jeff Ross, and the Most New Members Prize (and Championship Belt) went to Jacqueline Bradbury, CCE.
Special Thanks to Our Event Sponsors:
Annual General Membership Meeting
Pacific Crest Concessions and R.E. Smith
NICA Leadership Luncheon
Hummel Group
Food Show Windfall
Fare Foods and NICA
Expo Educational Sessions
The Best Around, Forever Concession Trailers, Jack’s Fries, Leimon’s Pizzeria, Sweet Cheeks, and Wells Concessions
Expo Fundraisers
Forever Concession Trailers and NICA Foundation
Gala Celebration
Southern Oregon Food and Beverage and Vinnie’s Fine Foods
Gala Cocktail Reception & Dinner
Fare Foods
Gala Live Auction
Concession Mall, Eastern States Exposition, Five Star Catering, NICA, Ross Concessions, and The Thomas Hodson Company
Gala Pick-A-Ticket (Silent Auction)
5centride, Giant Ride, Jack’s Fries, Leimon’s Pizzeria, Meggers Road Concessions, Pacific Crest Concessions, Ross Concessions, Southern Oregon Food and Beverage, Sweet Cheeks, Tavern at the Park, The Thomas Hodson Company, Vinnie’s Fine Foods, and Wells Concessions
Membership Contest
The Coca-Cola Company
Stay tuned to upcoming NICA Now and NICA News publications for more coverage! We will be posting more about the event in the coming weeks, as well as an overview in the next issue of NICA News. Do you have any photos to share of the event? Make sure to send them to us by email or tag @NICAInc when you post on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so we can see them!
2023 NICA Foundation Scholarship Applications Are Now Available Online
With the financial challenges that many of our students and their families are facing right now, the NICA Foundation is honored to award life-changing funds to so many deserving students. In 2023, the NICA Foundation Scholarship Program will continue to award multiple scholarships.
The scholarship application for 2023 is now available online at www.nicainc.org/scholarship. Applications must be received in the NICA Office no later than June 1, 2023 to qualify. Start planning the next steps for the next chapter in your life today!
Thank You for Attending NICA Marketplace, "Together!"
Wow, what a week! Our Opening and Closing General Sessions, Educational Workshops, "How To" Sessions, Roundtables, and Trade Show were packed! We learned how to "Think Like Walt," thanks to Michael Bradley during the Opening Session and "What's on the Horizon?" with Gene Cassidy, CFE during the Closing General Session. Our educational workshops covered important topics such as "Affordability Defines Perceived Value," "The Ever, Ever-Changing Landscape of Commercial Exhibits," "What is Your Exit Strategy?" "Building A Food Safety Program," "Make it Pretty and Hide the Ugly," "The Sponsorship Conundrum," "Punch Up Your Purchasing Power," "The Nuts and Bolts of Successful Selling," "Math Problems, Riddles, and Their Answers," "What’s New?" "Locating Labor and Rising Labor Costs," and "Social Media and Marketing Do Work." We also had a strong showing for our Sysco Warehouse Tour on Wednesday. Thank you to our Sponsors and most importantly, YOU! We are very thankful for your continued support!
We are always striving to provide you with the best in educational and networking opportunities, and we need your help to make that happen. If you have a few minutes to spare, we encourage you to share your experience at NICA Marketplace by selecting the button below and filling out a brief survey. We look forward to hearing from you; with your feedback, we can help make next year's event even bigger and better.
Share Your NICA Marketplace Experience On Our Survey
Announcing the NICA Sysco Marketplace's New Partnership with Entegra
If you are enrolled in the NICA Sysco Marketplace, you may have received the following notice via email from Source1 Purchasing: "We regret to inform you that effective April 5, 2022, you will no longer be tied to the Source1 program." This is due to our exciting NEW partnership with Entegra Procurement Services, the world’s largest food group purchasing organization with over $24B in purchasing power.
Under your prior relationship with Source1 Purchasing through NICA, this program was always powered by Entegra. As a result of moving directly to Entegra, we have maximized incredible savings, unmatched supply chain efficiencies, and tailored business solutions that will be available directly to you.
Continue to order just as you have with the same support and points of contact through Sysco Foodservices. There will be no changes or disruption in your current account status or deliveries from Sysco as a result of this change. If you are not yet a member of the NICA Sysco Marketplace, NICA and Entegra are working together to bring you an easy enrollment process directly from the NICA website.
We look forward to serving you without interruption to your day-to-day operations. With direct access to the Entegra program, you will not only continue to save on food and beverage purchases, but on all essential purchases and programs to meet your business needs and performance goals.
Some things are changing–Your savings won’t!
With Entegra you have:
- Continued savings on all purchases across your business
- 24/7 purchasing data and insights through Savings Optimizer tools
- Complete access to a broader range of providers such as equipment, small wares, and more
- Enhanced support through Entegra’s Call Center
Expect an announcement this week for more information on how to join the program. In addition, Entegra will be reaching out to existing members to update information in order to pay the much deserved and needed rebates that will be generated as a result of your future purchases.
We are also proud to announce that Entegra has committed to participate in NICA Together: A Marketplace of Ideas, Networking, Products, and Services, November 5-8, 2022, at the Tuscany Suites and Casino in Las Vegas. Save the date now!
NICA, Sysco, and Entegra will be boosting performance together in no time. “Together We Can!”
Goodyear Pricing Tool Available to Members
We launched the Goodyear Tire benefit program over the last year and close to 50 NICA Members have already signed up! We are proud to announce a NEW Goodyear Online Pricing Tool, the Fleet Tire Finder, that will give you a closer look at how much you can save on commercial tires/retreads and consumer tires with this program.
How does the Online Pricing Tool work?
- Visit the Goodyear Online Pricing Tool directly from the Benefits List in your NICA Online Member Account.
- Search for your Commercial and Consumer tires by narrowing the results to your specific tire size or vehicle (retreads included for commercial tires).
- After narrowing down your search, or entering your tire size, the tool will display all pertinent information including Base Price, National Account Price with NICA Member Discount, and more.
You do not have to sign up for the Goodyear program to access the pricing tool, but we encourage you to do so to make sure you receive the discount when you need it. With Goodyear’s program, NICA members can conveniently buy tires at more than 5,700 locations or work with a dedicated national account manager to place an order. You must be a current NICA Member and provide your Member Number when signing up online.
Tim Koenigsfeld, Goodyear, shared, “I have enjoyed meeting the many members who have registered for the program and helping them select the correct tires for the job. If there are any questions on the registration process or about the program, please give me a call. I look forward to working with you!” You can contact Tim at (636) 234-5904 or tim_koenigsfeld@goodyear.com.
Sign Up for the Goodyear Benefit Today!
Login to Access the Goodyear Pricing Tool
Join the Conversation with NICA Live!
We have launched our brand new Facebook Group, NICA Live! and want to invite you to join us. NICA Live! is a public group for our members and for supporters of the industry to share their voices and be heard.
Are you looking for extra help for an event? Have a question about equipment? Looking at a new event to add to your route? Ask our group members for advice, and start a conversation! You can join the Group by searching NICA Live! on Facebook or by selecting the link below:
Tips for Contacting Your Elected Officials
More and more often, we are being asked to contact our elected officials regarding our Industry concerns and challenges. Here are some tips to keep handy when contacting them.
- Politicians are not interested in the opinions of people who cannot vote for them. Identify yourself as a constituent of the legislator you are contacting.
- Whether writing or calling your legislators, focus on a single topic. You will be more effective and receive a faster response.
- Ask the legislator to take specific action, like supporting a piece of legislation. Ask for a written response that gives your legislator’s position on the issue.
- Make your points quickly and concisely to have a greater impact.
- When talking about an issue it is best to use your own words.
It is easy to hope someone else will make the contact, but maybe that someone is hoping YOU will be the one who makes the contact. Abraham Lincoln reminded us we are a “government of the people, by the people and for the people.” Whatever your opinion or request, simply share it with your elected officials today.
Contact Your Representative to Replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Act
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) has been an incredibly effective recovery tool for our Industry, but for too many owners, the $28.6 billion in funding didn’t last long enough for them receive a dollar in disaster funding.
Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) have introduced the RRF Replenishment Act, HR 3807, which directs $60 billion in funding to the SBA, allowing them to complete the mission and provide sorely needed recovery dollars for our Industry. There are currently 181 Co-Sponsors to the bill: Check to see if your Representative is a Co-Sponsor
Please add your voice, share your perspective, and "Together We Can" move Congress to support the Industry by sending an email or making a phone call to your Officials; the link below will allow you to find your Representative based on zip code. Thank you for your continued support!
Sign Up Today for the NEW Goodyear Benefit
We are proud to announce a new benefit for NICA members – access to Goodyear’s leading tires and retreads with 24/7 emergency roadside service – all at a competitive national price. "Together We Can!"
With Goodyear’s program, NICA members can conveniently buy tires at more than 5,700 locations or work with a dedicated national account manager to place an order. You must be a current NICA Member and provide your Member Number when signing up online.
How it Will Work
- Complete the electronic national account sign up form by selecting the button below.
- Once sign up is complete you will receive an email from Goodyear in 1-2 days with your approval and account information.
- Once approved, visit the NICA/Goodyear page to view pricing and review details about the program before ordering.