

September 28 – October 1, 2025
Columbus, OH

Executive Leadership Summit
Chart What’s Next.
Held in conjunction with the IFDA Solutions Conference, the Executive Leadership Summit is where foodservice distribution’s top minds tackle what’s next. This exclusive forum brings industry leaders together to explore the critical challenges and opportunities shaping the future, all while fostering peer-driven conversations that spark innovation and personal and professional growth.
*Invite only event. Agenda subject to change.
Sunday, September 28
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Solutions Conference Welcome Reception
Hilton Columbus Downtown – The Atrium 401 Tower, 2nd Floor
6:30 PM
Executive Leadership Summit Dinner
Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse
Immerse yourself in the glitz and glamour of the gilded age in Jeff Ruby’s vibrant, Art Deco-inspired, award-winning steakhouse. Located in a historic building adjacent to the Columbus Convention Center, they have earned a reputation for delivering over-the-top and incomparable total dining experiences.
Monday, September 29
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Solutions Conference Networking Breakfast
Greater Columbus Convention Center, Union Station Ballroom Foyer
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Jonathan Brill, Executive Chairman, Center for Radical Change
Solutions Conference General Session
Greater Columbus Convention Center, Union Station Ballroom
Win the Next Five Years
The next few years might be crazy, but your business doesn’t have to be. In this keynote, Jonathan Brill will reveal how AI, economic shifts, demographic trends, and geopolitical changes are unlocking new opportunities for C-suite executives, and operations professionals. From autonomous trucks to AI administration and enhanced capital flow to advanced cold chains, attendees will gain science-based frameworks for responsible investments in transportation, warehousing, and supply chain operations. Attendees will walk away with mind-opening insights and actionable strategies to future-proof their business and secure real-world advantages over the next five years.
Learn More About the Speaker
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Transition to the Executive Leadership Summit
Hilton Columbus Downtown, Gina Knee Room, Tower 402, 4th Floor
Transition from the Solutions Conference at the Greater Columbus Convention Center to the Executive Leadership Summit at the Hilton Columbus Downtown, Gina Knee Room, Tower 402, 4th Floor
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM
Executive Leadership Summit Welcome & Introductions

Kick off the 2025 Executive Leadership Summit with a warm welcome from IFDA President and CEO Mark Allen. This welcome session sets the tone for a day of high-level insights and strategic conversation, offering a preview of the themes and opportunities that lie ahead. Mark will be joined by Julien Leblanc, Founder and President of Blueprint, who will serve as the Executive Leadership Summit Moderator.
Learn More About the Speakers
9:45 AM – 10:30 AM

Dr. Peter H. Cressy
Director, Executive Leadership Programs,
George Washington Leadership Institute
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Churchill: A Strategic Approach to Leading in Times of Crisis and Change
Taking advantage of the powerful lessons of history across three centuries, this dynamic and remarkably relevant presentation identifies eight common traits that these four extraordinary leaders used to guide their countries through times of great crisis and change. This discussion emphasizes the fundamental importance of strategic vision, effective communication, visibility, and collaboration in dealing with the inherent anxiety created by crisis and change and charting a positive path forward.
Learn More About the Speaker
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM

Alex Moazed, Founder & CEO, Applico Capital
The Tech-Enabled B2B Distributor
The distributor of the future will grow faster, operate more profitably, and integrate acquisitions more seamlessly by leveraging modern infrastructure powered by AI and machine learning. But realizing that potential requires more than technology alone – it demands clear strategy, new skill sets, and disciplined execution.
This session will explore how large B2B distributors are evolving into tech-enabled distributors, addressing long-standing industry challenges at a moment when AI and distribution technology are finally reaching true commercial viability and driving real operational outcomes.
Hear from Alex Moazed, Founder & CEO of Applico Capital, a leading technology investor in B2B distribution. Applico launched the industry’s first venture capital fund in 2023, investing in technology startups that help distributors. And, has since expanded into private equity by investing in select, scaled B2B distributors to accelerate their digital transformation through AI.
Learn More About the Speaker
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

Dr. Anirban Basu, Chairman and CEO, Sage Policy Group
Monetary Masala
With the presidential and congressional elections of 2024 in the rearview, our eyes turn to 2025. Has the Federal Reserve engineered a soft landing, or is stagflation on the way? Can America continue to pace the advanced world, or will expanding indebtedness, policy uncertainty, and over-extended asset values prove our collective undoing? This presentation focuses on U.S. and regional economic performance with an eye toward discussing emerging risks to what has thus far been an economy that has surprised to the upside.
Learn More About the Speaker
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Lunch
Generously supported by:
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM

Inside the Beltway: What’s Happening in Washington and Why It Matters
Step into the heart of Washington with this session designed to keep you apprised of IFDA priorities and the latest developments in Congress and the Administration. We’ll unpack what’s happening, who’s driving it, and what it means for foodservice distributors. Whether you’re a policy pro or just trying to make sense of the noise, this session will offer clear insights and actionable takeaways. Bring your questions — this is your chance to get answers from the experts tracking Capitol Hill and regulatory agencies in real time.
Learn About the Speakers
1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Executive Leadership Summit Wrap-up and Adjourn
1:15 PM
Solutions Conference Expo
Greater Columbus Convention Center, Hall A