What does it take to build a culture of safety when mistakes are unforgiving and lives depend on flawless execution?
Marc Koehler brings a powerful perspective shaped by spending 300 days per year under the oceans surface as the SUBSAFE Quality Assurance and Safety Officer. In his keynote, Safety From the Silent Depths, Koehler explores how leadership, trust, and disciplined systems come together to create a culture where safety is not just a priority—but a way of life.
Drawing on real-world experiences from operating in silent, confined, and mission-critical conditions, Koehler translates lessons learned beneath the surface into practical insights for today’s workplaces. His message resonates deeply with organizations navigating complex labor environments, workforce safety challenges, and the responsibility of leading people through pressure, change, and risk.
Marc Koehler’s keynote will challenge leaders to rethink how safety, leadership, and trust intersect—and how those principles can strengthen organizations across the meat and protein industry.
 

Meat and poultry facilities across Kansas sit atop one of the nation’s most stressed groundwater systems—the Ogallala/High Plains Aquifer—where local control, declining water levels, and evolving policy increasingly shape operational risk and long‑term planning. This session demystifies how Kansas manages groundwater through Groundwater Management Districts (GMDs), Local Enhanced Management Areas (LEMAs), and other state tools designed to address aquifer decline. Speakers will translate Kansas’ regulatory framework and real‑world management strategies into practical insights for plant leaders, EHS teams, and capital planners navigating water reliability, expansion, and community expectations. 

This interactive best practices exchange brings safety and operations leaders together to share successful approaches to protecting workers. Walk away with actionable ideas you can adapt to elevate safety performance at your facilities.

As labor activity grows nationwide, employers must be prepared to navigate unionization efforts confidently and compliantly. This session delivers a clear, practical overview of what leaders need to know—from legal obligations and employee rights to communication and negotiation strategies that support a stable, productive workforce. Attendees will leave with actionable guidance to respond effectively to organizing activity and build stronger labor–management relationships.

Get the essential labor and employment updates every meat and poultry employer needs to know. This fast-paced session breaks down the latest legal rulings, regulatory shifts, and enforcement priorities impacting employee relations in our industry —from wage and hour trends to changes in enforcement agency priorities. . Attendees will walk away with clear, actionable guidance to reduce risk, strengthen compliance, and stay ahead of the rapidly evolving legal landscape.

In today’s tight labor market, meat and poultry employers face increasing pressure to recruit responsibly, appeal to younger workers, and develop long-term talent pipelines—all while navigating evolving workforce expectations and regulatory considerations.
This interactive session will explore practical recruiting and workforce development strategies through facilitated discussion and shared industry experience. Participants will discuss common workforce challenges, compare recruiting approaches, and examine ideas for attracting and developing early-career talent.
The conversation will include topics such as responsible recruiting practices, improving the candidate experience, engaging Gen Z workers, and building internal pipelines through training, mentorship, and supervisor-in-training programs.
Rather than a traditional lecture, this session will encourage participant engagement through small-group discussions, audience polling, and shared examples from across the industry. Attendees will leave with practical ideas and peer insights to help strengthen recruiting efforts and support long-term workforce development within their organizations.
 

 AI-driven data center growth is rapidly increasing electricity demand, reshaping capacity markets, and driving higher costs for energy-intensive industries like meat and poultry processing. As utilities expand infrastructure to support “Big Tech,” processors face rising demand charges, grid volatility, and cost pass-throughs. This session explains how data center expansion impacts your power bill and outlines practical strategies to reduce exposure. Learn how to manage peak demand, optimize refrigeration and compressed air systems, evaluate demand response programs, and explore on-site generation and storage options. Walk away with actionable steps to strengthen energy resilience and protect your bottom line.
 

Worker safety remains at the center of regulatory attention—and expectations for the meat and poultry industry continue to rise. This session offers a comprehensive update on the legal and regulatory developments shaping workforce protection in 2026. 

Experts will provide clear, practical insights into evolving OSHA policies, enforcement priorities, and inspection trends affecting meat and poultry facilities.  

Designed for safety leaders, HR teams, plant management, legal professionals, and anyone responsible for compliance, this session will break down what the latest changes mean for day-to-day operations and long-term workforce strategy. Attendees will gain a grounded understanding of risks, obligations, best practices, and practical steps to maintain a safe, compliant workplace while adapting to the evolving regulatory environment. 

Discover how practical, operations focused sustainability can drive real business value. This session cuts through complexity to highlight what truly works: reducing waste, optimizing internal processes, and investing in solutions that benefit both the bottom line and the community. Learn from real-world wins—like packaging reduction, resource efficiency, and system improvements—and explore future opportunities that can make sustainability both achievable and profitable.

This interactive best practices exchange brings labor and employment leaders together to share effective approaches to workforce compliance, employee relations, and risk management. Attendees will gain practical, peer-tested ideas to navigate today’s labor challenges and strengthen workplace practices across their organizations.

What happens when the thing driving your success is the same thing breaking you? Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld, co-president of Standard Meat, shares her journey from perfectionism and self-criticism to self-awareness and purpose — and how that transformation is now reshaping leadership across a 90-year-old family business. A candid, no-BS talk about taking off the armor, fighting your dragons, and finally believing you’re enough. Following the keynote, Ashli will sit down with Meat Institute CEO Julie Anna Potts for a fireside chat to dig deeper into the conversation.

Step inside a high‑pressure mock inspection as OSHA and EPA respond simultaneously to an unexpected event inside a meat or poultry facility. This fast‑paced, scenario‑based session gives attendees a rare, behind‑the‑scenes look at how regulators assess risk, request information, and navigate overlapping jurisdictions during a real‑world incident. 

Participants will see how facility leaders should communicate, coordinate, and manage documentation under scrutiny—while identifying the preparedness gaps that most often elevate regulatory concern. Designed for safety, environmental, operations, and HR professionals, this session delivers practical insights to strengthen alignment, improve emergency readiness, and build confidence before an actual crisis occurs. 

Learn how meat and poultry processors are navigating today’s environmental compliance challenges through real-world examples and peer discussion. This interactive session highlights practical strategies for managing air, water, and waste requirements, strengthening compliance programs, and preparing for inspections—helping attendees benchmark and improve their own operations.

Employee wellbeing is no longer optional—it’s a workforce strategy. In this session, attendees will learn how food manufacturers can integrate mental and physical wellbeing into daily operations to attract Gen Z talent, improve safety, and strengthen retention. Walk away with practical insights and actionable strategies to build resilient teams and a people‑first culture in demanding production environments.