NACAS Central CX

First time to a NACAS conference? Come to the First Timer’s Event to meet industry peers, learn about NACAS, and engage in networking opportunities with business partners and NACAS Regional Board members.

Refreshments will be available throughout the Conference

Our keynote speaker, Rob Lawless, has a passion for getting to know people. Since 2016, Rob has been committed to making new friends all over the world. To date, he has connected with over 6,000 individuals from more than 90 countries. Rob is deeply passionate about the value and adventure of connection. He believes that every human interaction holds the potential to change your life. Rob is excited to share more about his life's work with our NACAS audience. 

Speaker: Rob Lawless

Building off of his keynote address, Rob will look to hold an interactive session with all participants that will allow for a deeper dive into the value of human connection and how this impacts our work in the field of higher education. Rob is looking forward to spending time with our conference attendees.

Speaker: Rob Lawless

Explore the possiblities by attending this interactive discussion session.  This session creates a conversation starter that allows industry peers to engage in opportunities to connect on relevant industry topics, issues, and brainstorm solutions and thoughts.   

Faciltated by Angela Meldonian, Executive Director of the James R. Connor University Center University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Refreshments will be available throughout the conference. Sponsored by Groome Transportation. 

Campus stores are the embodiment of a university’s rich history and a symbol of what’s next. The store has evolved from a place to buy textbooks to a retail experience designed to engage and delight every member of the campus community. Many campus leaders are thinking outside the box to develop experiences that incorporate modern design, inclusive spaces, digital learning, sustainable materials, and more.

Speaker: Mike McEneany Vice President, Strategic Partnerships Follett Higher Education

This presentation explores innovative approaches and strategic initiatives in retail dining and merchandising, focusing on sustainability, supplier partnerships, performance metrics, and future program development. Delve into effective marketing, communications, and business relations strategies, emphasizing storytelling, brand management, student engagement, experiential marketing, and the integration of marketing into all aspects of auxiliary operations.

Speakers:

Tiffany De La Roche, Assistant Director of Dining Retail Operations 

Raven Lumpkins, Director of Marketing and Communication, University Services Washington University

What we call AI is fascinating and fun, and it is tempting to hand over more and more work to AI. We will discuss what Chat-GPT and other large language models are and are not, whether they are helpful, and whether they can be legally and ethically used in the workplace.

Speaker: Marcus Hayes Assistant Manager of Auxiliary Services Oakton College

Auxiliary Services leaders interact with various stakeholders within the campus environment including students, faculty, staff, administrators, vendors, and contractors. Each stakeholder group contributes a unique opportunity to leverage best practices and resources to enhance the students’ experiences or support student-led social justice initiatives. In this session, Dr. Hicks and Dr. Lee will share insights into the power of building on solid relationships to develop and deliver engagement activities and meaningful experiences.

Speakers:

Anita Hicks, Ed.D., NDCCDP
Oakland Center Associate Director
Director of Conferences
Oakland University

Sandra Kay Lee, Ed.D., MBA
Chartwells Higher Education
President

More choices for students. More financial sustainability for bookstores. That's Cascading Access, only from RedShelf. Create your program your way. RedShelf combines the benefits of all first-day access models with the world's only Cascading Access platform. Students automatically start out in Equitable Access but can choose IA or even individual materials. Students retain first-day access. Bookstores keep participation high. It's total access with total choice.

Speaker:

Gordon Elson Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships RedShelf

This session will address the urgent global concern of sustainability, particularly focusing on how higher education institutions can contribute to achieving net zero goals, with a special emphasis on the role of campus dining. Given the critical state of our planet, it's essential to take swift action, and understanding both our personal and collective carbon footprint is paramount. We'll examine what carbon footprint entails and its effects on the environment. Additionally, we'll delve into the obstacles that higher education institutions face in cutting down their carbon emissions and the strategies they've adopted to set net zero targets.

A key aspect of this session will be a detailed discussion on how campus dining services can play a pivotal role in advancing sustainability objectives. We'll explore innovative approaches that dining facilities can adopt to reduce their carbon footprint, minimize food waste, and promote sustainable sourcing. Moreover, we'll highlight the implementation of carbon labeling in Chartwells dining locations, providing students with crucial information about the environmental impact of their food choices. 

Speaker:

Monalisa Prasad Vice President, Sustainability Chartwells Higher Education

Meet Business Partners and learn about new services, or connect with reps from your current campus partners.

View Showcase Map 

Join us for an exciting tour of nearby Butler University. Our hosts for this tour will show us the Butler campus, paying particular attention to several auxiliary areas of the campus including the student union, dining areas (including information about an upcoming dining renovation project) and the campus bookstore. Transportation to Butler will be provided. Meet at the main entrance of The Alexander Hotel for drop-off/pickup. The shuttle is set to depart at 8:45am.

Join us for an enlightening presentation that delves into the transformative power of a digital-centric approach in higher education course materials. In today's ever-evolving educational landscape, the shift towards digital resources has become increasingly prevalent, not only reshaping the way students access and engage with course materials but affecting processes and profits across the institution. 
 
In this session, our panel of industry experts will explore the implications of embracing a digital-centric mindset for course material adoption, delivery, and accessibility. From e-textbooks to interactive online platforms, we'll examine: 

The paradigm of digital and today's modern learner 
 
The program options and pros/cons 
 
Looking forward - how to prepare for the current K-12 digital-minded student 

Making the most of a LMS and digital partnership 
 
How the impact of digital reaches across the institution 
 
Measuring student engagement and improving learning outcomes with digital 
 
Discover how institutions are leveraging digital technologies to enhance student experiences, streamline processes, and positively impact retention and graduation rates. Join us as we embark on a journey to reimagine course materials in the digital age and empower learners for success in an increasingly digital world.

Speakers:

Delilah Wilson – Account Development Executive VitalSource
Pam Mueller – Account Development Executive VitalSource

In today's competitive landscape, colleges and universities continually face the challenge of attracting and retaining students on their campuses. For today's students, who are more socially engaged, time-pressed, and value conscious, the campus dining program is a vital component in creating the environment they seek that meets their evolving needs. Therefore, higher education institutions must look for new ways of engaging the entire campus community that align with market trends, deliver on institutional goals, and satisfy the expectations of all students.
 
In this session, colleagues from Marian University will share how they, in partnership with their dining provider, are reinventing their respective dining programs with innovative solutions that attract students and build loyalty by understanding their needs for connection, convenience, and flexibility. They will discuss recent campus initiatives which:
 
 - Enable access to 24/7 fueling options, with options such as a Quick Eats c-store and enhanced, popular retail brands.
 
 - Create welcoming spaces (such lounges, and meditation and gaming rooms) to drive commuter student connectivity on campus. 
 
 - Ensure meaningful dining program involvement with campus leadership and student stakeholder groups, to support an engaged, hospitable, and dynamic campus community.

Speakers: 

Bridgett Stapleton 
Vice President of Operations, Midwest Region
Aramark Collegiate Hospitality

Ruth Rodgers
Senior Vice President of Student Success and Engagement 
Marian University

Juanita Alfaro
Food Service Director
Aramark Collegiate Hospitality at Marian University

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Speaker:

Dr. Craig Aimar Client Partner FranklinCovey Higher Education

Join us for an insightful presentation on how the University Services Customer Center is revolutionizing strategic planning in higher education. In this session, we'll explore the integration of various service functions, including Parking and Transportation, Campus Card, and Customer Service, into a cohesive and efficient hub. Discover how our vision for a unified "one-stop" service center is enhancing collaboration, cohesion, and customer service excellence within our team. With practical insights and real-world examples, this session will provide attendees with ways to optimize their own strategic planning efforts.

Speakers: Jodie Chapman, Manager, Business Operations, University Services 

Megan Luechtefeld, Manager, University Services Center Washington University

Take a moment to reflect on your conference experience. This interactive discussion will help highlight the key takeaways, insights, and experiences gained during this year's conference. 

Faciltated by Angela Meldonian, Executive Director of the James R. Connor University Center University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Wrap up your conference experience with a night out in the ultimate culinary destination in the heart of Indianapolis: The Garage Food

Hall. Discover a vibrant mix of flavors from artisanal sandwiches to authentic tacos, all under one roof. Transportation will be provided. Meet at the main entrance of The Alexander Hotel for drop-off/pickup. The shuttle is set to depart at 5:00pm.

Cap off your CX experience with one final campus tour at IUPUI. The team at IUPUI is so excited to welcome our members, and they have a great tour in store for us. We will again focus on auxiliary-related areas of a campus very different than our previous tour of Butler University. For this tour, we will be providing rides with some of the conference planners, as well as rideshare options.