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By Amber Peoples On Wednesday, July 13, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its consumer price index (CPI) report for the month of June. The CPI, which measures the general price of goods and services compared to the current cost of living, saw a 9.1% hike from this time last year. This indicates the quickest rate of inflation increase in more than 40 years. These outrageous numbers...

By Kevin Schlutz On June 15, Greater Midwest President, Nanette Walker, welcomed 16 other officers, directors and representatives of the Greater Midwest to a spring Board Zoom call. The timing was deliberate, following the AKFCF Board meeting and the June NCAC meeting the two weeks prior, resulting in a lot of information to download and discuss. After approving minutes and finding the region in a good...

By Kelly Rodenberg Justin Patton was one of our keynote speakers at this year’s AKFCF Convention in Orlando. Many of you were in the audience and gave him a standing ovation for his outstanding presentation. Since then, he has published his fourth book over the topic he shared with all of us. His new book, Your Road to Yes!, explores the role trust plays in your...

By Amber Peoples Capitol Hill has been buzzing in recent weeks over negotiations between Sen. Joe Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer surrounding potential climate and social spending legislation. Schumer and Manchin have seen months of dissent on the topics, which first started with the Build Back Better Act in 2021. While Build Back Better failed, due in no small part to Sen. Manchin, Democrats...

By Kelly Rodenberg June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of LGBTQ people as a social group. I recently just returned from a trip to NYC, and I felt the immense passion that the city has for its LGBTQ communities. Pride Month isn’t just about parades and celebrations. It’s about understanding the historical timelines of the LGBTQ movement. Take some...

By Amber Peoples The Senate may have put an end to the Build Back Better Act, but that does not mean that we have seen the last of it. The Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376), which passed the House of Representatives in November 2021, included provisions related to education, labor, childcare, the environment, healthcare, taxes and immigration. While Members of Congress on both sides of the...

In 2017, we took the AKFCF Convention to Austin Texas for the very first time. Many of you will remember that we were some of the first guests to stay at the newly built JW Marriott in Austin. And how could we forget Little Big Town at Austin City Limits! Since that time, the city has grown immensely and offers even more things to do...

By Amber Peoples After a vote in the Senate on March 30, David Weil is no longer being considered for the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Administrator. Weil, who previously held the role during the Obama administration, was nominated for Wage and Hour Administrator by President Joe Biden in June of 2021. The former administrator was an obvious pick for Biden, who has taken several similar...

By Scott Duke, Sr. VP of KBP Foods Today’s leaders share a significant responsibility with each other. We are each called to influence not only our direct reports, but also our peers. At times, we also are expected to influence our bosses as well. We spend much of our time thinking of ways to be effective communicators so that our influence is productive. At the same...

By Kelly Rodenberg Although the New Year started in January, the new AKFCF year began on April 1. A new year means it’s time to embrace a new perspective — a fresh look at the future and all the wonderful possibilities it holds. With the new year comes new leadership, initiatives, and programs. Look at who is leading the way in 2022-23! President – Keith Cole1st Vice...