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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...

By Kevin Schlutz As you read this, the AKFCF Convention is now over, with an amazing attendance of between 1,800-2,000! The Greater Midwest is contributing about 10 percent of those, with almost 200 attendees. Of course, it is so hard to pin down a number these days with so many multi-region members. It all comes down to which region they say they are from. We are happy...

By Amber Peoples The 2022 election season is underway and it’s apparent that the 118th Congress will look much different than the 117th. Six Republican senators and one Democrat have announced their retirement at the end of 2022. Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, a staggering 31 Democrats and 15 Republicans will either retire or seek other offices at the start of the new Congress. For...

By Kelly Rodenberg After two years of going without a live Convention, more than 1,800 attendees arrived in Orlando, Florida, on March 7 for the 2022 AKFCF Annual Convention and Trade Show, which kicked off at the Gaylord Palms Resort. The Convention ballrooms were again filled with smiling faces, warm embraces, belly laughs, and just the plain joy of being in person for a meeting. After months...