Menu

Education

Events  /  Marketplace  /  Education
breadcrumb shadow

February 16-18, 2026
Arlington, Texas

Loews Arlington Hotel

Education Sessions

 

Monday, February 16

1:30 pm–2:45 pm CT   Opening Keynote:

 
FutureNomics: The Economic Snapshot You Need Now and in the Future for
Stronger Strategies, Better Decisions, and Faster Results
Presenter: Mary Kelly
Leaders develop stronger strategies, better decisions, and achieve faster results when they understand economic forces. Changes in interest rates, imports, investments, housing trends, trade, and tariffs…do today’s news headlines have your stomach in knots? What do the changes in the current economy mean for your business? What do they mean for your own career? What do they mean for your family?

Join Dr. Mary Kelly, one of the world’s most influential economists, as she exposes the true meaning of the current economic situation and what this means for your organization’s future.

• Learn to operate and make decisions from facts and data, not emotions
• Understand what the changes in international trade mean for your industry
• Gain a valuable understanding of today’s economy to improve profits and safeguard your businesses’ bottom line
• Prepare your team for what is to come in 2025 and beyond
3:00 pm–4:15 pm CT   Monday Education Session:

 
State of the Industry and Consumer Behaviors
Presenter: Sally Lyons Wyatt
This presentation offers a strategic lens into the evolving dynamics of the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and Foodservice industries, with a spotlight on the convenience channel. As consumer expectations shift and operational landscapes transform, understanding the intersection of industry trends and behavioral insights is more critical than ever.

Topics covered will include:

• Industry Performance & Outlook: A data-driven look at macroeconomic pressures impacting CPG and foodservice sectors.
• Channel Transformation: How the convenience channel sales performed in 2025
• Consumer Behavior Shifts: Exploration of how consumers are navigating inflation, health-conscious choices, and digital engagement – reshaping how and where they shop and eat.
• Growth Opportunities: Strategic implications to stay agile, relevant, and consumer-first in a rapidly changing environment.

Attendees will gain actionable insights to inform portfolio strategies and consumer engagement initiatives in the convenience channel.
4:30 pm–5:30 pm CT   Monday Education Session:

 
Understanding FSMA Section 204(d)
Following CDA’s FSMA Section 204(d) webinar series, this session will continue to explore the FDA’s Food Traceability Rule and what it means for businesses across the supply chain. As implementation deadlines draw closer, this session provides an opportunity for deeper engagement with the requirements, timelines, and practical strategies for compliance.

Tuesday, February 17

8:00 am–9:00 am CT   Tuesday Kickoff Session:

 
Attracting Tomorrow’s Talent with Today’s Leaders
Presenter: Steve Bench
Today's workplace is at a generational crossroads unlike any other time in our nation's history. As the Baby Boomers ride off into the retirement sunset, Gen X is left to manage an empowered Millennial generation raised with a new set of attitudes and expectations about their work-life balance. And just as we were beginning to understand Millennials, Gen Z is entering the workforce en masse! This session focuses on talent attraction and workforce retention by building understanding of who we are, how we were raised, and how each generation views “work” as a part of their identity.

As we navigate this generational shift in leadership and consider the future workplace, succession planning has never been more important. Baby Boomers are retiring and taking their decades of experience with them, creating a vacuum of leadership and expertise. How do we prepare the next generation to step into these roles? How do we ensure that leadership pipelines are strong and adaptable to meet the needs of a diverse, multi-generational workforce?

Learn talent attraction and retention strategies to overcome generational differences and attract Millennial and Gen Z employees, and keep them from leaving! Adulthood has changed, and depending on my life stage, I might prioritize my lifestyle over my career… So how do you manage and motivate someone who may not be as committed to their job as previous generations? This session will give you the answers, energize your group, and get people talking!
2:15 pm–3:15 pm CT   Feature Session:

 
Trusted to Lead: Energizing High-Performance Cultures in Convenience Distribution
Presenter: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jason O. Harris
Join Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jason O. Harris, combat-proven military leader, commercial airline pilot, and nationally recognized speaker on trust and leadership for a powerful session on how trust is the fuel that drives high-performance teams, even in the most turbulent conditions. Drawing from his experiences flying combat missions and leading diverse teams, he’ll translate leadership and decision-making under pressure into practical takeaways for CDA members.

Expect humor, storytelling, real-world connection, and insights that resonate across generations of leadership in the room. This high-energy session is designed to fuel momentum – powering attendees through the rest of Marketplace and back into their business stronger, sharper, and more aligned.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn how trusted leadership fuels resilience and productivity in high-stakes environments
• Discover practical ways to build and sustain commitment and accountability across teams
• Walk away with renewed clarity, confidence, and connection – ready to lead the future of distribution

Wednesday, February 18

8:00 am–9:15 am CT   Wednesday Kickoff Session:

 
Making AI Work for Distribution: A Practical Playbook for Every Team
Presenter: Benj Cohen
AI is moving fast—and distributors are under pressure to figure out where it fits. But what’s actually worth your time (and budget), and what’s just noise?

In this interactive session, Proton CEO Benj Cohen will break down:
• What AI is good at today and where it still falls short
• Examples of how distributors are already using AI across sales, marketing, operations, product, and pricing.
• A simple framework for evaluating AI use cases so you can prioritize what will drive real ROI

This session will give you a clear-eyed view of where AI makes sense for your business and a practical starting point for putting it to work.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to…
• Understand the current state of AI — Clearly distinguish what AI can do well today, where it falls short, and what’s coming next.
• Recognize high-impact applications of AI in distribution — Learn how peers are using AI across their business.
• Prioritize where to start — Map their own organization’s pain points and rank areas where AI could deliver the most value.
• Leverage ready-made tools and prompts — Leave with a curated list of AI tools and a set of practical prompts they can start using right away in sales, marketing, operations, and pricing.
9:30 am–10:45 am CT   Closing Session:

 
Protecting Your Warehouse: Physical Security & Safety
Warehouse theft and security breaches continue to pose challenges for distributors. This session will feature case studies and real-world experiences from industry peers, highlighting lessons learned, best practices and practical strategies to strengthen physical security and safeguard operations. Attendees will gain valuable insights into common vulnerabilities and proactive steps companies can take to enhance safety and protect their facilities.

 

 

About CDA

The Convenience Distribution Association (CDA) is the trade organization working on behalf of convenience products distributors in the United States. Its distributor members represent more than $102 billion in U.S convenience product sales, serving a wide variety of small retail formats. Associate members include leading convenience product manufacturers, brokers, retailers, suppliers and others allied to the industry.

footerlogo

Disclaimer

CDA does not endorse any product or service that is advertised in CDA magazines or newsletters, displayed at CDA trade shows, or otherwise promoted by CDA members. CDA has not verified whether any tobacco or deemed tobacco product is authorized pursuant to current FDA rules and regulations. CDA shall not be liable for any purchase of, use by, or claim relating to any advertised product.

Helpful Links

Contact Info

  •   Address:
    11250 Roger Bacon Drive #8,
    Reston, VA 20190
  •   Phone:
    (703) 208-3358
  •   Fax:
    (703) 573-5738