Tim Tebow to speak at future-focused Southern Exposure 2022

New York Times bestselling author and former NFL great Tim Tebow will be the keynote speaker at the Southeast Produce Council’s upcoming Southern Exposure: The Marvel of Produce tradeshow and conference. 

This year, the annual event, which brings together SEPC industry professionals and exhibitors from across the U.S., will be held March 3-5 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. 

“The SEPC’s theme for this year is all about celebrating the next generation of superheroes within our industry,” said Anna Burch, SEPC marketing manager. “So, attendees can look forward to the various ways we highlight them throughout the conference.”

Also speaking at the event will be author and cancer survivor Heather Chauvin. 

“The overall value of our events is elevated by our speakers, and we are setting the bar extremely high for Southern Exposure 2022,” Raina Nelson, SEPC board chair, said in a news release.

Currently serving as a college football analyst for ESPN, Tebow is a two-time national champion, first-round NFL draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner. He also had a five-year stint playing minor-league baseball for the New York Mets before retiring in 2021. The noted Christian, who grew up the son of missionaries, is the author of four autobiographical and largely faith-based New York Times bestselling books. His Tim Tebow Foundation, established in 2010, raises funds and develops programs and initiatives to address such issues as human trafficking, special needs youth, and orphan care and prevention, according to the Tim Tebow Foundation website, timtebowfoundation.org. 

Details of what Tebow plans to cover during his keynote address have not yet been released, Burch said.  

Author and leadership coach Chauvin, a former social worker, hosts her own podcast, “Mom Is In Control,” where she addresses such topics as marriage, parenting and running a successful business, the release said. In her book, “Dying to be a Good Mother,” the mother of three addressed her experience battling stage 4 cancer after giving birth to her youngest son.

At Southern Exposure, Chauvin plans to give a talk on “The Power of Feeling Good: Why We Can No Longer Pretend We Don’t Have Time,” during which she’ll cover “how managing your energy is actually more effective than managing your time,” according to information provided by the SEPC. 

Tebow will speak at the keynote luncheon, set for 10 a.m. March 5. Chauvin’s talk will be during the Southern Roots luncheon at 12:30 p.m. March 4. Separate tickets are required for both talks, and only women in the produce industry are invited to attend the Southern Roots luncheon. 

Other scheduled speakers include Jerry Callahan, Albertsons Cos. group vice president of produce and floral; Robby Cruz, Target vice president of produce sourcing and procurement; and Jim Hancock, Sam’s Club vice president of produce and floral. All three will speak on a panel during the “Power of Produce 2022” SEPC University educational session, scheduled for 10:15 a.m. March 4. The panel will be moderated by Rick Stein, vice president of fresh foods for the Food Industry Association (FMI), and Anne-Marie Roerink, principal at marketing research firm 210 Analytics.  

FMI’s Power of Produce report will be released during the session, as well, according to the release. 

During another SEPC University education session, Kim Lear, founder and content director for research and public speaking firm Inlay Insights, will speak on how business leaders can motivate and grow their next-generation workforce, as well as how they can prepare workers for the industry’s future. 

Kristin Yerecic Scott, SEPC Education co-chair, said Lear’s “Prepare for the Future: Building the Next Generation of Leaders” session would bring last year’s Southern Exposure theme “full circle” with this year’s future-focused one. 

“We started by highlighting attributes of each generation in a panel at Southern Exposure 2021, discussed hiring and retaining the workforce at Southern Innovations 2021, and now we will focus on developing the next generation of leaders at Southern Exposure 2022,” she said in the release. Southern Innovations is another annual tradeshow and conference hosted by SEPC in the fall. 

Registration totals for this year’s conference have already surpassed last year’s attendee count of 1,500, Burch said. 
“We’re expecting over 500 retail, foodservice (and) wholesale buyers and over 2,500 total attendees based on where we stand today and the growth we’re projecting over the next several weeks,” she said. 

Nelson said in the release that she anticipated attendees would find “knowledge, inspiration, quality networking and notable thought content” at the conference, “and walk away with actionable concepts that are relevant to their business and personal lives.”

The conference will also include a Tom Page Golf Classic, an exhibitor expo and an opening night gala, among other attractions. 

Masks are required on-site, except when actively eating or drinking, according to the SEPC website, but the SEPC also plans to provide masks, face shields and sanitation supplies throughout the conference. Other COVID-19 safety protocols, such as enhanced cleaning and social distancing reminders, will be in place, as well.

For more information and to register, visit https://seproducecouncil.com/events-networking/southern-exposure/. Registration can be done online ahead of time or on-site at the event, Burch said.