FPSA In The News: Bridging the Workforce Gap

The food industry is facing a workforce shift that can't be ignored. Within four years, Gen Z and Millennials will make up roughly 75% of the workforce — and associations that aren't actively building for this audience risk being left behind.

At FPSA, we didn't wait to have everything figured out. When our own workforce study confirmed what we were already hearing from members — that younger professionals were hungry for career guidance, community, and a visible path forward — we got to work.

In a few short months, our team of six built two programs from the ground up. The Emerging Leaders Program is a six-month cohort experience designed for new and aspiring managers, combining in-person sessions with flexible virtual components. Cultivate: Leadership Growth Lab casts a wider net for the broader Gen Z and Millennial audience, designed intentionally to feel nothing like a traditional conference — hands-on, interactive, and built around how this generation actually learns.

The two programs are threaded together: Emerging Leaders participants close out their cohort experience at Cultivate, where FPSA board members join for shared meals and a fireside chat.

We're also bringing younger professionals into the process itself through our Emerging Leaders Ambassador Program.  We are asking member companies to designate ambassadors who can help shape these new events and share FPSA resources and professional development opportunities from the inside.

The lesson? You don't need a perfect plan or a large budget to start. You need to listen to your members, act on what you learn, and be willing to iterate as you go.

FPSA is proud to be featured in Multiview's recent piece on how associations are rising to meet this moment. Read the full article here.