I am sitting back in my office trying to wrap my head around last week. The 14th annual People Report Best Practices Conference was held November 10-12th, 2009 in Dallas, TX. More than 220 leaders of the industry gathered for an incredible couple of days that are only described as A-MAZ-ING!

As a person who was blessed to grow up in the restaurant industry, I have always been keenly aware of the warmth and hospitality our industry embraces. I really fell in love with the industry when I had the opportunity to intern during a summer at the Georgia Restaurant Association helping their ProStart school-to-career program. To see young kids who didn't have dreams become confident and turn into dreamers all with a shot at a job in the hospitality industry, well I was hooked. This industry makes the American dream happen not for just a few Americans, but thousands and thousands of Americans. One in four people in this country come in contact with our industry at one point in their career. What a fantastic opportunity to make a difference in the world. Enter People Report and our Best Practices Conference. Never was I more proud of our industry than last week.

I love my job and I have always walked away from our conferences renewed about where our industry is headed. This year was different though. There was more meaning and community "love" than I have ever seen. As a meeting planner, it is always a goal to make memorable events but really, when it is all said and done- it is the people in the room that make that happen. It was like the worlds aligned and people with big hearts who are passionate about business and meaning were there to help each other and walk away with new purpose and meaning; and yes money. City Year, Nate St. Piere with It Starts With Us, The North Texas Foodbank, Share our Strength were just some of very meaningful people and organizations that made this conference; dare I say it….. THE BEST YET!

Among the many highlights were Doug Brooks; Chairman and CEO of Brinker International who not only is a great leader, but a servant leader. Doug was the recipient of the 2009 People Report Legacy Award. Every person that knows and works with him is not surprised he is receiving such an award. His leadership is transparent and it is apparent he leads with heart. I personally was shown his impact on a couple of occasions. Here is a man and an icon in the industry, who runs a huge corporation and he calls me personally to RSVP to the event. Oh, it gets better than that - he actually wrote me a handwritten thank you note and acknowledged the work that went into planning the conference. Wow! I can guarantee you that if you ever come into my office to visit, you will see this handwritten note framed and promintley displayed. It mattered a lot to me and was yet another great example of a leader in our industry who has seen success in life and in business and a large part of it is because of his heart.

Then there are operators in the room this year that were honored. The Cheesecake Factory for their incredible turn around in turnover. Hard Rock Café winner of the Heart of the Workplace Award. Then our Best Practices winners- White Castle, Eat'n Park Restaurants, Famous Dave's and BJ's Restaurants- the crème de la crème of the foodservice operators. These companies outpace their competitors in success. Every company who accepted an award all had a common theme- take care of your people and they will take care of you. It is about the meaning but what is amazing is the companies that focus on the meaning of service also reap the money.

Whoever says a small group of people can't make a large impact hasn't met the restaurant execs who were in the room. I am so proud to be a part of this industry and this consortium. I know that the people in this room are the people who are going to continue to mix the meaning with money and reap all the benefits. Here is to the BEST conference yet and to the many more to come.