Delighted to announce that Tracy has been recognized as one of the 2024 Meeting Professionals to Watch by ConventionSouth magazine. This achievement is not just a personal triumph but a testament to her advocacy and consulting work to create safe, sustainable, and inclusive food and beverage experiences.
Tracy Stuckrath is celebrated as an event industry game-changer. BizBash, North America’s number one resource for event industry trends, ideas, and inspiration, has announced its 2018 list of Top 500 people in events. This inaugural list of event professionals from the United States and Canada includes people who lead the largest trade and consumer shows, orchestrate global brand campaigns, and plan high-visibility cultural events that have everyone talking on social media. “I’m so honored to be recognized by BizBash on its list of Top 500 people in events,” says Stuckrath. “I’ve worked in the events industry for over 20 years…
How does the ADA and Food & Beverage Intersect? In the August 2018 issue of The Meeting Professional, Tracy discusses ADA and food. Since the Americans with Disabilities Act was amended in 2008, individuals with food allergies, celiac disease and other medical conditions that require them to eat a specific way, are now provided civil rights protections under the disabilities law. The Amendment added such words as eating, breathing, cardiovascular system, immune system to the list of major life activities that, if affected in any way, requires a person to alter “normal” activities — like eating peanuts, gluten or grapefruit…
Keep an Employee’s Invisible Disability in Mind at Company Events The definition of an invisible disability in simple terms is a physical, mental or neurological condition that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities that not visible to the eye. And, because the symptoms of the disability are invisible, it makes the disability misunderstood and ignored. Examples of an invisible disability include, but are not limited to peanut allergy, celiac disease and diabetes. In 2008, the Americans With Disabilities Act was amended to to add additional terminology to major life activities as defined in the original law enacted in 1990.…
Terra Madre Salone del Gusto: A Delicious Global Movement Last September I had the amazing opportunity to be selected as one of 300 US delegates to attend Slow Food International’s Terra Madre Salon del Gusto, a biennial event—or better yet, a global movement created in 1985—dedicated to food and gastronomy and educating people on the need to have a “world in which all people can access and enjoy food that is good for them, good for those who grow it and good for the planet.” It was an experience that is hard to describe, but one that had a lasting impression…
My good friend Dr. Tyra Hilliard, PhD, JD, CMP, is a meetings industry attorney, college professor, speaker and writer. In her latest article for Plan Your Meetings, “Food Allergies and the ADA,” she explains how and why the Americans with Disabilities Act was amended in 2008 to be more inclusive and broader in scope than the original and now incorporates eating and breathing as major life activities. She and I will be talking about this together next week at IMEX America on Tuesday, October 15 at 3:00 p.m. in our session “Food, Risk & Liability: More Than Menu Planning.”
On July 11, 2016, the Atlanta chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) selected its 2016 class of Dames. Tracy was one of 12 women from the greater Atlanta community who was chosen to be part of the “international society of women dedicated to creating a culture in the community that fosters excellence and promotes the achievement of women in culinary professions through educational and charitable activities.” Tracy was selected to be a Dame for her work and dedication to educating the meetings and events industry on safe and healthy food and beverage programs that accurately address dietary restrictions and for her…
I was recently honored and humbled to be named a 2016 Top Changemaker by Meetings Net Magazine. Wow! In the June 2016 issue, I’m named a changemaker for promoting awareness of food allergies and other dietary restrictions among meeting and event professionals. There are 20 other professionals named Top Changemakers for 2016 and I applaud their accomplishments, drive and passion for the meetings and event industry. While I know a few of the other honorees, the others I look forward to meeting. I’m proud of all the accomplishments of my peers and the advancements made across the meetings & events industry. May was…
Yesterday I was honored and humbled to be named one of the Top 25 Women in the Meetings Industry by Meetings & Conventions magazine. Wow! In its special report released on July 1, 2015, the magazine stated “the meetings industry is powered by a number of extraordinary people — many of them women.” The inaugural list of “high achievers, advocates and innovators…have helped shape and strengthen our business.” Several woman on the list, I am happy to say are my friends — Shawna Suckow, founder of the Senior Planners Industry Network (SPIN) and The Hive Network, Nancy Zavada, CMP, founder of MeetGreen and the Green Meetings Industry Council, Liz King,…
For the past 24 years the Atlanta events community has come together for a night of celebration and camaraderie to recognize the best in the industry. Known as the Allie Awards and similar to the Oscars, Golden Globes and Grammys, the event honors the achievements and talent within the Atlanta event industry. From technical production to catering, event and wedding planning to photography, invitation and floral design to entertainment, the more than 30 categories showcase the breadth and skill of the more than 300 individuals in attendance who, each and every day, have the opportunity to help their clients use events to come…
