General FAQs
The event will run from Sunday, July 12, through Tuesday, July 14, 2025. Pre-conference workshops will take place on Saturday, July 11. The Exhibit Hall will be held over two days, Monday, July 13, and Tuesday, July 14.
ANC 2025 will take place at Charlotte Convention Center, 501 South College Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Top-tier keynote speakers, a diverse offering of 120+ education sessions featuring the hottest topics in school nutrition led by experts, the largest exhibit hall in K-12 foodservice with 900 booths representing about 300 companies, networking events and closing event entertainment. We project about 3,500 school nutrition operators will attend.
Anticipating high demand for hotel rooms for our Annual National Conference (ANC), SNA secured room blocks at more than 20 hotels within walking distance of the Charlotte Convention Center.
SNA is projecting about 7,000 attendees for the July conference, which means it would be impossible for most people to stay at their first-choice hotel. However, as we do every year, SNA has worked with our housing company (Conference Direct) to secure as many rooms as possible across different hotels and price points. As we plan the conference, SNA meticulously allocates a percentage of rooms to operators/attendees and exhibitors based on the inventory provided by each hotel. We limit the number of rooms available to each type of attendee to ensure a balanced, positive experience for both operators and exhibitors. By focusing on equal access, offering a variety of options, and being distant from the convention center, we strive to offer you hotel options that meet your needs.
Each hotel in our block has something unique to offer, ensuring a pleasant stay for all attendees.
The success of SNA’s Annual National Conference depends on registrants and exhibitors using SNA’s contracted hotels to offset the sizable costs of producing our annual meeting. In general, hotels require groups like SNA to fill a minimum percentage of the contracted number of hotel rooms at their property. If we do not meet that minimum, we must pay the shortfall. The cities that SNA selects for the Annual Conference are in high demand by other groups, so SNA contracts with hotels, many years in advance, to help ensure there are enough rooms available for our attendees and exhibitors.
- Discounted rates that include free or discounted internet in guest rooms.
- Networking is easier as SNA-contracted hotels are bound to have other attendees staying there.
- Peace of mind that you have a reservation at an “official” SNA hotel at the discounted rate.
- Ability to receive important meeting-related materials at your hotel room (room drops), as well as for safety reasons, SNA being aware that we have attendees at specific hotels.
- Protection in the event the hotel has oversold guest rooms.
SNA is committed to enabling access to all meeting activities, including those with dietary restrictions, to the extent reasonably possible and as required by law. To discuss or notify SNA about your accessibility needs, please email meetings@schoolnutrition.org no later than June 20, 2025.
If you need a scooter, wheelchair, or other mobility devices while on-site, we recommend you secure one ahead of time by reaching out to the following provider:
CLT Mobility
704-879-5189
Email: cltmobility704@gmail.com
Website: https://charlottemobilityscooterrentals.com/
Mobility Plus
704-765-3216
Website: https://www.mobilityplus.com/lakenorman/
Email: Craig.sprinkles@mobilityplus.com / LakeNorman@MobilityPlus.com
For Nursing Mothers, the Center has two dedicated locations:
- Richardson Ballroom Section B
- Across from room W211
Each room is equipped with a chair, a stool, and a refrigerator. These rooms are private and can be locked.
The Center will have some of their concession areas open during ANC, and there are also plenty of options right around the Center.
SNA will provide a Baggage Check on Tuesday, July 14, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. SNA is happy to provide this complimentary service to all attendees and exhibitors. SNA is not liable for bags left anywhere else.
Literature displays are confined to booths in the Exhibit Hall. If you are not an exhibitor, you are not permitted to distribute any literature to our attendees. It will be confiscated if we see it in an unauthorized location.
It’s easy to increase your company’s brand awareness and generate new leads with print and digital advertising opportunities from SNA—including our official ANC publications.
This is an unauthorized publication produced by an outside source. They are not associated in any way with SNA. Copies left in the BCEC or at SNA hotels will be confiscated and discarded. We have also observed that most attendees do not read this publication when handed to them in public areas and they typically go into the trash.
Licensed first aid technicians/EMTs are on site at the Convention Center. If you need first aid assistance, please contact the nearest security guard, police officer, or SNA staff. You can also call (704)339-6090 for Center Security.
In the event of an emergency, please follow the steps below:
- Dial 911 to report the situation to Charlotte Fire, Police or Medic
- Call (704) 339-6090 for Center Security
In the event of an emergency, please follow the directions of emergency personnel and staff.
Lost and Found property may be taken to ANC26 registration if open. Otherwise, it can be reported to Center Security at the Control Center located in the Security Lobby at the corner of Stonewall and College streets, or by contacting (704) 339-6090 or securitymanagers@crva.com.
Registration FAQs
See the ANC26 registration page; full registration includes access to all education sessions, the exhibit hall, SNA networking events, and entertainment at the closing event. Early bird discounts are available.
Members receive $25 off per full registration when three (3) or more people register from their school district at the same time (in one transaction). The option to register a group will be available when you complete the registration process, just before submitting payment.
`The number of people who can be trained at these sessions is limited. Also, the accompanying materials and necessary planning can be costly to produce so we must charge for them. Pre-registration and payment save you time during the conference and helps SNA conduct the pre-conference workshops more efficiently.
Fees vary based on the length of the workshop.
We are expecting somewhere between 6,500 – 7,000 school nutrition professionals and industry representatives.
Exhibitors and Sponsors FAQs
Your benefits include non-competing exhibit hall time in our two-day tradeshow with pipe and drape for your booth, exclusive exhibit hall time with school nutrition directors, five or more complimentary hall badges for your staff (depending on booth size), access to education sessions, use of the ANC 2026 conference logo for marketing, and much more. See becoming an exhibitor for more details.
A wide range of opportunities are available, from providing attendee tote bag inserts to sponsoring networking events. See Sponsorship Opportunities for more information.
For sponsorship opportunities, please email Nita Artis, Senior Corporate Sales, Industry Success & Patron Program Specialist, at nartis@schoolnutrition.org. For exhibitor opportunities, please email Crystal Harper-Pierre, Senior Corporate Sales & Industry Specialist, at charper@schoolnutrition.org.
Please note: Information is subject to change. For any additional questions, please email meetings@schoolnutrition.org.
Education & Professional Development FAQs
Who are the keynote speakers?
We are excited to announce that our two keynote speakers are John Register and Col. Nicole Malachowski.
Participants will earn 13.5 CEUs for the live event. Additional CEUs can be earned by those who pre-register for preconference workshops on Saturday, July 11th.
Every education session at ANC falls under one of four Key Areas. These are designed to help you choose training that best meets your professional needs. In 2015, the USDA established minimum Professional Standards for annual training for school nutrition professionals, which must cover any, some, or all 4 Key Areas.
A specific education/professional development plan and suggested areas of concentration should be determined with your supervisor or manager. If you and your manager agree on what sessions you will attend, you should be able to meet your annual training hours for 2025-2026 at ANC.
Yes, all sessions with a code listed on the training tracker grid count toward professional standards AND the SNA Certificate and Credentialing programs. Both programs are aligned with USDA Professional Standards.
An electronic version is available on the ANC26 Conference App – under SNA Resources. The conference app will be made available about a week before the conference.
The ANC26 Conference App (search for “SNA Events” in the app store) can help you find sessions on specific topics – use the filter tool.
Note: the conference app will launch approximately 1 week before ANC. You can also find the session details online by mid-April.
SNA is committed to targeting information, programs, and services to the needs of our members. All SNA members are assigned to a “section” based on your job and membership category. The section meetings have been designed to bring a key topic to the forefront for ANC attendees in that section. The Employee/Manager Section meeting has always been popular and well attended and the Major City Directors/Supervisors, District Directors/Supervisors, and State Agency section meetings will also include time for discussion on current priorities. We encourage all ANC attendees to attend the section meeting relevant to them.
SNA is committed to targeting information, programs, and services to the needs of our members. All SNA members are assigned to a “section” based on their job and membership category. The section meetings have been designed to bring a key topic to the forefront for ANC attendees in that section. The Employee/Manager Section meeting has always been popular and well attended and the Major City Directors/Supervisors, District Directors/Supervisors, and State Agency section meetings will also include time for discussion on current priorities. We encourage all ANC attendees to attend the section meeting relevant to them.
Attendees are welcome to attend any section meeting that aligns to their interest. However, only State Agency employees are permitted to attend the State Agency section meeting.
District Directors/Supervisors Section Meeting
Sunday, July 12th, 8:00 am – 9:00 am
District Directors Meet-Ups by District Size
Topic: District Directors Meet-Ups by District Size
State Agency Section Meeting/USDA Workshop
Monday, July 13th, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Room(s): 217ABCD
Employee/Manager Section Meeting
Tuesday, July 14th, 9:45 am – 10:45 am
Room(s): Richardson Ballroom A & Zone
SNA updates each person’s CEU (Continuing Education Units) record with the preapproved number of CEUs for this meeting after the conference ends. SNA members will see the number of CEUs earned and recorded in SNA’s database by going to SNA’s website www.schoolnutrition.org and logging into My Account and going to My Record. The number of preapproved CEUs that will be awarded for ANC 2026 is 13.5. This exceeds the number of annual training hours required for Professional Standards.
We do not provide certificates of completion for SNA sessions. It will, however, appear on your online transcript in approximately six weeks. For your own records, you can also use the ANC 2026 training tracker grid to track any pre-conference sessions you attended.
The call for proposals for ANC 2027 will open in September 2026. At that time, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/CFP to fill out the proposal form.
Evaluation FAQs
Session evaluations can be completed during the conference using the ANC26 Conference App. To ensure you can evaluate a session, please add the sessions you attend to My Schedule in the app. You can do this by tapping the “+” icon located in the bottom-right corner of each session listed under the All Sessions tab in the Schedule section.
After a session has concluded, tap the Profile icon at the bottom of the screen (the person outline), then select Surveys to access available evaluations. You will also receive periodic in-app notifications throughout the conference with direct links to the survey page for your convenience.
In addition, SNA will send an overall conference evaluation survey following the event.
If you have any questions or need assistance with the app, please visit the App Booth located at Registration.
To be eligible for the drawing to win an all‑expense‑paid trip to ANC 2027, you must complete evaluations for at least six (6) sessions or events using the ANC26 Conference App during the conference. There is no separate entry form—your completed evaluations automatically enter you into the drawing.
The random drawing will take place on or about Monday, August 10, 2026, and SNA will notify the winner via email within five (5) business days.
If you have questions about how to evaluate an education session, please visit the App Booth located next to ANC26 Registration. Our staff will be happy to assist you.
No, your name is entered into the drawing only once. However, we strongly encourage you to evaluate all educational sessions you attend. Your feedback is valuable to SNA and helps guide the selection of topics and formats for future webinars and conference sessions.
Complete sweepstakes rules are available here: Sweepstakes – SNA Annual National Conference.
Exhibit Hall FAQs
Over 300 companies are exhibiting in 950+ booth spaces.
Rolling carts are a hazard to others who could trip and fall over them.
Children under the age of 16 are not permitted in the exhibit hall due to safety and liability concerns, including large equipment, cooking demonstrations, and other potential hazards. This policy is standard at many food industry trade shows and is in place to ensure the safety of all attendees.
No exceptions will be made. This policy is strictly enforced.
This information is clearly stated on the registration form as well as in the exhibitor rules and regulations.
You can look up a person to contact via their organization name on the ANC26 Conference App. Once you have located the person you want to talk to, you can send him/her a private message.
Please check your Exhibit Hall Map, available at “locator kiosks” in the Exhibit Hall or in the ANC app.
Children under the age of 16 are not permitted in the exhibit hall due to safety and liability concerns, including large equipment, cooking demonstrations, and other potential hazards. This policy is standard at many food industry trade shows and is in place to ensure the safety of all attendees.
No exceptions will be made. This policy is strictly enforced.
This information is clearly stated on the registration form as well as in the exhibitor rules and regulations.
This session is scheduled for Tuesday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Access is limited to attendees with a Director‑level membership category; State Agency members are also eligible to attend. Badges will be checked upon entry.
Each eligible attendee may bring one manager, who must enter at the same time as the registered Director.
Each year, School Nutrition magazine brings together a group of district and school member volunteers to identify the most impressive and intriguing products featured on the Exhibit Hall floor. This valuable peer‑to‑peer feedback is compiled and published in the November/December issue of the magazine.
Keep an eye out for more details coming soon!
Events FAQs
The Star Club Breakfast will be held on Monday, July 13, from 7:30-9:00am, Richardson Ballroom B. This breakfast is a membership recruitment appreciation breakfast and is invitation-only. No guests are allowed.
There will be no traditional closing event this year. Instead, ANC26 will kick off with a special opening event on Saturday, July 11, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which is directly connected to the Charlotte Convention Center.
All operator full conference registrants will receive access to the opening event as part of their registration. Patron members will also receive five complimentary tickets for their organization. All other industry representatives must purchase tickets through registration to attend.
The opening event will feature a lively mix of food trucks (both complimentary and for purchase), exclusive SNA access to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and interactive experiences including race car simulators, a silent disco, a pit crew challenge, and additional entertainment throughout the venue.
All operator attendees with a full conference registration receive complimentary access to the opening event. Your conference badge will serve as your ticket and will include an icon indicating opening event access. Upon arrival, simply present your badge for entry.
For any additional tickets purchased, wristbands will be provided when you pick up your registration materials. Lost wristbands cannot be replaced.
Please note: Industry attendees are required to purchase a ticket to attend the opening event unless they are part of a Patron organization and are using one of the Patron’s five complimentary tickets.
School Nutrition Foundation FAQs
The School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) is the charitable arm of the School Nutrition Association, with an independent board of directors made up of school nutrition directors and industry partners.
OUR MISSION: Advancing school nutrition programs by providing resources to school nutrition professionals.
OUR VISION: Well-nourished students prepared for success.
Supporting School Nutrition Program Sustainability
Through collaboration with the School Nutrition Association, allied partners and donors, the School Nutrition Foundation is committed to:
- Identifying and supporting school nutrition research, trends and innovations
- Sharing best practices with the school nutrition community
- Providing scholarships to SNA members for professional development and continuing education
Visit our ANC26 SNF booth or our webpage to learn more about our programs and resources.
The SNF Annual Fund provides support to the Foundation to provide education, research, and scholarships for SNA members. Contributions are tax-deductible.
SNA-PAC is a political action committee that supports SNA’s political goals by collecting money from people who share these goals and making contributions to political candidates who support these goals. Contributions to PAC are not tax-deductible.