The Culinary Institute of America’s Leadership Programs, spearheaded by the CIA Strategic Initiatives Group, help foodservice professionals learn more about the next wave of change crucial to the industry. Our conferences, invitational retreats, collaboratives, annual reports and white papers, and digital media focus on topics and trends crucial to the foodservice industry including flavor development, health and wellness, nutrition science, volume foodservice menu R&D, and sustainability.
See the links below for more information on our conferences and retreats, and view the documents to the right for information on how you can engage with and support our work.
Explore more engagement opportunities here!
Conferences & Events
Engagement Opportunities
Location: Napa Valley, CA
FEB 4 – 6, 2026
Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives is a collaboration between the CIA and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. During this annual CME conference, health professionals participate in nutrition and health research seminars led by some of Harvard’s most influential scientists and other leading nutrition experts, as well as hands-on cooking workshops.
Location: Napa Valley, CA
MARCH 10 – 12, 2026
The CIA Healthy Menus R&D Collaborative is a dynamic membership-based initiative focused on crafting highly targeted, sector-specific, practical solutions that significantly contribute towards expanding healthy menu food and beverage choices within the foodservice industry.
Location: Napa Valley, CA
2027 Dates TBD
The CIA Wine & Beverage Summit is an annual program designed to empower wine professionals with the tools, insights, and connections needed to thrive in the dynamic world of wine. The summit includes tastings and discussions, designed to empowers wine professionals to bolster their creativity, enhance their business acumen, and become industry leaders and tastemakers.
Location: Hyde Park, NY
JUN 2 – 4, 2026
Menus of Change®: The Business of Healthy, Sustainable, Delicious Food Choices works to realize a long-term, practical vision integrating optimal nutrition and public health, environmental stewardship and restoration, and social responsibility concerns within the foodservice industry and culinary profession. Menus of Change is jointly presented by the CIA and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health—Department of Nutrition.
Location: Nashville, TN
OCT 6 – 7, 2026
The Menus of Change University Research Collaborative (MCURC) was founded by the CIA and Stanford University to create a culture of sharing and innovation within and among colleges and universities that use the Menus of Change principles in their campus dining operations.
Location: Napa Valley, CA
NOV 5 – 7, 2025
The Worlds of Flavor conference welcomes more than 60 guest chefs and culinary experts from around the world to explore the best of world cuisines that are reshaping American palates and our industry. The conference is widely acknowledged as our country’s most influential professional forum on world cuisines, food cultures, and flavor trends.
Location: Napa Valley, CA
DEC 9 – 11, 2025
The CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative is an invitational initiative designed to accelerate innovation and deepen technical and professional expertise in K-12 school food. It is a unique and focused multi-year collaboration between school nutrition professionals, school chefs, suppliers, and other stakeholders to create and advance culinary driven, healthier foods for kids.
Rachel Hoover
Director – Corporate Relations, Strategic Initiatives Group845-392-2380
Amanda Secor
Associate Director – Marketing Communications, Strategic Marketing845-451-1457
The Culinary Institute of America at Copia
500 First Street1-800-123-2468
Support your staff and students with the industry-acclaimed ProChef® online training solution. Developed by The Culinary Institute of America, ProChef® consists of 20 short courses that teach foundational culinary skills.
The Culinary Institute of America’s Digital Media team offers a wide range of digital services, from website development to webcasting and online marketing to online education. Learn more here!
Read about the CIA’s Principles of Healthy, Sustainable Menus
Watch our new documentary that highlights the best of plant-forward cuisine as we visit the restaurants and kitchens of the northeast, including New York, Brooklyn, and Massachusetts.
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Hyde Park, NY Location
1946 Campus Dr. | Hyde Park, NY 12538
Maps & Directions
Napa, CA Location
500 First Street | Napa, CA 94559
Maps & Directions
Singapore Location
21 Tampines Ave 1 Block 31 | Singapore 529757
Maps & Directions
St. Helena, CA Location
2555 Main St. | St. Helena, CA 94574
Maps & Directions
San Antonio, TX Location
312 Pearl Pkwy, Bldg 3 | San Antonio, TX 78215
Maps & Directions