2026 Spring Consultant Summit
EARN 12 CEUs
from FCSI for attending!
JUNE 15-17
FWE • NASHVILLE & PORTLAND, TN
ABOUT THE SUMMIT
Join FWE and Ovention for our Spring 2026 Consultant Seminar with the goal of providing knowledge of various heating, holding and transport systems to assist in designing future client projects while earning 12 CEUs from FCSI.
Learning Objective: Provide knowledge of various heating, holding and transport systems along with innovative ventless cooking technologies to assist in designing future client projects. We will review construction and design and fast service methods, which will allow future FCSI clients to deliver meals efficiently, safely and at top quality. Categories that will be covered include Ventless Speed Cooking, Advanced Finishing Techniques, Low Temperature Cooking, Precision Holding, Serving Equipment and Specialized Refrigeration & Transport.
We will close the evening with a Chef hosted, behind the scenes educational tour at Nashville’s hottest small batch bakery, “The Buttermilk Ranch”, where Executive Chef and Co-Owner Alyssa Gangeri will discuss: What it means to be a small batch bakery, what top issues are currently faced by the food service industry and how the right equipment can make or break a restaurant.
ITINERARY OF EVENTS
Monday, June 15th (Guests to arrive by 3pm)
- 3:00pm: FSCI member guests arrive in Nashville, Check-In to Hyatt Place Nashville Downtown.
- 5:30pm: For all who would like, we will meet in Lobby Bar for cocktails (Ground level of Hyatt Place Nashville) before leaving for The Stillery (113 2nd Ave N, Nashville, TN)
- 6:15pm: Depart for The Stillery Nashville (walk or uber weather permitting)
- 6:30pm: The Stillery Nashville / Dinner & Live Private Acoustic Performance
Tuesday, June 16th
- 7:00am: Breakfast in lobby Breakfast Bar at Hyatt Place Nashville Downtown.
- 8:00am: Depart for FWE Portland Tennessee Manufacturing Facility (30 min drive)
- 8:30am: Arrive at FWE Portland Tennessee Manufacturing Facility
- 8:45am: Introductions of presenters & overview of categories to be covered
- 9:00am: Manufacturing floor tour led by Derek Coddington, FWE Manufacturing Manager
- 10:30am: Body/frame construction review (all-welded, slip style, riveted, other fastener styles)
- 11:30am: Working Lunch & Learn – Low-Temp Cook & Hold, Advanced Staging Methods, & Ventless Finishing
- 1:00pm: Heat Systems Review (Dry, Passive, Adjustable, Precision)
- 1:20pm: User segment best practices (Schools, Hospitality, Healthcare, Correctional, Chains)
- 1:50pm: Transport (Mobility / Options / Things to Consider)
- 2:05pm: Mobile Refrigeration (Air Screens / Cold Temp / Convertibles / Freezers / DOE)
- 2:20pm: Mobile Bars (Mobile Bars / Hand Sinks / Back Bars)
- 2:35pm: Custom Solutions
- 3:30pm: Depart factory for Hotel
- Refresh from day of training
- 5:00pm: For all who would like, we will meet in The Lobby Bar (Ground level of Hyatt Place Nashville) for pre-dinner cocktails, before heading to The Buttermilk Ranch (2407 12th Ave S., Nashville, TN 37204)
- 5:45pm: Depart Hotel for The Buttermilk Ranch
- 6:00pm: Industry insight, restaurant/kitchen tour and delicious food presented by Executive Chef and Author, Alyssa Gangeri.
- 8:00pm: Depart for hotel or finish your evening soaking up the sights and sounds of Nashville
Wednesday, June 17th
- 7:00am – Breakfast in lobby Breakfast Bar at Hyatt Place Nashville Downtown.
- 7:45am – Depart for FWE Portland Tennessee Manufacturing Facility (30 min drive)
- 8:15am – Arrive at FWE Portland Tennessee Manufacturing Facility
- 8:30am – Impingement oven technology
- 9:15am – Infrared (IR) oven technology 10:00 – Microwave assistance technology
- 10:45am – Real world applications of each technology (Ie QSR, K-12, stadiums, B&I, etc.)
- 12:00pm – Live cooking on each technology (hands on)
- 1:00pm – Depart at guest leisure for BNA or back downtown
HOSTS
Travis Hartley, CFSP
Vice President of Global Sales
Michael Rabakon
Director of North American Sales
Chad Rasmussen
Director of North American Sales
Damon Anthony
Corporate Executive Chef & National Sales Manager
Pedro Batad
National Sales Manager
Aaron Ulmer
National Sales Manager
PLACES ON THE ITINERARY
FWE / FOOD WARMING EQUIPMENT
5599 Highway 31W
Portland, TN 37148
FWE is a leading foodservice equipment manufacturer worldwide.
All of our products are inspired by our customers’ unique needs. FWE products are designed and built with a focus on durability to withstand the harsh conditions of any kitchen and transport environment.
With the recent acquisition of a new 161,000 square foot facility in Portland, Tennessee, FWE / Food Warming Equipment Co. reaches another great milestone in its endeavor to provide better quality products with greater value than ever before.
With over 4x the size of its previous production facility, FWE’s new Portland facility is committed to growing and expanding its markets and product lines like never before while improving availability and delivery.
DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
Broadway / 2nd Ave
Nashville is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County.[6] It is located on the Cumberland River in the north central part of the state. The city is a center for the music, healthcare, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and home to numerous colleges and universities. It is known as a center of the country music industry, earning it the nickname “Music City, U.S.A.“[7]
Since 1963, Nashville has had a consolidated city-county government, which includes six smaller municipalities in a two-tier system. The city is governed by a mayor, a vice-mayor, and a 40-member Metropolitan Council; 35 of the members are elected from single-member districts, while the other five are elected at-large. Reflecting the city’s position in state government, Nashville is home to the Tennessee Supreme Court‘s courthouse for Middle Tennessee. According to 2016 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, the total consolidated city-county population stood at 684,410.[3] The “balance” population, which excludes semi-independent municipalities within Nashville, was 660,388.[5][8] The 2015 population of the entire 13-county Nashville metropolitan area was 1,830,345, making it the largest metropolitan statistical area in the state.[4] The 2015 population of the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Columbia combined statistical area, a larger trade area, was 1,951,644.[9]
HYATT PLACE NASHVILLE (DOWNTOWN)
301 3rd Ave South
Nashville, Tennessee, 37201
Adventures abound in downtown Nashville at the center of the city’s legendary music scene, where you’re within walking distance of famed concert venues, historic landmarks, chic boutiques, Bridgestone Arena, Nissan Stadium and the famous honky-tonks of Broadway.
NASHVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BNA)
1 Terminal Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
Nashville International Airport (IATA: BNA, ICAO: KBNA, FAA LID: BNA) is a joint public and military use airport in the southeastern section of Nashville in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a primary commercial service airport (more than 10,000 daily arriving and departing flights per year).[2] Established in 1937, its original name was Berry Field, from which its ICAO and IATA identifiers are derived. The current terminal was constructed in 1987, and the airport took its current name in 1988. Nashville International Airport has four runways, the longest of which is 11,030 feet (3,360 m) long, a size adequate to handle all aircraft in service in 2014.
Nashville International Airport (BNA) as of 2016 ranks as the 33rd-busiest airport in the United States in terms of passengers.[3] A total of 13,500,000 passengers traveled into and out of BNA during fiscal year 2016 (July 2016 – June 2017) an 11 percent increase over the previous year; again setting an all-time passenger record for the fourth consecutive year.[4] The month of June 2017 set a new record for passenger traffic at Nashville International, including a monthly record 1,314,000 total passengers. Nashville International classifies as a medium-sized airport in terms of passengers, and is the second largest of this category (behind only St. Louis). The airport is currently served by 12 airlines and offers 450 daily arriving and departing flights with nonstop flights to more than 55 markets in the US, Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Cuba.
The airport terminal complex includes an over 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) passenger terminal with 47 air carrier gates and up to 78 commuter parking positions. BNA serves a trade area of 79 counties in Middle Tennessee, southern Kentucky, and northern Alabama. The airport is a focus city for Southwest Airlines and was previously a hub for American Airlines. Berry Field Air National Guard Base is located at Nashville International Airport. The base is home to the 118th Airlift Wing and is the headquarters of the Tennessee Air National Guard.
FWE / FOOD WARMING EQUIPMENT
5599 Highway 31W
Portland, TN 37148
FWE is a leading foodservice equipment manufacturer worldwide.
All of our products are inspired by our customers’ unique needs. FWE products are designed and built with a focus on durability to withstand the harsh conditions of any kitchen and transport environment.
With the recent acquisition of a new 161,000 square foot facility in Portland, Tennessee, FWE / Food Warming Equipment Co. reaches another great milestone in its endeavor to provide better quality products with greater value than ever before.
With over 4x the size of its previous production facility, FWE’s new Portland facility is committed to growing and expanding its markets and product lines like never before while improving availability and delivery.
DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
Broadway / 2nd Ave
Nashville is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County.[6] It is located on the Cumberland River in the north central part of the state. The city is a center for the music, healthcare, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and home to numerous colleges and universities. It is known as a center of the country music industry, earning it the nickname “Music City, U.S.A.“[7]
Since 1963, Nashville has had a consolidated city-county government, which includes six smaller municipalities in a two-tier system. The city is governed by a mayor, a vice-mayor, and a 40-member Metropolitan Council; 35 of the members are elected from single-member districts, while the other five are elected at-large. Reflecting the city’s position in state government, Nashville is home to the Tennessee Supreme Court‘s courthouse for Middle Tennessee. According to 2016 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, the total consolidated city-county population stood at 684,410.[3] The “balance” population, which excludes semi-independent municipalities within Nashville, was 660,388.[5][8] The 2015 population of the entire 13-county Nashville metropolitan area was 1,830,345, making it the largest metropolitan statistical area in the state.[4] The 2015 population of the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Columbia combined statistical area, a larger trade area, was 1,951,644.[9]
HILTON GARDEN INN (DOWNTOWN)
305 Korean Veterans Blvd
Nashville, TN 37203
Hilton Garden Inn Nashville Downtown/Convention Center is set in the heart of downtown Music City – Nashville, providing outstanding service and warm southern hospitality. The hotel is located one block from Music City Convention Center and is 15 minutes from Nashville International Airport. Guests are within walking distance to corporate headquarters, Music Row, Nissan Stadium, Bridgestone Arena, and the Country Music Hall of Fame, and minutes from Vanderbilt and Belmont Universities.
Ideal for business, corporate and social events, this downtown Nashville hotel has over 4,200 sq. ft. of divisible meeting space and a complimentary 24-hour business center. The latest A/V technology and our dedicated staff will ensure that your conference or wedding is hassle-free. Cool down with a dip in the outdoor pool, soak up the sunshine on the pool deck and energize with modern equipment in the 24-hour fitness center. Spacious and modern, our downtown Nashville rooms and suites offer everything you need for a successful business trip or relaxing vacation. Unwind in the bar, and enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner in the Great American Grill.
BRIDGESTONE ARENA
501 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37203
Bridgestone Arena opened in December 1996 and has hosted more than 13 million guests. It is Nashville’s number one venue for large-scale musical productions, as well as one of the nation’s most highly-acclaimed entertainment and sports venues. Seating capacity is approximately 20,000 for concerts, 19,395 for basketball and 17,113 for Nashville Predators games.
Formerly known as the Nashville Arena, the Gaylord Entertainment Center and the Sommet Center, the building became Bridgestone Arena in 2010 after Bridgestone Americas Inc., which is headquartered in Nashville, entered into a multi-year naming-rights and marketing partnership with the Predators and Powers Management. Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company.
Bridgestone Arena also hosts a variety of non-traditional functions for Davidson County, the city of Nashville and local residents. Bridgestone Arena tower is home to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, an XM Radio studio and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, which hosts more than 500,000 tourists annually. Bridgestone Arena features The Patrón Platinum Club, a 260-seat fine-dining experience located on the building’s suite level, which is open before and after games and concerts, and hosts a number of banquets and receptions.
The arena also houses more than 6,000 square feet of meeting room space and a 13,500-square-foot rehearsal hall that is available for rent and used more than 200 days a year by national touring acts.
Hunter’s Station Food Hall & Ghost Kitchen
975 Main Street
Nashville, TN 37206
LOCATED IN THE HEART OF EAST NASHVILLE, HUNTERS STATION OFFERS A DIVERSE MIX OF LOCALLY-BASED DINING OPTIONS FOR A VARIETY OF APPETITES IN AN ECLECTIC FOOD HALL SETTING.
Home to The Grilled Cheeserie, Hugh-Baby’s BBQ & Burger Shop, Vui’s Kitchen, Tacos Aurora, The Picnic Tap, and Citizen Market, Hunters Station gathers some of Nashville’s favorite casual spots under one roof with plenty of dog-friendly outdoor seating, a bar stocked with local favorites, and dedicated parking, all within minutes of Downtown Nashville and just a few steps away from East Nashville’s Five Points.
Learn more at www.HuntersStation.com
NASHVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BNA)
1 Terminal Drive
Nashville, TN 37214
Nashville International Airport (IATA: BNA, ICAO: KBNA, FAA LID: BNA) is a joint public and military use airport in the southeastern section of Nashville in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a primary commercial service airport (more than 10,000 daily arriving and departing flights per year).[2] Established in 1937, its original name was Berry Field, from which its ICAO and IATA identifiers are derived. The current terminal was constructed in 1987, and the airport took its current name in 1988. Nashville International Airport has four runways, the longest of which is 11,030 feet (3,360 m) long, a size adequate to handle all aircraft in service in 2014.
Nashville International Airport (BNA) as of 2016 ranks as the 33rd-busiest airport in the United States in terms of passengers.[3] A total of 13,500,000 passengers traveled into and out of BNA during fiscal year 2016 (July 2016 – June 2017) an 11 percent increase over the previous year; again setting an all-time passenger record for the fourth consecutive year.[4] The month of June 2017 set a new record for passenger traffic at Nashville International, including a monthly record 1,314,000 total passengers. Nashville International classifies as a medium-sized airport in terms of passengers, and is the second largest of this category (behind only St. Louis). The airport is currently served by 12 airlines and offers 450 daily arriving and departing flights with nonstop flights to more than 55 markets in the US, Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Cuba.
The airport terminal complex includes an over 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) passenger terminal with 47 air carrier gates and up to 78 commuter parking positions. BNA serves a trade area of 79 counties in Middle Tennessee, southern Kentucky, and northern Alabama. The airport is a focus city for Southwest Airlines and was previously a hub for American Airlines. Berry Field Air National Guard Base is located at Nashville International Airport. The base is home to the 118th Airlift Wing and is the headquarters of the Tennessee Air National Guard.