Skip to Content
Share:

In this episode of Fresh Take with IDDBA (Test Kitchen), host Kat Shanahan (VP, Marketing & Membership, IDDBA) sits down with Steve Asp (Meat & Seafood Category Manager, Lunds & Byerly’s) and Ellen Coatney (Education Coordinator, IDDBA) to unpack how leadership development translates into better communication, stronger teams, and real results on the job.

Steve and Ellen share what they experienced in the IDDBA Leadership Certificate Program, including hands-on exercises that sharpen negotiation skills and build confidence in everyday leadership moments. From the “gas station game” to practical lessons about defining “fair,” they explain why it’s okay to ask for more, and how preparation and mindset shape outcomes.

They also dig into two big leadership essentials: how to foster innovation through collaborative idea-building, and how to influence without direct authority by tailoring your message to what motivates the person across the table. Along the way, they connect these skills to a broader workforce challenge in fresh: developing people in a way that supports growth, engagement, and retention.

The conversation wraps with a look ahead at upcoming leadership development opportunities through IDDBA and why investing in your people can pay off for both the individual and the organization.

To learn more about IDDBA and becoming a member, head here: https://www.iddba.org/membership/join-iddba/membership

Want to learn more about the IDDBA Leadership Certificate program and other educational and professional development resources? Head here: https://www.iddba.org/education

Speaker Bios

Kat Shanahan

VP of Marketing & Membership

Kat-Shanahan

Ellen Coatney

Education Coordinator

Steve Asp

Lunds & Byerly

Meat & Seafood Category Manager

Steve Asp

Other Podcasts

From Show Floor to Store Floor: What’s Next After #IDDBA2026

Kat Shanahan, Abby Despins, Bradly Berg

What’s in Store

In this episode of Fresh Take with IDDBA, Kat Shanahan talks with Abby Despins, Vice President of Education and Industry Relations, and Brad Berg, Education Coordinator, about what they learned from What’s in Store Live at #IDDBA2026. They discuss how the show floor came together, what retailers responded to most, why practical innovation stood out, and how trends like protein, grab-and-go, global flavors, and bold flavor combinations are shaping fresh departments. Abby and Brad also share how IDDBA uses attendee feedback and show insights to guide future education, programming, and resources for members year-round.

50-s5e12-Live from What's in Store Live

Live from What’s in Store Live with Karri Zwirlein

Kat Shanahan, Karri Zwirlein

What’s in Store

In this special What's in Store episode of Fresh Take with IDDBA, IDDBA's Kat Shanahan talks with Karri Zwirlein, Director of Bakery, Deli, and Prepared Foods at Tops Markets, in a live podcast recording from What’s in Store Live at #IDDBA2026, on June 8, 2026.

49 S5E11 Sunscreen Samples Strategy Your IDDBA2026 Guide

Sunscreen, Samples, and Strategy: Your #IDDBA2026 Guide

Kat Shanahan, Cara Petrie

Inside IDDBA

In this Inside IDDBA episode of Fresh Take with IDDBA, Kat Shanahan talks with IDDBA Marketing Manager Cara Petrie for a practical, day-by-day guide to making the most of #IDDBA2026 in Orlando.

48 S5E10 Excited Stressed and Conflicted Anne-Marie Roerink on the 2026 Consumer

Excited, Stressed, and Conflicted: Anne-Marie Roerink on the 2026 Consumer

Kat Shanahan, Anne-Marie Roerink

Inside IDDBA

In this Inside IDDBA episode of Fresh Take with IDDBA, Kat Shanahan talks with Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics, about the consumer forces shaping 2026 and what they mean for the dairy, deli, bakery, and fresh food industries.

Anne-Marie previews the major undercurrents behind today’s marketplace shifts, including economic pressure, changing demographics, and evolving definitions of health and well-being. She explains why many shoppers are balancing budgets with selective splurges, how Gen Z and millennials are changing the demand for innovation, and why consumers might feel "excited, stressed, and conflicted" about the way they want to buy food.

All Podcasts