Speaker Biography
Ken Whiting, President, Whiting Foods
Ken has committed his professional life to working within the recreational, leisure-time and restaurant industries, focusing on strategic sales building programs, customer service initiatives and the motivating and training of a large entry-level workforce. He has spent 30 years managing his family’s food service business at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Fair & Festival business unit. Ken consults with similar types of businesses, providing cost-effective solutions towards growing revenue and decreasing costs.
He lectures regularly on the subjects of Teenage Workforce Success to organizations that employ youth. Ken created the WAVES for Success system for improving workplace performance. He has employed thousands of teens and young adults and continues to focus on ways of understanding, in today’s culture, what inspires them to participate, contribute and excel at work.
Ken is a current member and past Chair of the IAAPA Food & Beverage Committee, and has presented regularly
at their annual convention. As an active industry volunteer, he has twice hosted a national meeting of food and beverage directors from major attractions around the country. Additionally he launched the food and beverage case study program for IAAPA, with an emphasis on small parks and FECs.
Married to Renee for 28 years, they have three daughters and reside in Surf City… Santa Cruz, California.
