2025 Presidents Conference Speakers

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Moe Abraham CEO Hillcrest Foodservice More Info Moe Abraham is the CEO at Hillcrest Foodservice, a Cleveland, Ohio based family run food distributor focused on independent restaurants which recently celebrated its 50’th year in business. Earlier, he served as Vice President of Finance. In these roles, Moe has focused on using technology to bring ever growing levels of efficiency to his workforce and convenience to his customers. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance.	ABRAHAM, MOE
Cullen Andrews Executive Vice President Dot Foods More Info Cullen Andrews joined Dot Foods in 2003 and has held various management positions within sales, marketing, and supply chain. As executive vice president, he oversees the global strategy and growth of all customer channels which include foodservice, retail, industrial, and ecommerce. He is also responsible for Dot’s manufacturers, marketing, digital, and customer service teams. Cullen is a member of the GS1 Foodservice Executive Leadership Committee and sits on the Board of the International Institute of St. Louis and Pet Food Experts. He has a bachelor’s degree and MBA from the University of Missouri. Dot Foods is North America’s largest less-than-truckload consolidator in the food industry. For more than 60 years, Dot has delivered supply chain and logistics solutions to enhance efficiency and choice. Dot operates 13 U.S. distribution centers and two in Canada, offering supply chain solutions in redistribution, ecommerce sample fulfillment, and more.	ANDREWS, CULLEN
Michael Barbier VP Client Solutions Foodbuy Foodservice	BARBIER, MICHAEL
Scott Barnewolt Senior Vice President of Procurement Performance Foodservice More Info Scott Barnewolt is Senior Vice President, Procurement for Performance Foodservice, Performance Food Group’s largest business segment, bringing 37 years of foodservice distribution experience. Over more than two decades with Performance Foodservice, he has served in leadership roles spanning category management, marketing, procurement, and sales, including Corporate Senior Category Manager, Corporate Category Director and Vice President, Procurement. Earlier in his career, he held buying and management roles with Kraft Foodservice, Riceland Foods, Jennie-O Foods and Alliant Foodservice. Scott earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the College of St. Francis in Joliet, IL, in 1987. A four-year starting pitcher, he was team captain, a conference MVP and a two-time NAIA World Series participant. He also completed the Executive Program at UNC–Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.	BARNEWOLT, SCOTT
Kevin Baum Product Manager - Data Services Dot Foods	BAUM, KEVIN
Amy Beck Director, Food and Beverage Meta More Info Amy Beck is an Industry Director for Food and Beverage at Meta, where she leads strategic partnerships and drives innovative brand-building strategies for some of the world’s top advertisers. With over 15 years of experience in media, Amy has worked closely with Fortune 100 brands, helping them accelerate growth and maximize their impact in a rapidly changing marketplace. Throughout her career, Amy has specialized in the CPG and Restaurant sectors, holding key roles across media, consumer promotions, and shopper marketing. Since joining Meta nine years ago, she has been at the forefront of developing consumer-focused solutions that empower brands to thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape.	BECK, AMY
Art Bell Partner Kinetic12 More Info Art brings more than 25 years of experience in consulting, client service, and manufacturer marketing & sales and is one of the leaders of establishing best practices in collaborative planning within the foodservice industry. Art consults with both B2B and B2C clients in areas such as growth opportunity identification, customer & channel analytics, competitive analysis & assessment, route-to-market strategy, category management, and pricing & trade spend strategy. Art along with the other founding partners of Kinetic12 received the 2017 Presidents Award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA). Prior to co-founding Kinetic12, Art was a partner at The Partnering Group. Earlier in his career, Art held various marketing and pricing/trade strategy roles at Sara Lee and was a consultant at Deloitte Consulting. Art has an MBA from the University of Michigan and received a BS in Commerce from the University of Virginia.	BELL, ART
Heather Bradshaw Vice President NA Merchandising Gordon Food Service More Info Heather provides strategic leadership across critical merchandising functions, including Category Management, Strategic Procurement, Indirect Procurement, Brands, Merchandising Operations, Limson, and NATL. Heather joined Gordon Food Service in 2011, initially on the Strategic Procurement team, where she gained extensive experience across all product categories. She is highly regarded for her ability to consistently build strong relationships with suppliers and drive impactful collaborations with business partners. Prior to her tenure at Gordon Food Service, Heather spent a decade in supply chain and purchasing within the automotive industry, bringing a wealth of diverse experience to her current role.	BRADSHAW, HEATHER
Anna Braun VP, New Business & Operational Excellence JT Mega Food Advertising More Info Anna Braun is VP of Business Development at JT Mega, a Minneapolis-based food and beverage marketing agency celebrating 50 years in foodservice in 2026. JTM partners with food leaders across the industry and is proud to be a long-time IFMA member. Anna leads business development and partnerships, always looking around the corner at what’s shaping the industry. She brings energy, insight, and a passion for connection to her role as emcee for this year’s Presidents Conference.	BRAUN, ANNA
Brooke Buchanan Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Panera Bread More Info Brooke Buchanan has over 20 years of extensive experience on the front lines of some of the nation’s more recent high-profile corporate challenges. Prior to Panera, Buchanan most recently served as the U.S. Crisis Chair for Edelman, the world’s largest public relations firm. Prior to Edelman, she served as Senior Vice President of Communications at JCPenney, supporting the company through the global pandemic and subsequent bankruptcy filing. Buchanan led Whole Foods Market, as Senior Vice President of?Corporate Affairs, through the 2017 merger with Amazon and the transition that followed. In 2015 she worked as Vice President of Communications for Theranos following The Wall Street Journal expose, and she also served as Vice President of?Public Relations for Williams-Sonoma. Buchanan’s expertise expands beyond the private sector, having begun her professional career on the 2004 re-election campaign for President George W. Bush.	BUCHANAN, BROOKE
Butch Cassidy SVP, Corporate Distribution Acxion Foodservice, Inc More Info Butch Cassidy joined Key Food Brokers in July 1992. Over the past 30 years, Butch has held various positions within what is now Acxion Foodservice. Overseeing multiple sales divisions, including operator sales, client engagement, and corporate distribution. Butch’s journey in foodservice started while in high school working food shows for his brother Dan Cassidy and ballooned from there. Butch attended Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and graduated in 1992 with a degree in Food Marketing. Butch earned his MBA from the Haub School of Business in 2003. Armed with a comprehensive understanding of all facets of the foodservice business, including Manufacturers, Distribution, and Operators, Butch has vast experience that has helped propel Acxion Foodservice to the company they are today. Butch currently sits on the Saint Joseph’s University Food Marketing Board and in his free time loves traveling with his family and watching Philly sports.	CASSIDY, BUTCH
Bowie Cheung Co-Founder & CEO Pepper More Info Bowie is the Co-founder and CEO of Pepper. Founded in 2019, Pepper is re-building the technology stack for food distributors for the cloud and AI era. Today, Pepper serves over 400 independent distributors and partners with over 40 food manufacturers to drive demand for their brands in the Pepper ecosystem. Before Pepper, Bowie was at Uber where he was a founding member of Uber Eats. Prior to that he was a Management Consultant at Bain & Company. He’s an alumnus of the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern and the University of Toronto’s School of Engineering.	CHEUNG, BOWIE
Susan Connelly Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer Darden Restaurants, Inc. More Info Susan Connelly was named Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer in June 2019. Darden owns and operates more than 2,100 Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Chuy’s, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s and Bahama Breeze restaurants in North America. Previously, Susan served as SVP, Communications & Corporate Affairs. Prior to that, she served as Vice President, Government Relations. Susan joined Darden in 2007 as Director, State and Local Government Relations. Prior to joining Darden, Susan was Government Relations Manager for McDonald’s USA. Susan also served as Director of State Affairs for the Grocery Manufacturers Association. Susan serves on the boards of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Suffolk University, and Saint Anselm College. She holds a BA in English from St. Anselm College, and an MBA from the Sawyer Business School at Suffolk University.	CONNELLY, SUSAN
Jeff Cowan Sr Director Community Engagement GS1 US More Info Jeff Cowan is a Senior Director, Customer Success at GS1 US. In this role, he leads activities in the foodservice and grocery sectors in the adoption of GS1 Standards to improve supply chain visibility, product traceability and food safety to business processes. Jeff has more than 35 years of experience in the CPG industry and has an extensive background in the areas of production planning, inventory management, order management, transportation, warehousing, sales and operations planning (S&OP) processes, customer service, master data maintenance, supply chain visibility and traceability, and business integration.	COWAN, JEFF
Barry Craft VP Merchandising Manager of Grocery, Dairy, Beverages, & Sysco Brands SYSCO Corporation Corporate Headquarters More Info Barry Craft is the Vice President Merchandising Manager of Grocery, Dairy, Beverages, & Non-Foods for Sysco. Barry has a vast background in merchandising after spending 40 years in the retail sector. Barry oversees the GSC merchandising organization for Grocery and is responsible for Sysco's Partnership Growth Management initiative, product innovation, strategic sourcing, and supplier business planning for the grocery/dairy/beverage/non-food team. Barry joined Sysco in August of 2023 as the VP of Merchandising, after spending the last 3 years with Kroger where he was the VP responsible for overseeing the grocery/dairy/frozen/adult beverage business for Kroger corporate. Previously, Barry was the VP of Merchandising, Marketing, & Procurement for Bashas' and spent spent 16 years with H-E-B. He is a graduate of Kennedy Western University with a bachelor's in Business Administration and an alumnus of the Cornell University Food Executive Program.	CRAFT, BARRY
Shawn Dolan Director of Procurement Biscuitville, Inc. More Info Shawn Dolan is currently Director of Procurement for Biscuitville. He joined the organization in 2021 as Purchasing Manager with more than 25 years of experience in fine dining, hotel, and healthcare as a chef as well as culinary operations and purchasing roles. In his leadership role with Biscuitville, and is responsible for sourcing, inventory planning, management and purchasing of raw materials and products as well as managing vendors, RFPs, bids, contracts, inventory, commodities, demand forecasting, and market analysis. Biscuitville is a self-distributed, 87-unit family-owned QSR chain located in NC, SC, and VA. He is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and holds a B.S. in business administration and law from Western Carolina University and earned his M.B.A. from Washington State University.	DOLAN, SHAWN
Joy Dubost PhD RD, Owner & Consultant NJOY Health & Nutrition More Info Dubost holds a PhD in food science and is a registered dietitian. Much of her 20-plus-year career in the food industry has been spent at the convergence point of nutrition science, regulatory, and policy. Her prior positions include five years as Senior Director of Nutrition for the National Restaurant Association, and two years as Senior Director of Science & External Affairs for the Beer Institute. Her work within the private sector includes leading global health and scientific affairs positions at Unilever, Lipton, and PepsiCo. She currently is the owner of NJOY Health & Nutrition, LLC, a consulting firm focused on food policy, scientific strategy and health communications. Dubost is a frequent source for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and NPR, among others. She has testified a number of times before governmental agencies on health and science-related issues. Dubost earned her doctorate at Penn State and a master’s in food science from the University of Georgia.	DUBOST, JOY
Kelly Dykhuizen Vice President Customer Experience Datassential More Info Kelly Dykhuizen, Vice President Customer Experience Kelly joined Datassential in 2017, where she specializes in analyzing food and beverage trends and providing actionable insights to clients. Her background includes over 10 years of experience in both custom and syndicated research, primarily for CPG, foodservice, and retail clients. Kelly has a BS in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from Indiana University.	DYKHUIZEN, KELLY
Liliana Esposito Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer Wendy's More Info Liliana has been the Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer at Wendy's since 2021, previously serving as Chief Communications Officer. Prior to Wendy’s, Liliana served as VP of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at Dean Foods. Her previous experience includes Public Affairs Manager with Mars and as a public relations consultant. Liliana serves on the board of trustees of the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the largest food bank in Ohio, and is a member of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce board of directors. She is also a member of the board of directors of Quality Supply Chain Co-op, Inc., the independent purchasing cooperative for Wendy’s restaurants; is the executive sponsor of WeQual, the Company’s employee resource group focused on LGBTQ+ employees and allies; and is the President of The Wendy's Foundation. She holds a B.A. in Government and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from Seton Hall Law School.	ESPOSITO, LILIANA
Julie Fussner CEO Culver Franchising System, LLC More Info Julie Fussner is chief executive officer of Culver Franchising System, LLC, the franchisor of over 1,000 Culver’s restaurants across 26 states. Julie leads more than 50,000 owner operators, team members and support staff at CFS in a singular mission: to genuinely care, so every guest who chooses Culver’s leaves happy. Additionally, Julie is driving Culver’s expansion into new markets, reinventing restaurant architecture and introducing modern efficiencies and tech-driven innovations across the system. Julie joined Culver’s in February 2017 as vice president of marketing and became the company’s first chief marketing officer five years later. In these roles, Julie oversaw brand and menu strategy, media investment, and creative execution. Before joining Culver’s, Julie spent nearly two decades in sales and marketing within the food consumer packaged goods industry, most notably with the iconic Oscar Mayer category of products at Kraft Foods.	FUSSNER, JULIE
Therese Gearhart President & CEO Women's Foodservice Forum (WFF) More Info A senior executive with extensive international operations and consumer marketing expertise, Therese Gearhart brings decades of leadership in the Food Industry to her role as President & CEO of WFF. She launched her early career in foodservice and hospitality and advanced to senior leadership with a record of unlocking business performance as an inclusive and authentic leader. As a 20-year veteran of The Coca-Cola Company, Therese led multi-billion-dollar P&Ls in Latin America and Southern Africa and spent six years working within the North America Foodservice business. She has inspired operational and organizational change across borders and cultures, consistently creating value and driving growth in challenging environments.	GEARHART, THERESE
Melanie Hilton Senior Vice President, Customer Success GS1 US	HILTON, MELANIE
Renee Howarth Director of Culinary Research & Development Acxion Foodservice, Inc More Info Renée Howarth is the Director of Culinary Research & Development within the Acxion Foodservice network, where she leads the creation of innovative, sustainable menu solutions for diverse clients. With over a decade of experience in culinary trend analysis and recipe development, she focuses on optimizing product performance while aligning with market and consumer demands. Grounded in sustainable agriculture, Renée has managed large-scale organic produce programs and launched Chicago’s first organic produce subscription service, experiences that inform her mission to make sustainability both practical and profitable for foodservice operators. Renée is also a recognized thought leader in culinary innovation, having spoken at The National Restaurant Show on the intersection of AI and the future of food development. Catch Chef Renée on the popular podcast, The Dishcourse!	HOWARTH, RENEE
Rebecca Hurst Director of Supply Chain, Distribution & Logistics The Cheesecake Factory/Fox Restaurants Concepts More Info Rebecca has a B.S. in Supply Chain Management from the University of Tennessee, and an M.B.A. from Middle Tennessee State, and has been working in supply chain for the past 24 years, most of that time being in foodservice. She currently oversees Distribution & Logistics for The Cheesecake Factory family of brands, which involves oversight of our 10 food and non-food distributors, with over 3,000 unique skus delivering to almost 300 restaurants across 16 brands. Prior to The Cheesecake Factory, Rebecca served in various leadership roles for Ruby Tuesday and Wendy’s QSCC, as well as on the distributor side with Performance Food Group.	HURST, REBECCA
Holly Jones Vice President, Foodservice Client Development Circana More Info Holly Jones is a Vice President of Foodservice Client Development and leads the Circana Foodservice Manufacturer Practice & Foodservice Analytics. Holly partners with Circana’s clients as a trusted advisor, helping them unlock and size business opportunities to drive sales. She is regarded by clients for her deep Foodservice expertise, industry knowledge and thought leadership. She began her career in foodservice working with broadline distributors, helping them analyze categories for assortment, distribution, and sales opportunities across commercial and non-commercial business segments. Prior to joining Circana in 2018, Holly worked in category management, buying, e-commerce, and shopper insights at Neiman Marcus and Academy Sports & Outdoors. She also spent 3 years at Texas Christian University as a D1 volleyball coach, while pursuing her Master of Liberal Arts degree. Holly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Texas A&M University.	JONES, HOLLY
Phil Kafarakis President & Chief Executive Officer IFMA The Food Away from Home Association More Info Phil Kafarakis is the President & CEO of the IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, a leading trade association serving the more than $271Billion food-away-from-home food and beverage industry. Kafarakis is a global food industry executive with more than 30-years of leadership experience. Previously, he served as President of the Specialty Food Association (SFA) representing more than 4,000 small and emerging food entrepreneurs in the $160 Billion U.S. Specialty Food Industry, and was the Chief Innovation & Member Advancement Officer at the National Restaurant Association (NRA). Prior to his association work, Phil successfully led and managed businesses at McCormick & Co., Cargill, Jones Dairy Farm, and Kraft. Mr. Kafarakis was born in Athens, Greece and immigrated to the U.S. with his family as a child. He holds an International Executive MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and a BSBA from Northern Arizona University.	KAFARAKIS, PHIL
Daniel Khachab Co-Founder and CEO Choco More Info Daniel Khachab is the co-founder and CEO of Choco. Choco is on a mission to digitize global food supply chains, driving them toward sustainability, security, and profitability. Today, Choco’s AI platform facilitates half of all food traded in major cities like New York, Paris, London, and Berlin, cutting food waste and streamlining distribution. Since its founding in 2018, Choco has raised $330 million from Bessemer, Coatue (its first European investment), and Insight, reaching unicorn status within 2.5 years. Previously, Daniel was the youngest Managing Director at Rocket Internet, where he oversaw growth across Latin America, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.	KHACHAB, DANIEL
Michelle Korsmo President & CEO National Restaurant Association More Info Michelle Korsmo is president and chief executive officer of the National Restaurant Association and chief executive officer of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. In this role, Korsmo is responsible for delivering value to the Association’s members, the 52 state association partners, and the restaurant industry. Prior to joining the Association, Korsmo was president and chief executive officer of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA), the national trade association representing the wholesale tier of the wine and spirits industry. Korsmo led WSWA through the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the industry was deemed essential and its workforce had the tools it needed to adapt to shifting business channels. Korsmo focused WSWA on defending the state-based regulatory structure and promoting the value of the wholesale tier.	KORSMO, MICHELLE
Mani Kulasooriya Co-Founder & CEO Cut & Dry,Inc. More Info A serial entrepreneur, Mani has spent the past decade at the intersection of food, restaurants, and technology. He started his career in Fintech building payment systems at Citibank and Yahoo. This training laid the groundwork for Mani to conceive and design complex, scalable, transaction-based businesses. Mani went on to co-found CAKE, the first Cloud POS startup, which was acquired by Sysco (SYY). While at Sysco, Mani helped create a brand new technology organization, Sysco Labs, which he helped grow to a 400+ team and $15B in transaction volume. Currently Mani is co-founder and CEO of Cut+Dry, a Foodservice platform that connects Manufacturers, Distributors, and Operators, in a single digital format. Cut+Dry is also the first company to launch an LLM AI solution for the Foodservice industry.	KULASOORIYA, MANI
Adam LeDonne Senior Vice President Foodservice Ventura Foods More Info Adam is an experienced leader in the food service industry with over 20 years of expertise in driving growth and transformation. Currently serving as Senior Vice President of Foodservice at Ventura Foods, Adam oversee strategic initiatives that enhance customer engagement and operational excellence.	LEDONNE, ADAM
Jack Li Data Guy Datassential More Info Jack has led hundreds of research studies for foodservice manufacturers and distributors across a broad array of topics. Jack holds an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA and is a 2003 recipient of the IFMA Sparkplug award.	LI, JACK
Lauren Lopez Senior Vice President Foodservice Rich Products Corporation More Info Lauren Lopez serves as Senior Vice President of Rich’s Foodservice & Ingredient Divisions, headquartered in Buffalo, NY. Renowned for her results-driven leadership and deep commitment to the business, Lauren provides strategic direction, fosters innovation, and nurtures talent to propel Rich’s foodservice and ingredient businesses toward sustained growth and success. Lauren’s journey with Rich’s began 20 years ago as an intern, followed by participation in the company’s management training program after earning her MBA. She spent over a decade in marketing leadership roles, where she played a pivotal role in shaping Rich’s desserts business. As one of five Category Business Unit leaders for Rich’s U.S.-Canada region, Lauren led a dedicated cross-functional team, driving category strategies that included new products, platforms, and joint ventures to support business expansion.	LOPEZ, LAUREN
Pippa Malmgren CEO and Founder Geopolitica Institute More Info Pippa is the former Economic Advisor to President George W Bush. She served in the White House and on the National Economic Council during Enron and 9/11 and has been an advisor to the British Cabinet and several other governments around the world. She previously served as the Chief Currency Strategist at Bankers Trust and the Deputy Head of Global Strategy for UBS. But, in recent years she decided to be part of building the economy and co-founded and advised tech firms across many verticals from drones to clean water to motorsports and space ventures. She is also an award-winning author of several best-sellers on the world economy, geopolitics, and leadership.	MALMGREN, PIPPA
Anissa Mandell-Chance President ARCOP, Inc. More Info Anissa Mandell-Chance took on the role of President at ARCOP in July 2023, leading the exclusive supply chain cooperative for the Arby’s restaurant brand. Prior to ARCOP, she had an impressive 12-year tenure in various leadership roles at Focus Brands (now GoTo Foods) which culminated as Senior Vice President of Supply Chain, where she led the centralized supply chain function for seven iconic brands. She has also held influential supply chain leadership positions at Taco Mac, Rare Hospitality International (now Darden Restaurants), and Innovative Restaurant Concepts.Anissa holds an MBA and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Kennesaw State University. She actively contributes to the industry as a board member of the National Restaurant Association Supply Chain Expert Exchange. She is also a board member of the Arby’s Foundation, supporting a mission to eliminate childhood hunger.	MANDELL-CHANCE, ANISSA
Sean McBride Founder DSM Strategic More Info Sean McBride is the founder of DSM Strategic Communications, a full-service communications, public relations and issues management firm that designs and executes innovative, customized strategic communications initiatives for corporations, trade associations and foundations that help them achieve their public policy, marketplace and organizational objectives. Sean’s communications, earned media and rapid response skills were developed and honed early in his career, having served in senior positions for numerous political campaigns for more than a decade, including two U.S. presidential races. He has helped lead several of the most high-profile and contentious public policy battles of the last decade, including the national debate over the safety, the benefits and labeling of genetically modified food ingredients, the battle against childhood obesity and the fight for legal reform at the state and federal levels of government.	MCBRIDE, SEAN
Charlie McConnell Vice President, Industry Insights, Education & Research IFMA The Food Away from Home Association More Info Charlie’s foodservice career includes experience with both manufacturers and with US Foods. His career began with The NPD Group where he managed clients’ consumer research needs. He translated that experience into consumer and operator insights roles with Unilever Foodsolutions and Sara Lee Foodservice before joining US Foods. At US Foods, he managed their research needs and developed their one-to-one marketing promotion, My Kitchen.	MCCONNELL, CHARLIE
John H. Miller CEO Legacy Food Group More Info John Miller serves as CEO of Legacy Food Group, a holding company that was created as a platform upon which to purchase and grow mid-tier foodservice distributors. Miller is responsible for leading and developing the holding company team and assisting acquired companies to achieve their growth initiatives. Miller also helps with acquisition evaluation, due diligence, and integration of acquired. Previously, John was Region President, Sysco South Texas. Prior to Sysco, John was the General Manager for Gordon Food Service – Texas Division from 2014 to 2018 John holds an MBA and BBA in Finance from Baylor University. John has in-depth experience in wholesale distribution, supply chain, logistics, finance, real estate development and change management. John has also contributed to numerous industry and charitable organizations throughout his career. John and his wife Wendy reside in Richmond, Virgina.	MILLER, JOHN
Lydia Miller Senior Vice President of Business Development and Replenishment Dot Foods More Info Lydia Miller is the Sr. VP of Business Development and Replenishment for Dot Foods. Dot Foods is North America’s largest less-than-truckload consolidator and supply chain solution in the food industry. Lydia has been with Dot Foods since 2007, holding various leadership positions across multiple areas: finance, human resources, customer service, business development and supply chain. She has a bachelor’s degree from St. Ambrose University and MBA from Quincy University.	MILLER, LYDIA
Megan Mobley Director, National Accounts Marketing The Marzetti Company More Info Megan Mobley is the Director of Marketing for National Accounts at The Marzetti Company, joining the organization in 2018. With 15 years of experience in the foodservice industry, Megan has led initiatives that span brand growth, innovation, and strategic customer partnerships. Prior to Marzetti, Megan held financial roles at Chipotle Mexican Grill, supporting Operations, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Sustainability. She earned her undergraduate degrees from the University of Central Florida and was honored as an inaugural recipient of Marzetti’s Key Ingredient Award in 2024. Megan is also a proud member of the IFMA Next Gen Cohort of 2024.	MOBLEY, MEGAN
Mike Mortensen SVP Operations & Supply Chain Lower Foods	MORTENSEN, MIKE
Carl Mount Chief Supply Chain Officer Jack in the Box Inc. More Info Carl Mount is responsible for leading supply chain strategy and execution with a focus on sourcing, procurement and distribution. Combined, Jack in the Box and Del Taco have 2800 stores in the United States and Mexico. Prior to joining Jack in the Box in 2024, Carl held senior supply chain roles at Zaxby’s, Starbucks Coffee Company and Yum! Brands. He has held international leadership roles for The Coca-Cola Company and spent the first ten years of his career in the soft drink industry working for PepsiCo. Carl’s career has also included roles in management consulting with various firms including PRTM Management Consultants (now part of PwC). Carl is actively involved in industry, educational and non-profit boards. Currently, Carl sits on the Advisory Boards for the Supply Chain Management programs at the University of Southern California and Arizona State University. Additionally, Carl is the board chair for the National Restaurant Association’s Supply Chain Expert Exchange.	MOUNT, CARL
Sam Newman Director Enterprise Accounts Tastewise	NEWMAN, SAM
Ron Pagaoa Sr. Marketing Manager for Savory, Foodservice & Private Label Ingredion Incorporated More Info Ron Pagaoa is the Sr. Marketing Manager for Savory, Foodservice & Private Label categories for the US Canada region. Ron focuses on developing and executing the marketing strategy for these categories to support Ingredion’s customers in their innovation efforts, product launches and growing their business. He is based at the Ingredion Idea Labs in Bridgewater, NJ.	PAGAOA, RON
Carol Patterson Vice President, Government Relations Foodservice Packaging Institute More Info Carol Patterson is the vice president of government relations for the Foodservice Packaging Institute, the trade association for the North American foodservice packaging industry. At FPI, she works on all government relations for the association at the federal, state, provincial, and local levels. Prior to joining FPI, Patterson was the interim national vice president of government relations for Restaurants Canada and headed various sustainability and government affairs departments. She has been on the board of directors for the Coffee Association of Canada and The Recycling Council of Ontario.	PATTERSON, CAROL
Luna Ravenna Vice President, Strategy, Channel & Customer Marketing McCormick & Company, Inc. More Info Luna Ravenna leads the strategic direction, as well as the development and execution of business and customer marketing plans, for McCormick’s Food Away from Home business. She has delivered profitable growth via targeted business strategies, robust marketing communication and innovation, and deep consumer and operator understanding. A veteran of brand management, Luna has built brands like McCormick, Cattlemen’s, Thai Kitchen and COVERGIRL. With a focus on foodservice for the past 5 years, Luna has partnered with Culinary, Product Development, Insights and Creative to deliver differentiated product and marketing solutions across customer and operator segments.	RAVENNA, LUNA
Elizabeth Riede Executive Director of Campus Dining Appalachian State University More Info Elizabeth Riede is the Executive Director of Campus Dining at Appalachian State University, where she leads a self-operated dining program serving more than 8,500 meal plan holders and over 21,000 students campus-wide. In addition to her role on IFMA’s College and University Foodservice Leadership Council and the Board of Trustees for the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS), Elizabeth is a passionate advocate for innovation in campus dining, workforce development, and student engagement. With experience spanning QSR, hospital foodservice, and now higher education, Elizabeth focuses on building collaborative, high-performing teams and creating experiences that connect people through food. She speaks frequently on the intersection of hospitality, technology, and human connection, encouraging leaders to balance operational efficiency with meaningful guest engagement.	RIEDE, ELIZABETH
Eimear Robertson Chief Technology Officer Kerry	ROBERTSON, EIMEAR
Peter Romeo Managing Editor IFMA The Food Away From Home Association More Info Peter Romeo has covered the restaurant industry since 1984 for a variety of media. Prior to joining the association, Romeo served in various capacities at Informa, beginning as an Editorial Director in 2011 and culminating in Editor-at-Large, a position he held for nine years. His past experience includes writing for Nations Restaurant News, Restaurant Business, and QSR Magazine. He has been awarded numerous Jesse H. Neal Awards, the B2B media’s equivalent of the Peabodys. A seasoned content strategist, Romeo has 46 years of journalistic experience in covering government affairs, business, innovation, entrepreneurship, employment issues and more.	ROMEO, PETER
Mike Schwartz Senior Vice President - Chief Engagement & Innovation Officer IFMA The Food Away from Home Association More Info Mike Schwartz is responsible for the strategy and direction of IFMA’s programs, services and marketing initiatives. Since 2014, Schwartz has played a key role in developing, launching, and leading IFMA’s insights and supply chain best practices. Over the past five years, his role has expanded to lead a team that provides value to IFMA’s members through all of its programming, including its connectivity forums. Prior to joining IFMA, Schwartz spent six years leading custom market research and consulting engagements for suppliers and operators at Technomic. His work included studies on market analyses, market sizing, performance benchmarking, industry trends, and more. Over the past 11 years, he has been a featured speaker and moderator at foodservice industry events in the U.S. and Canada. Schwartz earned his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from The Ohio State University.	SCHWARTZ, MIKE
Elizabeth Sertl Sr. Director, Supply Chain Visibility GS1 US More Info Liz Sertl is Sr. Director, Supply Chain Visibility, at GS1 US and has more than 20 years of experience in the CPG industry. Working closely with supply chain partners, Liz facilitates collaboration best practices and guidelines that help companies improve product traceability and supply chain visibility through the adoption of GS1 Standards.	SERTL, ELIZABETH
Jessica Shelly Director of Student Dining Services Cincinnati Public Schools More Info Jessica Shelly is the Director of Student Dining Services for Cincinnati Public Schools. She is responsible for overseeing 60,000 meals served each day by 328 school nutrition heroes at 66 schools. Jessica has received many accolades for her dedication and work in school meal programs including the IFMA The Food Away from Home Association Gold Plate & Silver Plate Awards. Jessica is a trailblazer in area of school nutrition with unique implementation at Cincinnati Public Schools such as salad bars and cultural spice stations in every school, reimbursable meal vending machines, Life Time Foundation’s Clean Label Initiative, and the Good Food Purchasing Program. Jessica holds her BA from Miami University and her MBA from University of Cincinnati where she was the Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year. Jessica is an active member of School Nutrition Association having served as past president of SNA of Ohio and on the national level on the Executive Committee.	SHELLY, JESSICA
Drew Shields Director Solutions Foodservice ITradeNetwork More Info Drew Shields serves as the Solutions Director at iTradeNetwork, a leading provider of supply chain management solutions for the food and beverage industry. Drew is passionate about transforming traditional supply chain processes through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, aiming to create more resilient and scalable frameworks for businesses in the food and beverage sector. Prior to joining iTradeNetwork, Drew held various positions in technology and supply chain management, where he honed his expertise in data standardization and process automation. His extensive experience has equipped him with a deep understanding of the intricacies of the foodservice supply chain and the technological advancements necessary to drive its evolution.	SHIELDS, DREW
Julia Stewart Founder & CEO Alurx More Info Julia Stewart's impressive career spans more than 40 years with some of America's most iconic and beloved brands. Her leadership has driven the rejuvenation and growth of companies such as Taco Bell, Applebee's, and IHOP. She served nearly 20 years as Chair & CEO of IHOP and later Dine Brands Global. Through her strategic vision, IHOP acquired Applebee's, resulting in the creation of Dine Brands. Because of her enduring career and numerous accomplishments, Fortune Magazine named her to their list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in the US. Recognizing the importance of maintaining healthy habits, she made a strategic shift to consumer health and wellness. In 2020, she began an entrepreneurial journey with a single mission: Enable health-conscious people to adopt a proactive lifestyle and live longer, healthier lives. Her journey led to the creation of the premium wellness brand, Alurx and the recent introduction of its groundbreaking wellness App.	STEWART, JULIA
Sarah Stewart-Schultze Vice President of Purchasing International Dairy Queen, Inc. More Info Sarah Stewart-Schultze is the vice president of purchasing at Unified Supply Chain, Inc. (USCI), a wholly owned subsidiary of International Dairy Queen, Inc. She leads a team that manages strategic relationships with more than 120 worldwide suppliers essential to meeting current and long-term Dairy Queen® system goals. Stewart-Schultze and her team manage over $1 billion in annual purchases and 700 SKUs. Prior to joining USCI in 2014, Stewart-Schultze held leadership positions at Sonic Drive-In; The Steak ‘n Shake Company; ABG, Inc.; and Farm Bureau. In these roles, she led demand planning for multiple limited time offers, innovative commodity strategies, mergers and acquisitions, labor scheduling development, market research, price discovery, and government lobbying. Stewart-Schultze earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and holds a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University.	STEWART-SCHULTZE, SARAH
Debbie Stroud CEO Whataburger Restaurants More Info Debbie leads Whataburger in its 75th anniversary year with a strong vision for operational excellence and high-quality made-to-order food. Since joining in 2023, her experience has supported the company through a growth spurt, having expanded to 1,125 restaurants across 17 states and introducing fan-favorite products to grocery shelves in 38 states and internationally in Mexico. She joined the company with more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant and retail industry, most recently as Senior Vice President, U.S. Retail Operations for Starbucks. She previously spent 27 years with McDonald’s, where she served in numerous financial roles and transitioned to operations in 2003, ultimately serving as Vice President and General Manager in the U.S. Southeast.	STROUD, DEBBIE
Connor Thompson Culinologist Ingredion Incorporated More Info Connor Thompson is a Project Leader in our Global Culinology team. Connor focuses on our food service partners and customers. Connor couples current restaurant trends and market insights with his vast expertise in ingredient performance and scale-up to serve food service partners as they develop new products and menu items. He is based at our partner food incubator, The Hatchery, in Chicago.	THOMPSON, CONNOR
Matthew Tremblay Director Of Procurement Northbridge Companies More Info Matthew Tremblay is the Director of Procurement and Culinary operations at Northbridge Senior Living. With a strong background in the restaurant industry, Matt brings years of food and beverage management to Northbridge. Matt earned his associate in culinary arts from Southern Maine Technical Collage and bachelor’s in business administration with a focus on finance and leadership from Southern New Hampshire University. Matt is also about to finish his MBA in data and analytics. Matt serves as vice chair on the International Food Manufactures Association (IFMA) Healthcare Leadership Council and has recently been involved with the Mediterranean Diet Association. His passion for healthy living in Senior living communities drives the Northbridge dining program.	TREMBLAY, MATTHEW
Teri Trullinger Group Vice President Foodservice Sales Cargill More Info Teri Trullinger is the Group Vice President Field Sales for Cargill Foodservice and is responsible and accountable for the execution of the foodservice strategy. She began her career with Cargill in 1989 with the Cargill Kitchen Solutions Business Unit (Sunny Fresh Foods). For the next 20 years she held various roles including Accounting, Continuous Improvement and Sales Leadership. Teri served on the Cargill Women’s Council from 2006-2008 and was Secretary of the leadership team in 2008. She is currently serving on chair of the board of directors for IFMA The Food Away from Home Association. She also recently held a position on the Board of Directors for the Hospitality Minnesota Education Foundation (HMEF) a key supporter of the ProStart program.	TRULLINGER, TERI
Rob Veidenheimer Partner Kinetic12 More Info Rob is a partner at Kinetic12. He has worked as a consultant across the food supply chain for over 20 years. His focus areas include strategic planning, go-to-market model optimization, market analyses, investment due diligence and marketing effectiveness. Prior to Kinetic 12, Rob was a founding partner and President of Pentallect Inc. and a principal at The Hale Group, both food industry strategy consulting firms. He has also held leadership positions at consumer products companies, including Campbell’s, French’s Food Company, and James River Corporation. Rob holds an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and a BA from Trinity College in Hartford, CT.	VEIDENHEIMER, ROB
Tim Wayne Senior Vice President & General Manager, Away-From-Home & International The J.M. Smucker Company More Info Tim Wayne is currently Senior Vice President & General Manager – Away From Home, Canada, and International, and also an officer of The J. M. Smucker Company. In his more than 16 years at Smucker, in addition to his current role, Tim has led Away From Home Marketing, Revenue Growth Management, and Field Sales (including Corporate Accounts, Convenience Store and Office Coffee channels, and the Rowland DSD coffee business). Prior to his time at Smucker he spent 18+ years at Procter & Gamble, holding a variety of roles in both Retail and Away From Home in Sales, Marketing, and Customer Finance. Tim is currently on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of IFMA – The Food Away From Home Association, and has served on several advisory broads, including Technomic, Dot Foods, the Dietary Managers Association, and the University of Illinois Department of Student Affairs. He was also recognized as National Automatic Merchandising Association Allied Member of the Year in 2012.	WAYNE, TIM
Liz Williams CEO El Pollo Loco More Info Elizabeth “Liz” Williams has served as our Chief Executive Officer since March 2024. Prior to joining El Pollo Loco, Ms. Williams was the CEO of Outfox Hospitality and Foxtrot, a modern café and convenience store. Ms. Williams also led Hart House, LLC, and served as CEO of Drybar Holdings. Previously, Liz spent over 10 years at Yum! Brands, Inc (NYSE: YUM) in various roles across Yum and Taco Bell, where she was part of the leadership team that drove a significant brand turnaround from 2011-2020. Liz was the President of Taco Bell International, responsible for strategy, growth, and performance across 30 countries. Before this role, Liz was the Global Chief Financial Officer of Taco Bell, leading Finance, Technology, and e-commerce. Prior to Yum, Ms. Williams spent six years at Boston Consulting Group, specializing in the Consumer and Retail practice. Liz holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas and an MBA from Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.	WILLIAMS, LIZ
Dessi Zaneva VP, Strategic Sourcing Jersey Mike's Subs More Info Dessi Zaneva is the Vice President of Strategic Sourcing at Jersey Mike’s. Joining the team in January 2024, Dessi’s oversees supply chain strategy, category management, distribution, risk management, technology and process improvement. Dessi’s favorite sub is a #6, Mike’s Way! Prior to joining Jersey Mike’s, Dessi spent over five years at Panera Bread, serving as Vice President of Global Strategic Sourcing and Commodity Risk Management. Previous experience includes time at NDCP (Dunkin’ Donuts Supply Chain Co-op) and ARCOP (Arby’s Supply Chain Co-op). She has expertise in strategy development, supply chain planning, supplier partnerships, and people development. Dessi has a Bachelor's degree in Marketing & Distribution from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Georgia State University and The Sorbonne. Dessi has been involved with the National Restaurant Association Supply Chain Expert Exchange for the last 12 years and is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Board.	ZANEVA, DESSI

2025 Presidents Conference Speakers

Moe Abraham

Cullen Andrews

Michael Barbier

Scott Barnewolt

Kevin Baum

Amy Beck

Art Bell

Heather Bradshaw

Anna Braun

Brooke Buchanan

Butch Cassidy

Bowie Cheung

Susan Connelly

Jeff Cowan

Barry Craft

Shawn Dolan

Joy Dubost

Kelly Dykhuizen

Liliana Esposito

Julie Fussner

Therese Gearhart

Melanie Hilton

Renee Howarth

Rebecca Hurst

Holly Jones

Phil Kafarakis

Daniel Khachab

Michelle Korsmo

Mani Kulasooriya

Adam LeDonne

Jack Li

Lauren Lopez

Pippa Malmgren

Anissa Mandell-Chance

Sean McBride

Charlie McConnell

John H. Miller

Lydia Miller

Megan Mobley

Mike Mortensen

Carl Mount

Sam Newman

Ron Pagaoa

Carol Patterson

Luna Ravenna

Elizabeth Riede

Eimear Robertson

Peter Romeo

Mike Schwartz

Elizabeth Sertl

Jessica Shelly

Drew Shields

Julia Stewart

Sarah Stewart-Schultze

Debbie Stroud

Connor Thompson

Matthew Tremblay

Teri Trullinger

Rob Veidenheimer

Tim Wayne

Liz Williams

Dessi Zaneva