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President & CEO
International Foodservice Distributors Association
Mark Allen is President & CEO of the International Foodservice Distributors
Association (IFDA), a Washington, D.C. based trade organization representing
the $160 billion foodservice distribution industry. Allen oversees IFDA's
day-to-day operations, including all initiatives in education, research
and government relations. He also serves on IFDA's Board of Directors, which
is composed of the presidents and CEOs of 24 major foodservice distribution
companies. Prior to his current role, Allen was Senior Vice President, Industry
Relations for IFDA and was responsible for managing the daily activities
of the industry's Efficient Foodservice Response (EFR) initiative. Prior
to joining IFDA in 1999, Allen served as the Director of Industry Affairs
for the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA). Allen holds a B.S. in Marketing
and Economics from the State University of New York at Oswego and a M.B.A.
from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
President
Willard Bishop Consulting
Bill's consulting focuses on major developments impacting food marketing
and distribution. His current work ranges from the evaluation of new, retail
store forms and marketing channels-including on-line-to the building out
of new growth platforms such as health and wellness and the growth of personalized
diets based on an individual's own, unique, genetic predisposition. His
education includes a Ph.D. from Cornell University.
President
JW Crocker Consulting Group
Mr. Crocker has held senior sales management positions with companies
in the food industry; Dole Packaged Foods, Pillsbury and Valassis. Mr.
Crocker has recently formed the JW Crocker Consulting Group, providing
value added services to a broad range of CPG companies. A graduate of
The University of Montana and The University of Southern California Food
Industry Management program, Mr. Crocker serves on several industry trade
advisory boards. Mr. Crocker resides in Shelton, CT.
Senior Vice President Sales
National Grocers Association
Mr. DiPasquale is NGA's senior vice president responsible for communications,
meetings, membership development, industry relations, and research as part
of the association's executive staff. He is also the executive director
of the Grocers Research and Education Foundation (GREF), in which role he
oversees research and education initiatives. Earlier in his career, Mr.
DiPasquale managed operations, human resources and labor relations for Ahold,
USA, and then headed up human resources and operational services for K Mart's
supercenters. In 1996 he joined the staff of NGA, a national trade association
representing retail and wholesale grocers comprising the independent sector,
as well as the suppliers that support them. He is married with four children
and currently resides in the Washington area. He has a BS from Iona College
in New Rochelle, NY, and an MBA from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Senior Vice President Sales
Seneca Foods Corporation
Mr. Dean Erstad has been with the Seneca Foods Corporation, the market
leader in the canned vegetable industry, since 1995 and presently is responsible
for "Brand" "Private Label" Foodservice "Frozen"
and "International" Business Segments totaling over $500 MM
in sales. Previously he held the position of Vice President of Private
Label Retail where he effectively integrated two major acquisitions into
the Private Label segment. From 1992 to 1995, Dean was an account executive
for Owatonna Canning Company. Seneca primarily cans and freezes vegetables,
but it also makes apple chips. The company's labels include Aunt Nellie's,
Blue Boy, Libby's, Seneca and Stokely's. In addition, under an alliance
with General Mills Operations, Inc., a successor to the Pillsbury Company
and a subsidiary of General Mills, Inc., Seneca produces canned and frozen
vegetables, which are sold by General Mills Operations, Inc. under the
Green Giant label. Seneca Foods also sells private-label and name-brand
veggies to retailers and institutional food service industries.
Founder and Senior Principal
Olsson, Frank and Weeda, P.C.
Mr. Frank was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and educated at the University
of Michigan, obtaining his B.A. in 1972 and his J.D. in 1976. He was a member
of the Michigan Law Review from 1975 through 1976 and Phi Beta Kappa. He
was admitted to the Michigan Bar in 1976 and the District of Columbia Bar
in 1977. Mr. Frank served as Adjunct Law Professor at the Columbus School
of Law at Catholic University of America from 1985 to 1986. He is currently
a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the American Bar Association.
Mr. Frank is a well-recognized expert on the labeling, advertising and inspection
and safety of food products regulated by the FDA, the USDA and the FTC.
He has testified many times before the U.S. Congress, the FDA, FTC, and
the Department of Agriculture on labeling, advertising and inspection issues.
Mr. Frank has served as Chairman of the Golden Carrot Awards, an annual
event sponsored by the public interest organization Public Voice for Food
and Health Policy, is the founder and Chairman Emeritus of Lawyers Have
Heart, a fund raiser for the American Heart Association and is on the Board
of Directors of the American Heart Association.
Vice President
Schar USA Inc.
Ms. George graduated Caldwell College in 1979 with a B.S. in Business
and joined A&P Supermarkets that same year in their merchandising department.
Ms. George spent 24 years at A&P with 11 of them spent in Corporate Brands,
company Vice President of Corporate Brands for 8 years; the final 2 years
as Vice President of Category Management for the company. Ms. George currently
works for Schar USA Inc., the U.S division of Europe's leading manufacturer
of gluten free food products
Executive Vice President
Ruder Finn, Inc.
Ms. Glick specializes in food/nutrition communications for Ruder Finn.
A former FDA press officer, she has directed a wide range of marketing,
issues management and public affairs programs on such topics as food safety,
packaging and environmental issues, labeling claims, the role of sugar
and fats in the diet, dietary calcium, obesity, responsible drinking,
animal welfare concerns and product recalls.
Former President & Chief Operating Officer
Foodtown, Inc.
Peter Lavoy has had an extensive career in the grocery industry. He
is a graduate of the University of Miami in Florida, with a BS in Marketing.
Peter joined Foodtown in 1997, and was appointed President and Chief Operating
Officer in January of 1999. Prior to joining Foodtown, he was with Grand Union
for sixteen years, holding various positions in operations, procurement
and merchandising throughout the U.S., and A&P for fourteen years,
as Corporate Vice President of Merchandising and Procurement. Peter has
received numerous industry awards from various groups, including the Catholic
Institute of the Food Industry, New York State Food Merchants Association,
Deborah Hospital, Daytop-New Jersey and Covenant House. He recently
received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Jersey Food Council.
Foodtown, Inc. is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary,
proudly serving its members and customers throughout New York, New Jersey
and Pennsylvania.
President & CEO
Monarch Foods, a division of U.S. Foodservice
Mr. Mulhern is president of Monarch Foods, a division of U.S. Food service,
responsible for the procurement, development sourcing and marketing
of the company's exclusive brands. Prior to this position, he was president
of US Foodservice's North Star Foodservice. Before joining US Foodservice,
Mr. Mulhern was executive vice president for Vistar Corporation and
was also at a broadline distributor, Alliant Foodservice. Early in his
career, he was on the operations side of the restaurant business, and,
among other companies, was at the Bill Knapp's chain in the Midwest.
Professor of Food Marketing
Saint Joseph's University
Mr. Taylor currently holds the C.J. McNutt Chair of Food Marketing
position, a position that recognizes a career distinguished by individual
excellence and high achievement in the food industry. The Chair activities
include teaching and lectures in various degree and non-degree programs,
research, and business networking. Mr. Taylor is a food industry veteran,
holding senior level positions over the past 20 years. His resume includes:
Vice President-Sales & Marketing, Venice Maid Foods (1999-2000), Executive
Vice President-Sales & Marketing, Home Shopping Showcase (1996-1999),
President, Campbell Sales Company and Corporate Vice President-Sales,
Campbell Soup Company (1993-1995), Vice President and General Sales Manager,
Campbell Soup Company (1992-1993), Vice President and General Manager,
Western US, Campbell Soup Company (1988-1992), and Vice President-Human
Resources, Campbell Sales Company (1985-1988.)
Former Senior Vice President
Food Marketing Institute
Michael oversaw FMI's education, industry relations and research departments
and served as President of FMI's Independent Operator's Division. These
departments produce nearly 30 educational conferences annually, a wide range
of training and development materials and numerous original research reports.
Prior to joining FMI, Sansolo was editor-in-chief of Progressive Grocer
magazine and was a reporter for Gannett Newspapers. In his career he received
a number of awards for excellence in writing and reporting. He works with
the Board of Advisors of both Portland Oregon State University and the Western
Michigan University Food Marketing Program. He is a graduate of the State
University of New York College at Cortland with a degree in political science,
economics and journalism.
President/CEO
Slattery Marketing Corporation
Mike has over 30 years experience in all phases of grocery merchandising,
sales and distribution. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill and has a post graduate certification in Supermarket Management
from Rutgers University. Prior to entering the brokerage business, Mike
served in various management positions with Wakefern Food Corporation including
Director of Grocery Purchasing.
President/CEO
The Food Institute
Brian became president of this association in 2002 and has worked for this
78-year-old organization since 1980. Brian oversees the day to day operations
of the Elmwood Park, NJ-based association which disseminates industry information
through its weekly report, daily e-mail updates, seminars and webinars,
reaching over 60,000 industry professionals. Brian graduated from Ramapo
College in Mahwah, NJ in 1980 with a B.A. in Political Science and serves
on the New Jersey Food Alliance of Rutgers' Food Policy Institute.
PAST BOARD MEMBERS
Chairman and co-Chief Executive Officer
Clement Pappas & Co., Inc.
Clement Pappas & Co., Inc. is a family-owned food processing company that
is a leader in the supply of private label fruit juice beverages and cranberry
sauce to the leading wholesalers and retailers throughout North America.
Mr. Pappas has been with Clement Pappas Company since 1962. He is a graduate
of Blair Academy and Dickinson College, 1962. He served as President of
the National Juice Processors Association, The New Jersey Farm Workers
Corp. and the New Jersey Food Processors Association, Chairman of the
Food Institute and is currently serving as Chairman of the National Food
Processors Association.
President
Spezzano Consulting Service, Inc.
Dick has had a long career in the fresh produce and floral industry. He
worked for The Vons Companies of Southern California as the Vice President
of the produce and floral and remained in that position until 1997. His
responsibilities included produce and floral procurement, merchandising
and operations. Dick Served as Chairman of the Produce Marketing Association
in 1995 and was named the Produce Marketer of the Year in 1993. He served
as Chairman of the Fresh Produce and Floral Council of California in 2003
and he received the prestigious Fresh Produce and Floral Council Produce
Achievement award in 2003. Spezzano has worked full time since Oct., 1997
in his Spezzano Consulting Service, Inc. and he specializes in perishables.
He works with a variety of businesses and associations for both production
agriculture and retail companies.
Retired President, Chairman of the Board and CEO
SYSCO Corporation
Mr. Woodhouse joined SYSCO at its founding in 1969 following positions
in Ford Motor Company and Cooper Industries. He has served as a Director
of NCR, Shell Oil Company, Nations Bank, Texas and Barclay's American.
Mr. Woodhouse was Chairman of Food Distributors International. He received
degrees from Wesleyan University and Harvard Business School.
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