President’s Letter
from Tom O’Brien Culinary Communications/Foodservice Equipment & Supplies magazine.
With the holidays and the New Year barreling upon us so fast, it’s hard to believe that we were just in Boulder just barely over a month ago. But your IFEC Board – along with Jen and the rest of the crew back at IFEC HQ – have been going over your comments on the conference. To all those who filled out the post-conference survey, our thanks. Your comments are helping us find out what worked (and what didn’t), all with an eye to making the Raleigh conference even better.
One comment I’ve heard now and then about IFEC is: “IFEC is run by [older members/newer members/editors/publicists/fill-in-the blank]…” If you’re one of the folks saying that, I have a challenge for you: Change that. How? By joining a committee and using your energy to improve IFEC. One of the great things about IFEC is our size – we’re small enough that one person can effect positive change. And a great place to start that is on our committees. Most of our committees take a minimal investment of time (like who has a lot of extra time anymore?) yet you have the opportunity to improve our organization. (In the case of the Food for Good, Scholarship Award and Professional Development committees, you’re actually improving peoples’ lives as well.) Jen can give you full information on what the committees are, what they do, and how you can help.
In closing, my best wishes to you for whatever you may be celebrating this season. If you’re traveling, travel safely (we want to see you in Raleigh next year!).
Tom O’Brien
O’Brien Culinary Communications/Foodservice Equipment & Supplies
IFEC President
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Year End Executive Director’s Report: IFEC by Numbers
As of December 15, 2017
245 members
• 82 New Members, 30 of which replace other employee memberships at their workplace
• 9 of the new members are editors
• 199 Publicist/46 Editors
Members self-identified with:
• 94 belong to 72 different agencies
• 36 Media Outlets
• 25 F&B Marketing /commodity boards (US, Canada & Spain), some boards have multiple members
• 7 Other
• 6 F&B Operators
• 6 Freelance Writers
• 3 Associations (CHART/NACUFS/NRA)
• 1 Educational Institution (CIA)
• 1 Equipment Manufacturer
Boulder Conference
• 190 attendees (tied with Portland, Maine)
• 70 different sponsorships
• 141 people downloaded the app
• 6,210 actions on the app – including engagement with sessions, speakers, sponsors, attendees etc.
• 767 social shares
• 4490 minutes – 75 hours total that attendees spent using the app
• Peggy McCormick & Kim Bedwell tied for first place on the app leaderboard, Debbie Sullivan, second and Tom O’Brien was third place.
Receptions & Scholarships
• 3 Student Scholarships
• 3 Professional Development Awards
• 3 Regional Receptions
Story Mart/Publicist Mart
• 94 Story Mart requests sent out (compared to 75 total in 2016 and 64 in 2015)
• 2 Publicist Mart announcements
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Conference Survey Results
We hear you! Look for a new coffee/tea setup for office hours next year as well as a clarification of how to download the IFEC app.
Multiple people requested the Meet the Press Deck in advance (we would have if we had it in advance – it was not ready this year until the night before) as well as a copy of Maeve Webster’s presentation. See links below to download either one.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ol52wnxr9tta4jl/IFEC%20Conference%202017%20-%20Maeve%20Webster.pptx?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ju4ikf4xk1mf42/Meet%20the%20Press%20FINAL.pptx?dl=0
A brief word about our menu planning – there is no traditional menu planning. IFEC sponsorships provide a significant portion of the association’s revenue. We serve the food that sponsors select; this often means unique and unusual combinations at mealtimes.
Learning Sessions are also part of the conference sponsorships. The speakers are vetted to the extent that the Learning Session committee selects the winning proposals. Consider submitting a proposal next year!
New Media Profiles
Stay tuned for two new media profiles that will be available in the member only section. The Food Channel, with editor-in-chief John Scroggins and Food & Nutrition Magazine with new editor member Liz Spittler.
News from and about people
Congratulations to member Rachel Tracy Lake on the birth of her daughter Rowen Polly Lake, born November 15 and weighing in at 9lbs. 12oz. Rowen joins big brother Myles, who was born weighing the same wait. Kudos to Rachel for being consistent!
New members
We’re happy to welcome these newly-minted IFECers:
Mary Kimbrough
Sr Director of Operations and Culinary Innovation
Wild Hive
3005 S. Lamar. Blvd. Suite D109 PMB155
Austin, TX 78705
Mary.Kimbrough@widhive.com
Liz Spittler
Executive Editor
Food & Nutrition Magazine
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606
LSpittler@eatright.org
Please update your records. IFEC’s new address and phone are: P.O. Box 581, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569 / 845-723-4434
IFEC CALENDAR
May 21, 2018
Board of Directors Meeting, Chicago
May 21, 2018
Bubble Party during the NRA Show/Chicago
October 24-26, 2018
Annual Conference, Marriott City Center, Raleigh, NC
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Remember to send you news for the next newsletter to Jen Mac Kay, jen@ifeconline.com. Keeping your name and your business activities on your colleagues’ radar is an easy way to network.
Cheers,
Jen Mac Kay
Executive Director/Newsletter Editor
ifec@ifeconline.com / www.ifeconline.com
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