ifec newsletter
August 2019

President’s Letter

Back to School

For so many of us who have children, August means back to school. From what I hear from the older folks whose kids have flown from the nest, those invisible strings still remain tied to your heart long after the backpacks and lunchboxes have been relegated to the attic to gather nostalgia. My three kids are all back in the swing of things at their elementary, middle and high schools, and things are returning to “normal” around my home office.

But the notion of going back to school every year holds strong merit for all of us. While we hopefully all push ourselves to progressively get better at our jobs as we work our way through our careers over the years, perhaps even investing some time and money into continuing education (we have a scholarship for that!), it bears reminding that we all would do well to take a professional inventory from time to time. How sharp am I on current approaches to data analytics? What could I be doing to better engage my audience through digital publishing strategies? What’s the next big paradigm-shifting event that will alter the course of my industry or profession?

IFEC regularly works to help us along this pathway of ongoing professional discovery, and one upcoming opportunity along these lines will be at the “Mad for Madtown” Annual Conference hitting Madison, WI this October. During the event, we’ll hold two distinct professional development workshops, one for publicists and one for editors:

  • Editor Industry Workshop—a media-only, directed discussion on the hot button topics related to challenges in the B2B world, including strategies for digital content
  • Publicist Strategy Workshop—a publicist only, panel discussion geared toward helping publicists find increased success in their pitch efforts

Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as our Annual Conference brings a wealth of opportunities to grow in your knowledge of food—and grow your professional network. For complete details and to register, click here.

The legendary James Beard once said, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” This digs into the cultural connections of food—a topic of great ongoing fascination of mine. And I’m relishing the opportunity to dig further into my knowledge of Wisconsin foodways at the Annual Conference this fall. Hope to see you there.

Douglas J. Peckenpaugh
President, IFEC
Group Editorial Director, BNP Media


IFEC’s new app

The IFEC app is a direct download to your phone or mobile device’s homepage. The app will automatically tie in with the Member Center, allowing you to make changes to your profile, search the member directory, pull up key information, register for the conference and sign up for sponsorships – all from the ease of your mobile device. Use this link to download the IFEC app: https://mobile.ifeconline.com and add it to your homescreen for easy access. Once you download it take a moment to upload your headshot and update your bio. Information about the conference app will be available in the coming weeks – available for download via the IFEC app and by email.

Newbies 

  • Webinars Have you just joined IFEC this past year? Are you a returning member and want to become re-acquainted with how the conference works? Two new member webinars will be scheduled in early October. The webinar will go over everything you need to know to be prepared for an IFEC conference. Watch your inbox for details.
  • New Member/Family dinner Peggy Castaldi is working on a location for this year’s new member/family dinner. This optional event is open to all attendees and will take place at a local Madison restaurant on Tuesday, October 29 after the Tailgate Party. Details will be sent in the next few weeks.

Seeking locations for IFEC 2022
Ever thought about how fun it would be to have IFEC in your hometown? This year we will be accepting nominations for cities for the 2022 conference. We will be in Santa Barbara in 2020, Annapolis 2021 so we are seeking a “fly-over”  or western state for 2022.

City must have a vibrant food community, at least 3 major hotels, major airport and MAJOR talent on the ground (YOU!) Interested in learning more? Email jen@ifeconline.com.

The IFEC Board needs you!
Seeking candidates for the 2020-2022 Board term, both editors and non-editors. Board members are expected to:

• Serve a 3-year term

• Attend two board meetings a year:
• Spring: During the NRA Show in Chicago in May, Monday morning, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
• Fall: During the annual conference, Thursday morning
• The first meeting of the 2020 Board will be Thursday 8:00 am – 10:00 am, October 30. Candidates are asked to make their travel plans accordingly.
• Take a leadership role by keeping informed of IFEC programs, supporting initiatives, helping develop industry support, contributing to long-range planning and leading/advising committees
• Keep informed of and advocate for the memberships’ interests


Conference Updates: Mad for Madtown

Room Block deadline
The last day to make hotel reservations is September 23. Room block can be accessed here.Go to www.ifeconline.com, log in, and take care of everything today. When registering for the conference please make sure you are logged in as a member, if not you will see the non-member rate of $100 and you will not see an option to add office hours.

Please remember that you will be selecting your food tour when you register – sign up today to make sure you get your top choice!

Donate today to the IFEC Scholarship Auction
Contact the auction committee before they contact you! Think outside of the box with cool experiences – one of a kind food tours, chef’s tables in a big city, a year supply of a great product, the possibilities are endless. Have some clients that could use exposure? Ask them to donate something! Donated items will have a photo and description at the auction table, items will be shipped directly to the winners. The auction committee will be in touch with all members seeking donations. Contact Co-chairs Jamie Bowen and Liz Slobodian about getting involved or making a donation: liz.slobodian@firehousesubs.com or Jamie.Bowen@potato.idaho.gov

Office Hours – Tips and Tricks 

  • Do you have your selections made? Do you need to change your choices? Use the scheduling link in the email that was sent to you after you completed your registration. KEEP this link in a safe place so you can make changes up to  the first week in October.
  • If you need to have the email resent, email ifec@ifeconline.com with the subect: Office Hours link needed.
  • Make sure there are only one set of appointments per client, no double dipping please!
  • Any changes to our lineup will be sent in a blast email. Use that link to make updates to your choices.
  • Schedules are done by a custom computer program based on your top choices. Prioritize your choices to give yourself the best odds to secure an appointment with a busy editor.
  • Not sure who the hard-to-get editors are? Feel free to email the office to have them look over your choices.
  • Schedules will be mailed by mid-October, changes to them can only be made on-site at the Office Hours desk
  • Volunteer to work at the Office Hours desk – get first hand access to the latest openings in the office hours schedule. Email jen@ifeconline.com to join the illustrious Office Hours committee.
  • Media calendars are uploaded to the Member Center as we receive them. We are not secretly hoarding them, we promise.

Food for Good Award: Nominate a winner now – DEADLINE EXTENDED

Do you know of an organization in the Madison, WI area using food for good? We want to know about them! Visit www.ifeconline.com and nominate them for the Food for Good Award sponsored by The J.M. Smucker Company’s Away From Home division. Nominations accepted through September 15, download the proposal form here. Non-profits, including schools, are eligible to receive this $1,000 award to be presented on October 28, 2019.Thank you to chair Amber Hensley for once again organizing this effort.

Deadlines for conference sponsorships & early-bird registration

August 31st is the last day to sign up for a sponsorship and the last day to get the early bird discount on a conference registration. Go to www.ifeconline.com, log in, and take care of everything today. When registering for the conference please make sure you are logged in as a member, if not you will see the non-member rate of $1000 and you will not see an option to add office hours or select a food tour.

Please remember that you will be selecting your food tour when you register – sign up today to make sure you get your top choice!


News from and about people

EvansHardy+Young (EHY), a Santa Barbara based marketing communications agency rooted in the food, restaurant, wine & spirit and casino categories, has announced KT Thayer as its new Chief Creative Officer. Thayer is joining the agency following the retirement of longtime agency partner and Executive Creative Director Scott Young.

“KT has an outstanding track record of success in creating breakthrough solutions that build brands and achieve client KPI’s,” says Dennis Hardy, president/CEO of EvansHardy+Young.  “He is uniquely qualified to inspire our team and lead the evolution of our creative offerings into the future.” Recently recognized as one of Adweek’s most fascinating people in marketing, Thayer joins EHY following his most recent role as Creative Director at Crispin Porter Bogusky’s Boulder office. During his tenure there, Thayer led creative for Fruit of the Loom and Jose Cuervo. Prior to CP+B, Thayer spent 14 years at San Diego-based ViTRO where he was the ECD working on ASICS athletics, Taylor Guitars and Newcastle Brown Ale. Welcome KT!

Secrets for getting the most from your membership

Have you explored all the information in the Member Toolkit? From your Member Center click the Member Toolkit tile. The member toolkit has member logos available for download (add it to your email signature!), tips for preparing for office hours and the last two years of Meet the Press decks. Check it out today! Any suggestions for what you want to see in the member toolkit? Let us know!


New members

We’re happy to welcome these newly-minted IFECers:

Heather Barbod
founder
elemental mktg
2269 Chestnut st, suite 177
San Francisco, California 94123
heather@inspireelemental.com

Hannah Cohen
Account Executive
MSL Group
424 2nd Avenue West
Seattle, WA 98119
hannah.cohen@mslgroup.com

Alexis Consulo
Marketing Communications Specialist
California Prune Board
3017 Douglas Blvd.
Roseville, CA 95661
aconsulo@californiaprunes.org

Dana Edwards
FWV
112 E Hargett St
Raleigh, NC 27601
dedwards@fwv-us.com

Arianna Elnes
Communications Coordinator
Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute
311 N. Franklin St., Ste 200
Juneau, AK 99801
aelnes@alaskaseafood.org

Isabelle Gustafson
Associate Editor, CStore Decisions
WTWH Media, LLC
1111 Superior Ave
Cleveland, OH 44114
igustafson@csdecisions.com

Abby Kleckler
Senior Digital & Tech Editor, Progressive Grocer
EnsembleIQ
8550 W Bryn Mawr Ave
Chicago, ILLINOIS 60610
akleckler@ensembleiq.com

Kathy Liz
Marketing Manager
Verlasso Salmon
5200 Blue Lagoon Drve
Miami, FL 33126
kathy@verlasso.com

Sacha Rady
Summit Group
4500 Highlands Parkway SE
Smyrna, GA 30082
sacha.rady@summitmg.com

Chelsea Ruka
Senior Account Supervisor
MSL Group
424 2nd Avenue West
Seattle, WA 98119
chelsea.ruka@mslgroup.com

IFEC CALENDAR

August 31, 2019
Early bird conference registration ends

August 31, 2019
Food for Good Nominations due

September 23, 2019
Room block deadline ends

October 28-30, 2019
Annual Conference

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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