ifec newsletter
September/October 2019
President’s Letter
Few acts can rival the pleasure derived from sharing a tasty bit of knowledge or wisdom with a friend, relative or colleague. It might be a tip about a new restaurant that has arrived on the scene that’s delivering fresh, authentic cuisine better than the others. Or it could be a newly discovered cooking technique that really makes your flavors pop. Maybe it’s a recently devoured book that unearthed the historic cultural significance of a favorite food, bringing new levels of poignancy to your appreciation. When we share those insights into true quality, we make the world a better place, bit by delicious bit.
For so many of us, IFEC is one of those particularly tasty bits of knowledge and wisdom that we relish with gusto as each fall approaches. While IFEC nourishes and sustains throughout the year with member benefits like Story Mart, brand exposure, regional gatherings and more, it’s the Annual Conference where IFEC truly shines.
Our Annual Conference brings IFEC’s distinct flavors to the forefront of our professional palate. It’s a mélange of culinary discovery, cultural relevance, edible insights and career catalyst. As we taste, learn and network our way through each event, we nourish our professional souls. It brings deeper meaning to food—and to our careers.
“Food is everything we are,” said Anthony Bourdain—it’s inseparable from our history, ethnicity, geography and family. In our never-ending quest to learn more about food, we in turn learn more about ourselves. And IFEC can play a significant role in this journey.
It’s not too late to share the valuable knowledge of IFEC with your colleagues—or to reap its benefits yourself if you haven’t yet registered for the 2019 Annual Conference (click here for details). A fantastic and memorable experience awaits in Madison. Hope to see you there.
Douglas J. Peckenpaugh
President, IFEC
Group Editorial Director, BNP Media
New Member News
- 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? The next new member webinar is Friday, October 4 at 2pm EST. The webinar will go over everything you need to know to be prepared for an IFEC conference. To received a calendar invite with call in info and link, email ifec@ifeconline.com.
- New Member Meet & Greet Stop in at Augie’s Tavern in the hotel to mingle other new members and meet-up with your buddy. This half hour meetup starts just before the official Welcome Reception, all new members are welcome to stop by and try a SupHerb Farms Bloody Mary (a MUST sip in Wisconsin).
- New Member/Family dinner on Tuesday, October 29 after the Tailgate Party. The 7th annual New Member /Family Dinner will be at Lucille in Madison’s First Settlement neighborhood. A short walk from our hotel, we will gather at this fun spot that has a locally-sourced, yet globally inspired menu that features wood-fired pizza, Wisco-Detroit cheddar-crusted black steel pan pizza and artfully crafted Pan-Latin cuisine – for anyone wants to have a bit more IFEC camaraderie. Email Peggy Castaldi at pcastaldi@supherbfarms.com for more information.
Cream of the Crops Raffle
Not able to make the conference this year? Don’t usually carry cash on you if you are? Anyone can participate in the yearly Cream of the Crops raffle. Tickets are 1 for $10, 3 for $25. Winner receives a shipment of produce each month. To order raffle tickets online click here. All credit card orders will have paper tickets filled out and put into the basket to be pulled at the Annual Meeting on October 30. Need not be present to win. Thank you to member Susan Hughes for coordinating this raffle and all of the commodity boards and companies who participate in this. Proceeds go to support the IFEC Scholarship Fund and Professional Development Awards.
January: Chilean Blueberry Committee
February: Olives from Spain
March: National Peanut Board
April: California Avocado Commission
May: National Watermelon Promotion Board
June: National Mango Board
July: SupHerb Farms
August: National Honey Board
September: Idaho Potato Commission
October: Mushroom Council
November: US Apple Association
December: Pear Bureau Northwest
Conference Updates: Mad for Madtown
Conference registration is still open, register today. Don’t miss out on this year’s new additions:
- Keynote Speaker futurist Simon J. Anderson: “Feeding the Future: Emerging Trends and Technologies Transforming Food”
- Editor’s Roundtable–a media-only, directed discussion on the hot button topics related to challenges in the B2B world, including strategies for digital content. Sponsored by the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission.
- Publicist’s Strategy Workshop–a panel discussion geared toward helping publicists find increased success in their pitch efforts. Panelists include Pat Cobe, Winsight Media, Bret Thorn, Informa Conenct and Susan Szymanski, Plate Magazine. Moderated by Joe Carbonara of Zoomba Group.
- Tuesday Supper Club lunch speaker Kyle Cherek: “Supper Clubs: Comfort Food and High Style”
Attention Editors!
Submit your questions for the Editor’s Roundtable. We are looking for all types of questions – from the intense “Everything you always wanted to know about other publications but were afraid to ask” type questions to the practical “who is responsible for the e-newsletters and are they worth it?” to the fun “what is the most cringeworthy typo you have made?”
All questions will be anonymous, submit them to ifec@ifeconline.com. During this media members only roundtable questions will be randomly pulled to spark discussion, debate and camaraderie. Please feel free to reach out with any questions/topic ideas/conversation starters.
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
News from and about people
After almost 19 years of foodservice agency life, Amber Hensley has joined the Dairy Farmers of America as the Foodservice Marketing Manager. Amber is excited to stay in foodservice and get back to her ag roots.
Brent T. Frei of Frei & Associates, Schaumburg, Ill., has been selected for induction into The Honorable Order of the Golden Toque. Originally founded in France and brought to this country by Chef Pierre Berard, the U.S. order, founded in 1961, recognizes chefs and other industry professionals with at least 20 years’ service who “have achieved professional attainment of high estate, abiding interest in professional progress and devoted and distinguished service to the Culinary Profession and Arts.” Membership is restricted to 100 lifetime members.
Mary Petersen, HAAC, founder and president of the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education (CAFÉ) and chief editor of CAFÉ’s “The Gold Medal Classroom,” was inducted into the American Culinary Federation’s (ACF) American Academy of Chefs as a lifetime honorary member at a gala dinner during the ACF’s 2019 National Convention & Show in Orlando in August. The honor society of the ACF since 1952, the Academy represents the highest standards of professionalism in the organization, society and industry. Its primary mission is to promote the education of all culinarians via mentoring, award scholarships to students seeking a future in the culinary industry, and provide grants to chefs for professional development.
IFEC’s apps
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.
The Crowd Compass event app will be available for download on October 18. Watch your inbox for download info.
New members
We’re happy to welcome these newly-minted IFECers:
Jeremy Andrus
Olson Communications
445 W Erie St., Ste 109
Chicago,IL 60654
jeremya@olsoncom.com
Liz Conant
Vice President, FleishmanHillard
500 Capitol Mall
Sacramento,California 95814
liz.conant@fleishman.com
Alison Hoachlander
Senior Manager, Golin
909 3rd Ave.
New York,New York 10022
ahoachlander@golin.com
Abby Kempf
Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA)
500 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, California 95814
Libby Parker
Ketchum
1050 Battery Street
San Francisco,CA 94111
libby.parker@ketchum.com
Renee Pas
Managing Editor, Zoomba Group
190 N. York
Elmhurst,IL 60126
reneepas4@gmail.com
Brittany Ray
Assistant Account Executive, Summit Group
4500 Highlands Parkway SE
Smyrna,GA 30082
brittany.ray@summitmg.com
Amy Verhey
Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA)
500 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, California 95814
IFEC CALENDAR
October 18, 2019
Download Day
October 28-30, 2019
Annual Conference
October 30, 2019
Annual Meeting
May 18, 2020
Bubble Party at NRA
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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