Bill Bishop
President
Willard Bishop
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.
Paula Correy
Vice President, Western Region
Hy-Vee Inc.
Ms. Correy began her career with Hy-Vee as a manager of store operations
in unit in Urbandale, IA. She subsequently became store director for the
Hy-Vee supermarket in Mankato, MN. In 2002, she was promoted to the position
of the chain’s director of operations, followed by the appointment to the
position of assistant vice president of Hy-Vee’s Cherokee division. Her
next post was that of vice president of perishables, followed by elevation
to vice president marketing. She assumed her present position in 2008.
Joseph W. Crocker
President
Crocker & Associates
Mr. Crocker has held senior sales management positions with companies
in the food industry; Dole Packaged Foods, Pillsbury and Valassis. 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.
Frank DiPasquale
Executive Senior Vice President
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.
Dean Erstad
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.
Richard L. Frank, Esq.
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.
Doug Fritsch
Senior Vice President, Retail & Business Development
IGA USA
Doug Fritsch joined IGA USA in May of 2005 as vice president, U.S. chief
growth officer, and was promoted to senior V.P., retail and business development
in January f 2008. Currently Mr. Fritsch is responsible for U.S. retail
operations, key distribution and manufacturer relations, marketing, communications
and new member growth. During his tenure with IGA he has initiated a restructuring
of the IGA marketing organization by adding a brand development function
to reenergize the power of the IGA Brand and raise the level of participation
among the member stores. Mr.Fritsch achieved his master of business administration
degree (MBA) in 1981 from Lake Forest School of Management, Lake Forest,
IL, and completed the Executive Education Program at the Stanford University
Graduate School of Business in Palo Alto, CA, in 1991.
Donna L. George
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 in a various purchasing and merchandising
postions to include Vice President of Corporate Brands as well as Vice President
of Category Management for the company. Ms. George currently runs Schar
USA Inc., the U.S. division of Dr. Schar, Europe's leading manufacturer
of gluten-fee food products.
Nancy Glick
Senior Vice President; Health & Nutrition
MS&L
Ms. Glick is the head of MS&L's Washington, DC health and nutrition
affairs practice. 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.
Jamie Gronowski
President of Operations
Acosta
As a 30-year veteran of the sales and marketing agency industry, Jamie
Gronowski began his career in Salt Lake City as V.P. of sales for Kelley
Clarke. In 1982, he moved to Denver to become the V.P. of grocery for
McFerren, Speakes and Gustafson (MSG/A) - a large independent Colorado
agency. In 1990, he became President of MSG/A where he remained until
the company was acquired by Acosta in 1999. In June 2000 he helped create
Acosta’s Natural/Specialty Sales Inc. subsidiary and became its President.
Jamie was then promoted to President of strategic channels in September
2003. Today, Jamie oversees Acosta’s operations teams.
Peter R. Lavoy
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.
Pat Mulhern
President
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.
C. Winston Taylor
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.)
Michael Sansolo
President
Sansolo Solutions
Michael Sansolo was the senior V.P. of the Food Marketing Institute
(FMI) for 13 years and in that role had oversight over all education,
supply chain and research activities. Prior to joining FMI, Sansolo was
editor-in-chief of Progressive Grocer magazine and was a reporter for
Gannett Newspapers. 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.
Brian Todd
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
Mark S. Allen
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.
Dean Pappas
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.
Dick Spezzano
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.
John F. Woodhouse
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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