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A Connected Community

Members Making a Difference

Members Making a Difference

The strength of IFT is directly related to the energy and enthusiasm of our volunteers. Over 1,000 volunteers are actively participating on one or more of IFT’s new workgroups including the following:

Global Strategy Advisory Panel

Global Strategy Advisory Panel

IFT’s collaborative efforts transcended borders in 2009, with a true commitment to playing a greater role in addressing issues affecting the global food supply and its impact on the consuming public.

The Global Strategy Advisory Panel was formed in 2009, and charged with defining IFT’s global strategy and identifying key priorities for operating in a global environment. Advisory panel members include: Colin Dennis (co-chair), Philip Nelson (co-chair), James J. Albrecht, Gustavo V. Barbosa-Canovas, Gloria Brooks-Ray, Barbara Byrd Keenan, Kenny F. Chuang, Janet E. Collins, , Luis A. Fernandez, Anne Goldman, Victoria Spadaro Grant, Bruce R. Hamaker, James A. Miller, , B. Onuma Okezie, W. A. Parsons, Amanda K. Perl, John Ruff, Marcos X. Sanchez, Sheri Schellhaass, Justin Shimek, Rakesh K. Singh, Vijay K. Sood, Herbert Stone, Dante M. Vargas, Raymond J. Winger, Corey Wright, and Yifat Yaniv.

With members in more than 90 countries, more than ever before, this panel recognized the pivotal role that science and technology play on a global scale, and IFT’s unique ability to draw the best minds together to take on the new challenges for the profession.

Phil Nelson

Phil Nelson, IFT Member

IFT has the opportunity to contribute to robust dialogue around the harmonization of global food laws and regulations, provide the scientific foundation for conversations around international public policy and regulatory issues, and enhance food safety and sufficiency worldwide. By developing a comprehensive global strategy, IFT will be able to address these issues through the developments of programs and services that reflect IFT’s strategic goals.

The IFT Board of Directors approved the recommendations of the advisory panel during its meeting in December 2009. Implementation of the plan will be built into future versions of the IFT Annual Operating Plan as well as in project plans for our current activities.

Credentialing Feasibility Advisory Panel

A Credentialing Feasibility Advisory Panel worked with guidance from a credentialing consultant from October 2008 through November 2009 in both face-to-face and virtual meetings to outline possible credentialing concepts for IFT and to conduct a feasibility study.

Members of the Advisory Panel include: Robert Gravani (Chair), Patricia Aron, Janet Collins, Marianne Gillette, Richard Hall, Carmen Moraru, Michele Perchonok, George Purvis, Conrad Rebello, Lauren Shimek, Sharrann Simmons

The Board of Directors approved the Credentialing Feasibility Advisory Panel final report at the December 2009 meeting. Three new ad hoc groups will be populated to further develop the concepts and recommendations in the final report and conduct final validity studies before proceeding.

Divisions Task Force

A Divisions Task Force was formed, and charged with creating a clear, compelling and strategic vision for Divisions. This led the group to generate recommendations that focus efforts on content, delivering member value and creating community, as well as providing support to meet evolving operational needs within the Divisions.

Divisions Task Force

 

Members of the Task Force include: Robert Curran (Co-chair), Mary Wagner (Co-chair), Christine Bruhn, Pamela Coleman, John Coupland, P. Michael Davidson, Carolyn Fisher, John Floros, Robert Gallatin, Dennis Heldman, Leslie Herzog, Dallas Hoover, Lauren Jackson, Michelle Kozora, Kiyoko Kubomura, Bernadene Magnuson, Indra Mehrotra, E.B. Russell, Kelsey Ryan, Craig Sherwin, Rebecca Skolmutch, Richard Stier, Taylor Wallace, Mark Walsh

With recommendations in place, the outreach and engagement strategy will involve hosted webinars with Division leaders to share the initial recommendations, and then follow up with face-to-face meetings with each Division to gain insights that will culminate in a transition strategy based on activities targeted to each Division. A final Task Force report will be submitted to the IFT Board of Directors in July of 2010.

Current and Emerging Science Issues Advisory Panel

In March of 2009, the Current and Emerging Science Issues Advisory Panel submitted its final report to the IFT Board of Directors. The members were asked to identify and prioritize current and emerging food science and technology issues that require science-based solutions benefiting consumers, food science professionals, and the global food supply. More than ever before, IFT has the opportunity to contribute to quality and safety standards in domestic and global food trade, to influence science-based decision-making in public policy and regulatory issues, and to enhance food safety worldwide. Consequently, a strategic, prioritized assessment of key science issues related to the global food supply was imperative to serve as the foundation for IFT programs and services.

Advisory Panel Members include: Rickey Yada (chair), Vijay K. Arora, , Francis F. Busta, Hongda Chen, Eric A. Decker, Michael P. Doyle, Nancy E. Fogg-Johnson, Linda Letcher, Gilbert A. Leveille, Daryl Lund, Julie E. Mann, Jennifer McEntire, George Miller, John Milner, Bob Moore, Rosetta Newsome, Suzanne Nielsen, Devin Petersen, Damanna R. Rao, V.N. Mohan Rao, Sylvia B. Rowe, Nicholas L. Rozzi, Bob Swientek, Toni Tarver, B. Van Lengerich

While the panel discussed many food science issues, those of highest priority included: food security/sufficiency; sustainability, food quality, and health and wellness. Within these areas priority issues were: nanotechnology, packaging ingredient safety, import safety, traceability, and obesity/energetic/food intake regulation. The group submitted its final report to the Board of Directors in March of 2009.

New Professionals Community

New Professionals Community

The New Professionals Community continues to grow with nearly 700 members to date, and an active Task Force guiding their programs. Members of this community are savoring each monthly issue of Eat Your Words, a new online newsletter for members in the food industry 10 years or less.

Members of the Task Force include: Thomas Nack (Co-chair), Jaime Leann Reeves (Co-chair), Michelle Dawn Danyluk, Edward Dudley, Jessica Hof, Sarah Woodling Houle, Michelle Kozora, Amanda Agnes Lathrop, Karina Martino, Michael Roberson, Arnie Sair, Sarah Smith-Simpson, and Hang Xiao.

In addition, the Task Force planned programming for the 2009 Annual Meeting including a one-day Short Course, "Foundation Skills for Technical Professionals; How to Be an Effective Influencer," a panel discussion on the Global Marketplace and an information networking mixer for fellow new professional attendees. The New Professionals Community is also focused on IFT’s regional Sections and helping to plan local networking and engagement opportunities for new professionals around the country.

Student Activities

Kelsey Ryan, 2009-2010 IFT Student Association President

Kelsey Ryan, 2009-2010 IFT Student Association President

To secure the future of the profession, the IFT Student Association has remained focused on key goals of their strategic plan that include: improving and initiating programs to provide enhanced value to our members, encouraging outreach and increase the involvement of our undergraduate members, enhancing and improving IFTSA core programs and initiatives to provide year-round value and innovative learning and networking opportunities, and enhancing programs to raise funding, promote IFTSA’s value and engage current and potential members.

Throughout the year they worked to accomplish these goals by enhancing the Undergraduate Research Competition, participation on IFT’s Global Philanthropic Task Force, new member recruitment efforts through the "Are You a Food Geek?" student campaign, with recruitment materials being sent to over 40 IFT student chapters, and by joining forces with a team of new professionals and the IFT Foundation, to launch a student leadership scholarship in honor of the late Dr. C. Ann Hollingsworth.

Student Activities

In addition, this year, the following food science clubs were approved as official IFTSA Food Science Chapters by the IFT Board of Directors: Monterrey Institute of Technology, Queretaro Campus; Monterrey Institute of Technology, Monterrey Campus; Californian State Polytechnic University, Pomona; University of Cincinnati; Minnesota State University, Mankato; and the University of Guelph. And students focused efforts on the successful student activities at the 2009 IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo in Anaheim. The eagerly anticipated final rounds of two new IFT Student Association competitions took place in June of 2009 in Anaheim.

Matt Cael

Matt Cael, IFT Member

The competition sponsored by General Mills, "Developing Solutions for Developing Countries," encouraged food science and technology students from around the world to address critical issues in the development, safety and distribution of food.

The competition, "Nutritious Food for Kids" sponsored by Disney Consumer Products, challenged student members of IFT to address an important wellness need by creating healthy snacks for kids.

Congratulations to all of the IFT Student Association 2009 Competition Winners:

Divisions Task Force

Product Development Competition, Sponsored by Mars

Developing Solutions for Developing Countries Competition, Sponsored in Part by General Mills

International Winners:

Domestic Winners (US and Canada):

Nutritious Food for Kids: Sponsored by Disney Consumer Products

College Bowl Competition, Sponsored in Part by PepsiCo and Nestle Purina

Chapter of the Year: Sponsored by PepsiCo

Undergraduate Research Paper Competition

Through the new commitment of students, IFTSA will foster innovation in food science and technology for generations to come.

Intellectual Property Exchange

Intellectual Property Exchange

IFT is in a unique position with industry, academia and government to provide a forum for the food industry to establish vital business connections. For the first time, IFT offered an Intellectual Property Exchange (IPEx), held on Sunday, June 7, 2009 during the IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo. IPEx was a business partnering event designed to connect those holding intellectual property (IP) rights, such as patents, with those looking to purchase or license IP rights. Over 120 attendees and 17 companies/entrepreneurs participated in the event.

Career Fair

IFT held a one-day Career Fair on Saturday, June 6, during IFT’s 2009 Annual Meeting & Food Expo in Anaheim. Hiring representatives and meeting attendees had an opportunity to discuss available opportunities, career goals and identify attributes companies seek in prospective hires. Some of the major players in the food and beverage industry were represented. Hiring representatives from Pepsico, Leprino Foods, Gortons, Nestle Nutrition, FDA-CFSAN, Valley Fine Foods, Del Monte, Mars, and more were on hand to meet with applicants. The Career Fair attracted more than 300 applicants and generated more than 200 face- to-face interviews for job openings through IFT’s Employment Bureau.