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Local Sections

IFT Sections are your local connection to other food system professionals. Through Sections, you can attend events, join supplier nights, and volunteer to meet peers and build meaningful relationships. If you want to grow your network in your area, Sections make it easy to connect and get involved.

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2026 IFT Sections Award Recipients

IFT is honored to announce the recipients of the 2026 IFT Section Outstanding Service Award and Outstanding Volunteer Award.

These awards recognize Section leaders who go above and beyond in supporting their IFT Sections and who embody the true spirit of leadership, service, and volunteerism. Through their dedication, engagement, and contributions, these individuals have made a meaningful impact on their Section communities and the broader IFT network.

Outstanding Service Award Recipients

  • ​British Columbia Section​: Anubhooti Joshi​​
  • ​British Section​: Bertrand Emond​​
  • ​Central New Jersey Section​: Veronica (Ronnie) McBurnie​​
  • ​Chicago Section​: Sebnem Karasu​ & Tonny Thomas​​
  • ​Iowa Section​: Teresa Busch​​
  • ​Minnesota Section​: Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan​​
  • New York Section​: Margaux Mora​​
  • ​Northern California Section​: Parastoo Yaghmaee​​
  • ​Oregon Section​: JoEllen Wayne​ ​
  • ​Ozark Section​: Seth Graham-Acquaah​​
  • ​Southeastern Section​: Vishal Manjunatha​ & Kevin Mis Solval​​
  • ​Volunteer Section​: Aliyar Cyrus Fouladkhah​

Outstanding Volunteer Award Recipients

  • British Columbia Section​: Melinda Ren​​
  • ​British Section​: Colin Dennis​​
  • ​Cactus Section​: Venky Narayanaswamy​​
  • ​Central New Jersey Section​: Greg Aloi​​
  • ​Chicago Section​: Kelli Barth & Andrew Firestone​​
  • Iowa Section​: Allison Little​​
  • ​Ozark Section​: Lei Chen​​
  • ​Minnesota Section​: Emily Petterson​​
  • ​Northen California Section​: Erin Evers​ & Jas Walia​​
  • ​New York Section​: Jordan Allen ​& Frank Sabella​​
  • ​Oregon Section​: John Burger​ & Julie Colvin​​
  • Philadelphia Section​: Irv Megargee​​
  • ​Rocky Mountain Section​: Caitlin Kalogeras​ & Joe Boehrer​​
  • ​​Southeastern Section​: Robina Rai​ & Queen Abbah​​
  • ​Volunteer Section​: Sarah Prince

Impact Award Recipients

Establishment or Re-establishment of an Event with Noticeable Growth Initiative​

  • British Columbia Section: “From Idea to Shelf Program “​

​Membership Growth & Retention Campaign Initiative Co-Winners​

  • British Section: “Connect Sessions Program”​
  • Ozark Section: “Member Connect Program”​

​Outstanding Scholarship Programs ​

  • Southeastern Section: “Student Engagement and Scholarship Initiative”

My participation in IFT’s South Eastern Section has helped me grow personally and professionally and enabled me to create long-lasting connections with a wide variety of industry professionals whom I can call upon as friends and colleagues.

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Susan Mungai

Senior Manager: Quality, Safety and Environmental, The Coca-Cola Company/ fairlife

Join Your Section

You can join one or more Sections when you join IFT or renew your membership. To join additional Sections at other times, please contact IFT Central at info@ift.org or call +1.312.782.8424.

International Sections

Learn more about IFT’s international Sections. 

British Section

British Columbia Section

Japan Section

Mexico Section

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