IFT WORLD

Schellhaass becomes IFT President
Sheri Schellhaass, Vice President of Research and Development for General Mills Inc., was chosen by the members of IFT to be President of the Institute of Food Technologists for 2008–09. She officially becomes IFT’s 69th President when she takes office Sept. 1, 2008.

Schellhaass received her Ph.D. in food science from the University of Minnesota in 1983, the same university where she earned her B.S. degree in food science a few years earlier. She began her career at General Mills upon receiving her doctorate and has progressed through a variety of positions in research and development across the company’s businesses, including Director of Big G Cereal and Yoplait Divisions and Vice President of the Bell Institute of Health & Nutrition, Agricultural Research, and the Grain Center of Excellence.

An active member of IFT, Schellhaass has served on a number of national committees, including the IFT Foundation Board (2005–present); Task Force on Strategic Development (2005–07); Task Force on Governance (Chair 2004–07); Management Committee on Life-Long Learning & Careers Chair, Past Chair (Chair 2003–05); Publications Committee (2002); Annual Meeting Management Committee (2001–03); Exhibitor Advisory Committee Liaison (2000); Executive Committee (2000-03); AMC-Annual Meeting Management Committee (2000–01); Task Force on Enhancing Publications (Chair 1999–2000); Publications Committee (Chair 1999–2000); Functional Food Pavilion Task Force (1999–2000); IFT Committee (Chair 1999–2000 and 1997–98); Executive Committee (1999–2003); Publications Committee (1997–98 and 1998–99); Long Range Planning Subcommittee (1998); Annual Planning Subcommittee (1996–97); and Freshman/Sophomore Scholarship Jury (1988–91).

Regionally, Schellhaass has served as a Minnesota Section Alternate Councilor (1989–92 and 2000); Minnesota Awards Committee Chair (1997–98); and Minnesota Councilor (1995).

Schellhaass is a member of the American Association of Cereal Chemists; American Association of Dairy Scientists; Women’s Food Service Forum; and Research Chefs Association.

Gillette chosen IFT President-Elect
IFT members have chosen Marianne Gillette to be their next President-Elect. She will succeed Sheri Schellhaass, becoming IFT’s 70th President when she takes office Sept. 1, 2009.

Gillette has been employed by McCormick and Co. Inc. since 1977, when she started as a Sensory Evaluation Technologist. Since, she has moved up the ranks, holding positions that include Sensory Evaluation Group Leader, Product Evaluation Manager, Manager of Applied Technology, Marketing Manager, Director of Industrial Marketing, and Director of Product Development for Restaurants. Today, she is Vice President Technical Competencies and Platforms.

Gillette entered the food industry after receiving an M.S. (1977) and B.S. (1976) degrees in nutrition science from the University of California at Davis. Gillette received her MBA in 1984 from the University of Baltimore.

Her contributions to IFT are extensive and include IFT Executive Committee (1994–97); Maryland Section (Chair 1985–86, as well as Past Chair, Secretary, and Councilor); Sensory Evaluation Division (Chair 1987–88, as well as Past Chair, Secretary, Councilor, and Member-at-Large); Committee on Sections and Divisions Past Chair; Committee on Global Interests Chair and Past Chair; Committee on Exhibitor Advisory; Scientific Lecturer (1992–95); Award Juries (2000–08); Student Product Development Competition Judge; and College Bowl Judge.

Gillette has given hundreds of presentations over a 30-year period to local schools, science programs, science centers, local and national IFT meetings, technical short courses, university food science departments, and professional associations. Topics include sensory science, food and flavor trends, spices and herbs, product development, and science in the food industry.

Aron elected IFTSA President
Patricia Aron is the newly elected President of the IFT Student Association. She will take office on September 1, 2008.

After receiving a B.S. degree in biochemistry from Elmira College, Aron worked as a secondary science educator, teaching chemistry at Gunnery School in Washington, Conn. She received an M.S. degree in food science and technology from Oregon State University, where her research concentrated on investigating the extraction and chemical composition of red wine polyphenols. She began working in 2007 on a Ph.D. in food science and technology at the university. Currently, she studies the role of hop polyphenols in lager stability. Some of her hobbies reflect her research interests; she enjoys home brewing and winemaking.

Section and division volunteers recognized
The IFT Sections and Divisions rely on the work of numerous volunteers, with some going truly "above and beyond." This year’s Outstanding Section Members of the Year are Margaret Daskis, Jerry Heddinger, and Peter Taylor (British Columbia); Colin Dennis (British); Carol BoNey (Central New York); Dave Mehnert (Chicago); Gillian Dagan (Florida); Mary Ellen Wagner (Great Plains); Jay Astle, Veldon Hix, Peter Gilmartin, Sandy Koch, and Robert Yoshida (Intermountain); Joan Randall (Iowa), Krista Ditzler and Bruce Kiefer (Keystone); Alicia Cali-Ramm and Audrey Rusnak (Lake Erie); Ashley Bond and John Finley (Louisiana Gulf Coast); Dana Dronen, Larry Pearson, Anand Rao, and Don Steenson (Minnesota); James La Marta (New York); Robert Kluter (Northeast); Eric Wilhelmsen (Northern California); Dann Barnard, Joanne Barnard, and Lindsey Moreland (Oregon); Nitin Joshi (Philadelphia); Chris Charles, Paul Cole, and Tom McLean (Puget Sound); Lisa Alley-Zarkades, Gabe Lauro, Andrew Miyashiro, and Martin Sancho-Madriz (Southern California); Warren Clark and Marilyn Konopka (Western New York); and Beth Ann Nylander (Wisconsin).

This year’s Outstanding Division Members of the Year are Milda Embuscado, Jonathan A. Gray, Teri Paeschke, and Svetlana Zivanovic (Carbohydrate); Karen Blakeslee, Christine M. Bruhn, Elaine D’sa, Anthony Flood, and Judy A. Harrison (Extension and Outreach); Liv Bader-Shores (Fermented Foods and Beverages); Joan King, David Min, and Yeonwa Park (Food Chemistry); Qixin Zhong (Food Engineering); Bob Post (Food Laws and Regulations); Faith Critzer (Food Microbiology); Olga Padilla-Zakour (Fruit and Vegetable Products); Pamela Tom (International); Robert Gallatin (Marketing and Management); Cynthia M. Stewart (Nonthermal Processing); Cesarettin Alasalvar, Debasis Bagchi, Ron Pegg, and Fereidoon Shahidi (Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods); Susan Berkow and Indra Mehrotra (Nutrition); Amilcar Caputo and Bridget McClatchey (Product Development); Jeff Cawley and John Surak (Quality Assurance); Subba Rao Gurram (Refrigerated and Frozen Foods); and Dolores Oreskovich (Sensory Evaluation).

Refer a member to IFT
The 2008 Summer/Fall Membership Referral Program is in full swing, and this is your opportunity to spread the word about IFT to your colleagues. Visit www.ift.org and click on "Membership" and "Member Referral Program" for more details.

Congratulations to Stephanie Hannah, the winner of a drawing for a $500 AMEX gift card awarded during the 2008 Winter/Spring Membership Referral Program. A special thank you is extended to the following dedicated IFT members who have referred one or more new members: Bruce Artman, Gary Britting, John Brown, Erica Byerly, Keisha Christian, Tanya Ditschun, Charles H. Ferry, Kelly Goodwater, Stephanie Hannah, Jimmy W. Hsu, Christy Kadharmestan, Gabe Kis-Horvath, Rathna Koka, George Lutz, Naina Shah, Rhondi Shigenura, Juan L. Silva, Elizabeth Springsteen, Augie Staton, and Marino Trovela.

And thank you to members of IFT Divisions and Sections for their participation. Congratulations to the Food Chemistry Division and the San Joaquin Valley Subsection for referring the most new members.