The 2018 Key Person, Sparkplug and Presidents Awards were presented at IFMA's 56th annual Presidents Conference, Nov. 6th in Phoenix. The recipients represent the most passionate and active professionals throughout the industry and IFMA's membership.
IFMA Key Person Award recognizes an executive who has demonstrated an extraordinary level of activity and commitment to IFMA.
Awarded to Bill McClellan, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Frozen Business Unit at Dawn Foods. McClellan has been a member of IFMA’s Board of Directors since 2011. He is IFMA’s current chairman of the board and has helped lead many programs over the past seven years, including Consumer Planning Program, Foodservice Fundamentals and membership, and the creation of IFMA’s Operator Collaboration Model. He has also played an active role with the industry wide GS-1 initiative.
IFMA Sparkplug Award distinguishes professionals who display passionate and dynamic leadership in the foodservice industry. This year’s winners have led strike teams within IFMA’s new Food Future 2025 framework in the areas of the consumer, operator, and go-to-market, with each team creating ground-breaking resources and models that will help the industry make more strategic decisions today and in the future.
Awarded to:
- Peter Cokinos, Chief Operating Officer, Palermo Villa
- Perry Miele, President, Nestlé Professional North America
- Chris Mulder, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing USA, High Liner Foods
- Jane Sumner, Vice President, Foodservice Division, Dean Foods
- Teri Trullinger, Group Vice President Sales, Cargill Foodservice
- Ben Wexler, President, Custom Culinary
IFMA Presidents Award pays tribute to individuals who have put forth substantial determination and demonstrated leadership that results in significant change in the foodservice industry.
Awarded to Paul Barron, CEO, Executive Produce & Editor-in-Chief at Foodable Network. Barron is the mastermind behind Foodable Network, a food media company of the next era for professionals and food enthusiasts alike. With over 20 years in food digital media, he is bridging the gap between the next generation food consumer and the future of foodservice professionals and has partnered with IFMA through Operator Direct Connect to bridge the gap between foodservice manufacturers and new-age operators.
Congratulations to our 2018 IFMA Award winners! Click here to learn more about the IFMA Awards programs.