12.13.21 - In honor of his unprecedented contributions to IFMA and the tremendous impact he’s had on the entire foodservice industry, the IFMA Board of Directors has announced that the IFMA Presidents Award has been renamed the IFMA Oberkfell Award after outgoing President and CEO, Larry Oberkfell.
“I have always thought of IFMA as the industry’s servant leader,” said Oberkfell. “I have been so fortunate to have served the best; first my IFMA teammates, and then our IFMA Board and overall membership. This award celebrates our combined success in our beloved industry. I am very humbled and honored that my name and contribution will be memorialized in this award, but I will always believe that together we celebrate the service to each other and our community.”
Over the last 12 years, Oberkfell transformed the association to be the driving influence in the foodservice industry. He led the growth of IFMA through recessions and most recently through the pandemic while delivering on an ever-stronger member value proposition. Today, IFMA is the clear industry leader and delivers an ROI to its members that is the envy of all others. Oberkfell returns to the industry as a trusted senior advisor to continue to add value in newfound areas.
“Larry has been a transformative force for IFMA and the foodservice industry over the course of his career, and the IFMA Board of Directors wanted to ensure the impact he has made lives on beyond his tenure,” said Hugh Roth, Chief Customer Officer of PepsiCo Foodservice and 2021 IFMA Board Chair. “The renaming of this award in his honor is a testament to the lasting legacy that he is leaving on our association and the industry at large.”
The new IFMA Oberkfell Award will pay tribute to individuals who have trailblazed and demonstrated leadership that results in significant impact on the IFMA organization and the foodservice industry. The award may not be presented annually, but it will honor individuals in the future who exemplify the same dedicated servant leadership to our industry and determination in bettering the association and the foodservice industry.