Chef & Child Committee Chair Elizabeth Mikesell, CEC, AAC, and Co-chair Ira Fingerman, Tyson Foods, Inc., are pleased to announce the 2008 Chef & Child Committee with each region having a dedicated representative responsible. These individuals were chosen for their dedication to the Chef & Child mission to educate children and families in understanding proper nutrition through community-based initiatives led by American Culinary Federation chef members, and to be the voice of the culinary industry in its fight against childhood hunger, malnutrition and obesity.

"I'm excited about the group of people we have supporting the program," said Mikesell. "My goals include refocusing the committee's energies on new promotional materials for chapters, defining educational programs at a regional and national level, and communicating more effectively with ACF members and the public at large."

2008-2009 Chef & Child Committee:

Elizabeth Mikesell, CEC, AAC, Chair

Ira Fingerman, Vice Chair, Fundraising and Development Committee Chair

Joe Aiello, CEC, AAC, Treasurer

Vince Blancato, Fundraising and Development Committee Co-chair

D'Aun Carrell, CEC, CCC, Central Region Chair

Phil Cragg, CEC, CCE, AAC, Chapter Liaison and Development Committee Co-chair

Joe Eidem, CEC, AAC, Western Region Chair

Harvey Golden, PCEC, Fundraising and Development Committee Co-chair

Jean W. Hull, CEC, AAC, Chapter Liaison and Development Committee Chair

Willie Jemison, CCC, Chapter Liaison and Development Committee Co-chair

Michael A. Jenkins, Communications and PR Committee Co-chair

Elliott Katz, HAAC, Western Region Co-chair

Jim Perko, CEC, AAC, Education and Educational Programs Committee Co-chair

Malika Robins, CEC, FMP, Communications and PR Committee Co-chair

Greg Sharpe, CEC, Northeast Region Chair

John Szymanski, CEC, CCA, CFSP, Communications and PR Committee Chair, Southeast Region Chair

David Wright, Northeast Region Co-chair

Renee Zonka, MBA, CEC, RD, CHE, Education and Educational Programs Committee Chair