2015 Clean Label Conference is a product development event focused on providing R&D with practical and impartial food science-based formulation advice on developing simple, "real," natural-positioned food & beverage products. Seating is limited. Click on ad to learn more.

The Sweetener360 is a custom research study commissioned by the Corn Refiners Association and completed in part by Nielsen and Mintel Consulting. It brings together attitudinal research, shopper data and video interviews to provide an in-depth look at how consumers feel about sweeteners, why they feel as they do, and how that impacts their purchase decisions.

Presenters Martin Concannon, founder and managing director, Lafayette Associates, and Sara Martens, vice president, MSR Group, will explain the methodology and reveal the significance of the data for food and beverage brands. Read More 

Martin Concannon is the founder and managing director of Lafayette Associates. He has more than 20 years of experience advising senior executives of leading multinationals in the areas of business strategy, corporate finance, performance measurement, incentive compensation and process improvement. Read More

Sara Martens serves as a consultant for The MSR Group's major consumer products and services companies. She has spent nearly 20 years in marketing and advertising and has worked extensively in branding and strategy development. Read More

Speed Networking 

We are expecting more than 80 students from area universities to participate in Speed Networking from 3:00-5:00.  We need at least 40 volunteers to make this a successful event.   Contact Susan Schaad if you can volunteer. For more information on Networking click here.  

For more information on Student Night click here.

If you are looking for Interns or to hire graduates, please contact Dennis Ferenelli or the CSIFT Business Office to post your opening online in our Career Center.    Copies of the opening will also be available to the students during Student Night.   

To sponsor one or more student dinners click below. 

 

Click on Logo to view website.  Click Here to view ad.   

Visit the Prinova table at the March Dinner Meeting to learn more! 

We are pleased to announce the upcoming 2015 CSIFT Leadership Election to be held from February 17 until March 18, 2015.

 

The Nominating Committee would like to present to you the slate of candidates for the positions of Chair-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and members of the Executive Committee. All candidates have accepted their nominations and provided biographical information on their current occupation, education, current and past CSIFT/IFT activities, and purpose for running for the open positions.

 

Joy Dell'Aringa, Chair Elect

Joy Dell'Aringa is the National Food Director for EMSL Analytical, Inc, leading the Food Division and directing all technical aspects of the food microbiology analytical offerings.

 

Joy is a member of the Executive Committee of the Chicago Section IFT, and is also the co-chair for the Membership Committee for the CSIFT. She is involved in cross-committee task forces to help elevate, unify, and grow the Chicago Section IFT using her background in business development, marketing, management and technical applications to contribute to the robust and diverse backgrounds of the CSIFT member roster.  Download full bio

Jennifer Farrell, Secretary

 

Jenn has been a member of IFT since 2008, joining the student section as a freshman at Purdue University. Since graduating with a Food Science B.S. in 2012 she has joined the Chicago Section, attending meetings and volunteering at various events.  

 

In 2013 she joined the Scholarship Committee, helping the team advertise the scholarships available and write FoodBytes newsletter articles on past winners.  Download full bio.  

 

 

 

James Colby, Treasurer

Jamie Colby has served as Treasurer of the Section for the past two years and will finish his 3rd year of appointment in 2015-2016. His previous IFT experience includes holding the position of Membership Secretary of the Minnesota Section in 2004-2006.

Jamie is a Group Leader at Kraft Foods Group in Glenview, IL managing a group of Packaging Engineers.  He has been employed with Kraft for 11 years and holds a B.Ch.E. Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.  Read full bio 

Executive Committee Member Slate of Candidates.  There are six people on the ballot for three open seats.

Susan Abraham-Rivera

Susan is the VP of Food Safety and Quality at AgriFIS, Inc. Susan and her Food Safety Team at AgriFIS conducts audits and assessments, develops food safety and quality assurance programs for GFSI - SQF, BRC certifications and prepares companies for FDA, USDA, CFIA inspections including FDA-FSMA compliance.   

The team also builds programs for Organic, Kosher and Halal certifications for food companies. Susan and her Technical Team at AgriFIS, conducts Food Safety Training for companies including HACCP, HARPC, GFSI-SQF, BRC, FDA and CFIA inspection readiness.  Read full bio.  

Dan Best

Dan Best has been an IFT member since his student days in the 1970s and a member of the Chicago Section IFT since moving to Chicago in 1986. He served as Chair of the Rocky Mountain Section of the IFT as well as Chair of the Chicago Section IFT and (twice) as the National IFT's Marketing and Management Division.   

He has periodically served on the CSIFT Executive Committee and chaired various committees, including (at present) the Long-Range Planning Committee. Read full bio.   

Mike Carson

Mike attended University of Illinois from 2004-2008. Bachelors Degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition.  Read full bio. 

Laura Gray

R&D Manager, Winona Foods

Education: MS Food Science, University of Minnesota; BS Food Science, Cornell University

Current and Past CSIFT/IFT Activities:

Executive Committee - 2007- Present, Section Councilor - 1990-2007, National Host Section Family Activities Committee Chair - 2013-Present, Long Range Planning Committee Member 2010/11, Tanner Committee Chair - 1993 -1995, Tanner Committee Member - 1995- 1996, Professional Member IFT, Chicago Section member 1985-present

I have been a member of the Executive Committee for many years and have enjoyed the challenge of the decision-making that is required to keep the Section running effectively and looking to the future. I would consider it a privilege to be able to serve the members of CSIFT as an Executive Committee member for another term.  Read full bio.  

Manoj Shah

I am a Kraft Foods Retiree and would like to continue to actively participate and promote the CSIFT mission and goals. I am very active in Chicago Section IFT as a current Executive Committee Member serving on several committees and a past Chicago Section IFT Ellery H. Harvey Service Award Recipient.   I have also volunteered for the IFT Evan Turak Scholarship recipient selection, IFT 2015 Annual meeting Abstract selections, and the National Host Section IFT 2015 annual MTG Technical Tour Committee chair.

Sanford Wolgel

Save the Date!  2015 Protein Trends & Technologies Seminar is a product development event focused on providing R&D with practical food science-based formulation advice on developing new protein-enhanced snacks, beverages, cereals, dairy products, baked goods and meal replacement products. Click on ad to learn more!

On Wednesday, January 28th the New Professionals gathered for an annual favorite: WhirlyBall! Over 30 participants came out to play a game that resembles lacrosse, hockey and basketball all with bumper cars.

Save the date for Wednesday, February 25th where we will volunteer our time at the Greater Chicago Food Depository.  Sign up Today!  

An Opportunity for New Professionals 

Are you interested in learning how to effectively communicate food science to the non-food scientist and become a food science advocate? Apply today for a unique training opportunity to participate in the Food Communicators Workshop sponsored by CanolaInfo on April 16 in Chicago, IL. Deadline to apply is March 2. A limited number of applications will be chosen to participate in the workshop. For more information, click here  

Your New Professional Committee,

Molly Connor, Co-Chair

Niki Hernandez, Co-Chair

Dorey Gray

Bridget McClatchey

After a successful December event, the Professional Development Team is mapping out our next soft skill workshop for career guidance and continuing education. Some of the topics/themes we are considering are Conflict Resolution, How to Handle a Difficult Boss, Effective Public Speaking, Effective PowerPoint Presentations. Stay tuned over the upcoming months.   

Technical Sessions

The Professional Development Team is also currently firming up details of our next Technical Session scheduled for April 30. The event will be held at Imbibe's new state-of-the art beverage innovation center in Niles. We will be focusing on a Beverage/R&D theme surrounding coffee from roast to cup and the sensory aspects of alcohol and liquor. Speakers will be from Imbibe and Diageo respectively. Mark the date on your calendars. This is going to be another fabulous event.

Employment/Career Center

If you have a job opening at your organization, you may post it at our Professional Development-Career Center page of the web-site. It is free and very easy to post a job. If you need assistance, please contact any of the team members below.

 Download article 

Sincerely,

Susan Abraham-Rivera, Ph.D. , Professional Development Chair, AgriFIS, Inc.  Email: susan@agrifis.com  Phone: 847.942.4136

Michael Gross, Career Guidance and Continuing Education sub-committee chair, Clutch Global Logistics

Email: michael.gross@clutchgl.com  Phone: 630.346.4791

Shannon Wilson, Tate and Lyle

Email: shannon.wilson@tateandlyle.com  Phone: 847.448.4884

Leslie Taylor, IOI Loders Croklaan Americas

Email: leslie.taylor@croklaan.com  Tel: 815.730.5208

Michael Mastrangelo, Employment/ Career Center sub-committee chair, LifeSpice Ingredients

Email: michael@lifespiceingredients.com  Tel: 773.710.4701

Zeek Agosto, Technical Sessions sub-committee co-chair, Univar

Email: eagosto76@sbcglobal.net  Phone: 312.399.8308

Maureen Oskielunas: Technical Sessions sub-committee co-chair, Kraft Food Ingredients

Email: maureen.oskielunas@kraftfoods.com  Phone: 773.456.0698

Jeffrey Jendryk, CDM Smith Inc.

Email: jendrykjp@cdmsmith.com  Phone: 312.802.9936