Category: Speakers Page 5 of 11

Editor
Plate Magazine

A trained chef, Chandra Ram has spent more than 15 years in the foodservice industry. Her experience as a consulting chef to foodservice manufacturers, commodity boards and operators has taken her into kitchens throughout the United States and England. Additionally, she has worked as a food industry marketing and public relations consultant and a caterer. Chandra holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Loyola University Chicago, and an associate’s degree in culinary arts from The Culinary Institute of America, and has passed the certificate level of the Court of Master Sommeliers exam.

Promotion Director
Pacific Northwest Canned Pear Service

Susan Renke is a foodservice industry marketing veteran who has worked with commodity boards, branded companies, agencies, and trade associations. Susan’s specialty is foodservice business development and marketing programs aimed at increasing sales and brand equity. Susan has worked with organizations such as Driscoll Strawberry Associates, the Pear Bureau Northwest (USA Pears), and Sunkist Growers, while running her foodservice consulting business, Food Marketing Resources. She has also managed foodservice programs in positions with the California Strawberry Commission, Sun World International, the Produce Marketing Association, Ketchum Public Relations and the Culinary Institute of America.

CEO/Executive Director
International Corporate Chefs Association and The Global Culinary Innovators Association
Founder and President
MARKETING A LA CARTE

MARKETING A LA CARTE is an international Marketing and Public Relations firm specializing in the foodservice industry and exclusively representing the culinary profession and foodservice associations for more than 25 years. In 2002 Ryan founded the International Corporate Chefs Association (ICCA) for the highest-ranking culinarian in the nation’s top 200 chains. In September 2013, Ryan starting another new association for the next 200 chains. The Global Culinary Innovators Association (GCIA) is designed for the growth chains that rank from 201 to 400 in annual sales on Technomic top 500-chain listing.

Associate Vice President
Yale Hospitality

As Associate Vice President for Yale Hospitality, Rafi provides strategic vision and leadership for the hospitality and dining programs at Yale University in New Haven, CT. He ensures that its dining experiences, food, operations, standards and vision reflect the world-class reputation of one of the world’s most-renowned institutions of higher learning.

Yale Hospitality serves more than 15,000 meals per day with a staff of 840, including culinary, service, management and clerical personnel. Rafi’s organization is comprised of three operational divisions with shared business and administrative support and an annual budget of $54 million.

Since 2008, Rafi has guided the continued development of Yale Hospitality’s well-known sustainability, culinary and nutrition initiatives by merging principals of a healthy plant-based Mediterranean diet with an operational approach that promotes sustainability and regionally based food systems. He is a key member of industry councils and advisory boards and promotes collaboration among operators, manufactures, distributors and growers to address key strategic food system concerns and initiatives.

Rafi’s contributions were acknowledged by his foodservice industry peers in 2016 when he was awarded IFMA’s Silver and Gold Plate Awards. He has received numerous other awards for his vision and leadership in implementing innovative hospitality programs, including Yale University’s Seton Elm-Ivy Award in 2016, NACUFS Horton Awards in 2013, 2014 and 2016 for residential and catering events, FARE’s 2016 Excellence in Leadership, Food Service Director of the Year in 2013 and the Illuminating Excellence and Leadership recognition from Premier in 2014.

President
Markon Cooperative Inc.

Tim York started working in the produce industry more than 35 years ago at H. Hall & Company, a grower/shipper of strawberries and mixed vegetables. In addition to being a founding employee and the current President of Markon, Tim also has held numerous committee and task force positions, including Member, USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Council; Chairman of the Produce Marketing Association (2002); Director of the PMA; Chairman of PMA’s Foodservice Division; Chairman, Center for Produce Safety Advisory Board; and is a founding member of the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops. Now that Tim and his wife have seen their youngest off to college, he is enjoying the extra time he has to spend with his new grandson.