CFBN and Chicago Section IFT are closing out 2024 together!  Join us for a year in review of the trends and learnings that made 2024 memorable as well as insights to help prepare members and guests for the year ahead.

You'll hear remarks and reflections from a variety of industry leaders who will share with us their learnings from 2024, and their goals and prognostications for 2025. Following the reflections there will be (as always) amazing networking along with festive food and drink that you can enjoy while overlooking the incredible views of Lake Michigan, and Millennium Park provided by our hosts, Nixon Peabody.  Steps from State Street and the Christkindlmarket, you can even do some holiday shopping before or after the event!

Don't miss celebrating the end of the year with your industry colleagues and peers!  

AGENDA

5:00pm  Doors Open/Registration

5:30pm  Remarks & Reflections

6:30pm  Networking 

8:00pm  Event Close

SPEAKERS

JANET GARETTO

Intellectual Property Partner & Co-Leader of Food, Beverage and Agribusiness Practice 

Nixon Peabody

Janet advises her clients, which includes food and beverage as well as pharmaceutical and medical device companies, on brand development strategies. This process involves trademark procurement, trademark portfolio development and maintenance, addressing brand misuse issues and developing internal branding guidelines and best practices.

In addition, she counsels clients on developing and implementing patent strategies. Her work includes patent procurement, patent portfolio development and maintenance, analyzing and enforcing patents and assisting clients on patent protection and litigation prevention issues.

WHITNEY JACKS

Director of Local Sales 

Sysco Chicago

Whitney Jacks is a dynamic sales and marketing professional with a proven ability to lead teams, foster innovation, and implement transformative strategies. As Director of Local Sales at Sysco, she is known for her expertise in team leadership, strategic planning, and driving impactful change across diverse markets. Whitney excels in coaching and mentoring teams, developing future leaders, and creating competitive sales strategies that enhance business-to-business relationships and drive sustainable growth.

As a champion of innovation, relationship development, and community engagement, Whitney continues to build on her career by delivering strategic solutions and fostering connections that drive meaningful outcomes. Her dedication to excellence and her creative problem-solving skills have consistently delivered results that leave a lasting impact on both the teams she leads and the clients she serves.

SEBNEM KARASU

President

Karasu Consulting

Sebnem Karasu is an experienced entrepreneur and executive with over 25 years of experience in the food industry, specializing in food safety, business development, and international sales. She has successfully launched and managed multiple start-ups, driving significant revenue growth while ensuring compliance with global food safety standards. Known for her dynamic leadership and unique blend of technical expertise, marketing acumen, and cross-cultural communication skills, Sebnem has been instrumental in implementing innovative solutions and establishing strategic partnerships across diverse markets.

BILL McDOWELL

Editor-in-Chief and Vice President, Content and Channel Strategy

Institute of Food Technologists^®

Bill McDowell is vice president, content strategy for the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and editor-in-chief of IFT’s flagship publication, Food Technology.   

Bill was an early pioneer in online B2B journalism, as editorial director of the Food & Beverage Group at VerticalNet; and spent several years covering the foodservice industry at several publications, including Chain Leader, Advertising Age, and Restaurants & Institutions.  His involvement in the business media community includes serving on several editorial award juries, including the acclaimed Jesse H. Neal Awards. He also is a frequent lecturer at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

FLAVIA PANZA

VP Marketing and Innovation Strategy

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA)

Flavia is a seasoned commercial leader, known for driving growth and delivering shareholder value in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry. With over two decades of experience, she has established a proven track record of building brands, launching new products, and delivering strong business results. Her expertise spans general management, profit growth, innovation, and strategic market development.

A dedicated champion of diversity and mentorship, Flavia is committed to empowering minority professionals and women. She frequently shares her career insights at different events, inspiring others with her journey. Flavia also serves on the board of the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network, where she combines her passion for business, her knowledge of the food and beverage industry, and her love for Chicago.

PETER PELUSO

Region President - Great Lakes Region

Sysco

Peter is the Region President at Great Lakes Region at Sysco. He has over 15+ years of experience in food and beverage (covering sales, people leadership, strategy, DSD, cold chain management, continuous improvement, robotics, and distribution operations), with a passion for developing best in class teams and looking at innovative strategies designed to stay ahead of the competitive markets. He embraces competition and is very results driven with a history of continually beating KPI and profit targets. Peter gets great personal satisfaction building teams, empowering leaders, and providing tools to cultivate direct reports into higher level roles. He has a great track record of turning around low performing businesses while improving team talent and employee satisfaction levels.

ALAN REED

Executive Director

The Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network

Alan Reed is the Executive Director of the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network, a startup, nonprofit organization that brings industry players together, provides a forum for collaboration and support, and better connects the 4,500 companies in the industry across Chicagoland to drive innovation and growth in the region. The group leverages the power of the food & beverage industry in Chicagoland to grow the industry, and the local economy.

Prior to this new role, Alan was Executive Vice President, Strategy & Innovation at Dairy Management, Inc., and was responsible for creating and driving innovative strategies to grow dairy demand. Before joining DMI, Alan was a strategy consultant working with a variety of Fortune 100 companies.

PREM SINGH

President and Chief Technology Officer

Teinnovations, LLC

Prem Singh, a longtime member and contributor to the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), currently serves as the President and Chief Technology Officer at TeinnovationsLLC. Teinnovationsis a globally recognized provider of innovative packaging and processing solutions for the food industry, delivering advanced solutions to prominent brands such as Starbucks, Garden Fresh, Factor 75 (Hello Fresh), Cuisine Solutions, Good Foods, Campbell Soups, La Terra Fina, Suzanna’s Kitchens, Tru Fresh, and HPP/Nutri Fresh. The company continues to lead in developing innovative and challenging packaging and processing solutions tailored to the evolving needs of the food industry. 

A passionate advocate for sustainability and carbon neutrality, Prem actively supports efforts aimed at climate protection and change.

 

This event is in partnership with: