IFMA The Food Away from Home Association oversees five Foodservice Operator Councils (FLCs) that are made up of 150+ operator individuals. The councils represent the major segments of foodservice: Elementary & Secondary Schools, College & University, Business & Industry, Healthcare, and Restaurants.
FLCs share insights and important issues facing their segments with one another and with association members through webinar conversations, creating reports and guidebooks, and by presentations at our events. FLC leaders are often called upon to consult with the association’s staff and board on major topics.
The leadership of each council has recently been announced for 2025.
2025 FLC Executive Committee Leadership
Business & Industry
Chair: Dan Cramer, CHUBB
Vice Chair: Bernice Radaideh, Bank of America
Second Vice Chair: Nathan Phillips, JLL
Past Chairs: Kristine Cotton, JLL
Colleges & Universities
Chair: Betsy Helgesen, University of Minnesota, Duluth
Vice Chair: Jeff Palmer, UC – San Diego
Second Vice Chair: Dustin Cutler, Cornell University
Past Chairs: Peter Testory, University of Wisconsin, Madison and Ken Toong, UMass Amherst
Elementary & Secondary Schools
Chair: Alyssia Wright, Fulton (GA) Public Schools
Vice Chair: Danielle Bock, Greeley (CO) Public Schools
Second Vice Chair: Christine Clarahan, Crown Point (IN) Community Schools
Past Chairs: Whitney Ellersick, Portland (OR) Public Schools and Jessica Shelly, Cincinnati Public Schools
Healthcare
Chair: Michael Vetro, St Jude Children’s Hospital
Vice Chair: Matt Tremblay, Northbridge Communities
Second Vice Chair: Kevin Steffes, Carle Foundation
Past Chairs: Julie Meddles, OSU Wexner Medical
Restaurants
Chair: Phil Altieri, Buffalo Wings and Rings
Vice Chair: Rebecca Hurst, Cheesecake Factory
Second Vice Chair: Sarah Stewart-Schultze, International Dairy Queen
Past Chairs: Aaron Weedy, Ledo Pizza and Tom Hannon, Sky Co-op
“The work done within our FLCs is vital to our organization's ongoing success,” said Phil Kafarakis, IFMA The Food Away from Home's President & CEO. “Our purpose is to empower, nurture, and connect the food-away-from-home ecosystem so it may thrive and responsibly meet consumer needs. That purpose is shared by the dedicated operators in the FLCs.”
IFMA The Food Away from Home Association is proud to work with these remarkable industry leaders and all the members of our FLCs. We look forward to a productive and collaborative 2025!