SPEAKERS
Keynote Session – Accelerate Your Impact
as a Leader
Leadership is the ability to influence how other people think in order for them to make decisions that sustainably improve results. Leadership is a skill that can be mastered over time. In this keynote interactive presentation, Dan will provide a variety of practical leadership tools that you can use right away when you return to your organization, including addressing the three great leadership challenges: you need wisdom, you need to deliver it effectively, and you need people to trust you.
Understanding Consumer Trends
This session will examine evolving consumer preferences, including the growing interest in health-conscious choices, the enduring appeal of nostalgic flavors, and the rising demand for innovative and sustainable solutions. This talk will provide a forward-looking perspective to help flavor industry leaders navigate the dynamic landscape of evolving tastes.
Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN
President and Chief Executive Officer, International Food Information Council (IFIC)
Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN is President and CEO of the International Food Information Council (IFIC), a nonprofit education organization focused on effectively communicating science-based information about sustainable food systems, with an emphasis on food safety and nutrition.
Trade Policy Under the Second Trump Administration
Take a deep dive into U.S. trade policy in an insight-packed session led by the Founder and Chief Stategist of TradeMoves, Shawn Marie Jarosz. Shawn’s tenure in international trade and global value chains spans more than 25 years, equipping her with the expertise to provide insight into the second Trump Administration’s trade policy and priorities and potential impact on the industry and cross-border supply chains. This session will arm you with the tools and knowledge to take action to help mitigate any increased tariff costs on the cross-border movement of goods.
Shawn Marie Jarosz
Founder & Chief Trade Strategist, TradeMoves LLC
Shawn Marie Jarosz is the Founder and Chief Strategist of TradeMoves LLC. Her tenure in international trade and global value chains spans more than 25 years managing global sourcing and supply issues on behalf of U.S. companies of all sizes as well as related industry associations, primarily in the food and agriculture sector.
Keynote Session – The Current State of the U.S. Consumer and the U.S. Economy
What is the future of the U.S. economy? The U.S. consumer has been remarkably resilient, and all else equal, the economy would likely grow at normal rates of 2% and inflation would return to about 2%. But all else is not equal. Major changes in government policy — immigration, regulation, and taxes and benefits — have the potential to shock the economy. Innovations like AI and GLP-1 medications are already affecting the economy. In this session, using a mix of publicly available data and proprietary panel data on 150,000 representative U.S. households, we will discuss scenarios for the U.S. economy and how to navigate what promises to be a turbulent and transformative period for U.S. consumers.
Leo Feler, Ph.D.
Chief Economist, Numerator
Leo Feler, Ph.D., is Chief Economist at Numerator, a consumer research firm, and Visiting Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He regularly briefs c-suite executives of Fortune 500 companies on the state of the US consumer and implications of policy changes on consumer behavior and the US economy.
Chemicals in Our Food – Separating Sense from Nonsense
Every day we are buffeted about by a tsunami of information and misinformation about our food supply. Often synthetic additives are portrayed as villains while natural substances are heroes. The fact is that the relationship between food and health is very complicated, and it takes careful scientific scrutiny to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Joe Schwarcz, Ph.D., CM
Director of Office for Science and Society, McGill University
Joe Schwarcz, Ph.D., CM is Director of McGill University’s “Office for Science and Society” which has the mission of separating sense from nonsense. He is the recipient of numerous awards for teaching chemistry and for interpreting science for the public.
Sarah Codrea
Director of Government Relations, FEMA
Sarah Codrea has more than 20 years of experience in trade association program development, government relations, membership, and communications. She earned her B.A. in Political Communication from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs and an M.A. in Political Management from GW’s School of Political Management.
Christie Harman
Scientific Director, FEMA
Christie Harman currently serves as FEMA’s Scientific Director as well as Policy Advisor to the FEMA Expert Panel. Christie has over 20 years of experience overseeing FEMA’s various science programs and ensuring the successful operation of the FEMA GRAS program.
Innovations in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Panel
Consumer interest in innovative beverages continues to soar. Across generations, spirits lovers are rethinking their options, looking for premium experiences and new flavors, and experimenting in the market with lower and non-alcoholic options. These trends present opportunities for companies to connect their brands with the next generation of consumers. This session explores the flavor trends and innovations driving this next wave of beverage consumption. Join us as we discuss creative ways the industry is meeting the demand for unique and flavorful drinks.
Heather Daines
Senior Director Global Product and Sensory Research and Development, Beam Suntory
Heather Daines is the Senior Director of Product Innovation and Technical Research at Suntory Global Spirits. She spearheads a team dedicated to advancing and optimizing new products and innovations globally while directing long-term research initiatives.
John Fishel
Vice President, Beverage and Health Business Unit, North American Flavor Solutions, McCormick & Company
John Fishel is Vice President of the Beverage and Health Business Unit within the North American Flavor Solutions team at McCormick & Company, where he leads strategic growth and innovation across some of the industry’s most dynamic segments.
