The President’s Excellence in Service Award was created to acknowledge individuals who have helped build the pillars of the organization without the status of being on the Board of Governors or serving as FEMA President. It is intended to recognize individuals who may be unable to participate at the board level due to their company’s structure or those who may not even be looking for recognition. These people have dedicated much time to keep our organization moving forward.
The President’s Excellence in Service Award is intended to be given to the most deserving candidate and will not necessarily be presented yearly. The award will only be given in years with a worthy recipient.
The recipient will be honored at the Annual Leadership Conference (ALC) on April 29-May 1, 2024, in Isle of Palms, Charleston, SC.
Last Year's Honoree
Randy Knecht
Director of Regulatory Affairs
MANE
Randy Knecht stands out as an exceptionally committed volunteer and committee leader with nearly thirty years of experience in the flavor industry and twenty years of service to FEMA. In May 2012, he was appointed Alcohol Tax and Trade Committee Chair and has been integral to FEMA leadership since. Randy serves as the Chair of the Regulatory Affairs Committee. He has driven many important initiatives, including working on the Flavor Unfitness worksheet with TTB.
Randy Knecht is the Director of Regulatory Affairs at MANE, where he has been for over 13 years. He has been in the flavor industry since 1995 and has been involved with FEMA since 2006, when he attended his first meeting at the Fall Symposium.
Past Award Winners
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2023: Randy Knecht, MANE
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2022: Denver Christopher, Citrus and Allied Essences Ltd
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2021: Victoria Alvarez Saavedra, Virginia Dare
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2020: Cynthia Astrack, Astral Extracts, Inc.
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2019: Dolf DeRovira, Flavor Dynamics, Inc.
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2018: Kathleen Crossman, FONA International Inc.
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2017: Lorna Hopkinson, ADM / WILD Flavors
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2016: Mary Raukko, Firmenich, Inc