IFEC has announced the election of officers and new members of the board of directors for 2020. Kelsey Casselbury, freelance writer/contributing editor to School Nutrition magazine was elected to serve as president. Nicole Duncan, Editor of FSR magazine, who was elected vice president; Avery Lewis, Vice President, Linda Roth Associates, will serve as secretary and Liz Anderson Slobodian, APR, Head of Public Relations, Firehouse Subs was tapped for the treasurer post.

President Kelsey Casselbury is a freelance writer, editor and designer whose clients include School Nutrition magazine (Contributing Editor) and ChemMatters, from American Chemical Society, (Graphic Designer), as well as a variety of food and health publications and websites. She has more than 15 years of experience in publishing and communications through editorial and design work with daily newspapers, glossy magazines, consumer websites and nonprofit associations. Kelsey has been a member of IFEC since 2015 and has served as treasurer, on the conference program committee and as chair of Meet the Press. Kelsey, an avid reader and musical theatre nerd, lives with her husband, David, and 5-year-old son, Alexander near Annapolis, Maryland, where she also serves as president of the local nonprofit, Children's Theatre of Annapolis. 

Vice president Nicole Duncan is the editor of FSR magazine, a monthly publication for operators and chefs in the full-service restaurant industry. She has worked as a journalist for a dozen years and has spent half that time covering foodservice. Since joining IFEC in 2015, Nicole has served on and co-chaired a number of committees; she was recently named the 2019 TerrIFECer. In her leisure time, she can be found distance-running with her friends as they train for the next big race. She also whiles away the hours at local coffee shops with her nose in a book or her pen to paper.

Secretary Avery Lewis has contributed to the growth and successes of Linda Roth Associates (LRA) since 2013 as a credible source to media, trusted confidant for clients, and mentor to her team. In early 2019, she became the company’s vice president, overseeing employee engagement and talent development for the firm and its diverse roster of clients. At LRA, Avery has consistently managed successful public relations and marketing campaigns for accounts including Chuy’s, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, Table 95 Hospitality, and the region’s industry advocacy group, Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, as well as its annual RAMMY Awards Gala and biannual Metropolitan Restaurant Week. Avery has been an IFEC member since 2016 and has served on the Marketing Committee and chaired the DC Networker since 2017. Most recently, Avery was named to the 2019 ‘Young and the Guest List,’ a guide to Washington’s most influential 40-and-under leaders. In her free time, Avery can be found cheering on the Nationals and Capitals, while sipping on sour beers.

With her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and more than a decade of award-winning public relations and corporate communications experience, Treasurer Liz Anderson Slobodian, APR, leads public relations for the Firehouse Subs brand, one of the No. 1 fast-casual restaurant franchise companies across the map. Liz is very active with the Florida Public Relations Association where she serves as vice president of Student Services on the State Executive Committee. Additionally, Liz is a professional mentor to student programs at two Florida universities, volunteers for charities across Northeast Florida, mentors upcoming public relations professionals, and is a freelance public relations consultant

New members of the IFEC board of directors are Bob Garrison, chief editor, Prepared Foods magazine; who was elected after finishing a partial replacement term; Mike Kostyo, managing editor, Datassential; Avery Lewis, vice president, LRA; and Megan McKenna, Director of Foodservice & Marketing, National Watermelon Promotion Board in addition to the newly elected Board Advisor Mary Humann, principal, Humann Factor. They join directors Greg Avdoian, vice president, Wilks Communications Group; Jamie Bowen, marketing manager, Idaho Potato Commission; Peggy Castaldi, Director of Marketing, SupHerb Farms; Amelia Levin, contributing editor for Foodservice Equipment & Supplies, and Restaurant Development + Design magazines; and Rochelle Rizzi, principal, Le Vrai Nord; in making up IFEC’s governing body.

The board elections took place during IFEC’s 2019 conference, held in Madison, WI, in October and the officers were elected in early November. Next year’s conference, set for Santa Barbara, CA November 2^nd – 4^th 2020 will feature local chefs, restaurateurs, growers and producers conducting demonstrations, workshops and tours for attendees.