CHICAGO, November 10, 2025 — IFMA The Food Away from Home Association just announced the new slate of officers and directors that will serve on its 2026 Board of Directors. Greg Cocchiarella, Vice President of Industry Relations at Ecolab will serve as the organization’s board chair.
 
Cocchiarella has been a member of the Association’s Board of Directors since 2019. His experience includes taking on an instrumental role in expanding the mission of the organization's Education Foundation through his service as Foundation Chair, Treasurer, and Vice Chair; and chairing the Gold & Silver Plate Awards Committee.  He also played a critical role in helping launch the association’s new brand identity in 2024.  

“Having served on the board for the last six years, I have had the opportunity to experience many positive changes within IFMA The Food Away from Home Association,” said Cocchiarella. “We will continue to evolve and grow our outreach and member benefits to best serve our robust and diverse membership. It is with gratitude and excitement that I accept this position, and I look forward to a great 2026.”

 

2026 Executive Committee

In addition to Cocchiarella, the following Board members will be serving on the Association’s Executive Committee:

  • First Vice-Chair: Oliver Kelly, Group Chief Commercial Officer, Kerry
  • Vice-Chair: Tim Wayne, Sr. Vice President and General Manager, The J.M. Smucker Company
  • Vice-Chair: Kristin Bird, President Foodservice, The Marzetti Company
  • Treasurer: Fleur Veldhoven, Vice President of Marketing, Nestlé Professional Solutions
  • Membership Chair: Eric Blumenthal, Sr. Vice President, Foodservice Commercial Leadership & Growth, The Coca-Cola Company
  • Education Foundation Chair: Ian Roberts, Vice President & General Manager, Conagra
  • Past Chair: Teri Trullinger, Group Vice President Foodservice Sales, Cargill Foodservice
  • Past Chair: Ben Wexler, President, Custom Culinary

At-Large Executives:

  • Gold & Silver Plate Society Liaison: Lauren Lopez, Senior Vice President Foodservice, Rich Products Corporation
  • Next Gen Execs Liaison: Nichole Montgomery, SVP & GM Foodservice, North America, LambWeston, Inc
  • Foodservice Leadership Councils Liaison: Adam LeDonne, Senior Vice President Foodservice, Ventura Foods

 

These directors will be new to the board starting in January 2026:

  • Al Adams, Director Hershey Foodservice, The Hershey Company
  • Peter Cokinos, Chief Revenue, Growth and Strategy Officer, Palermo’s Pizza
  • Scott Gosselin, Vice President and General Manager, Aspire Bakeries

The following board directors will continue their terms to serve the association and the industry in 2025:

  • Reilly Berk, Chief Executive Officer, Berk Enterprises 
  • Will Bowron, Executive Vice President, Red Diamond, Inc 
  • Lynn Egner, Vice President of Sales – Foodservice, Hormel Foods Corporation Foodservice Group
  • Steve Gokey, Segment General Manager and Sales Leader, General Mills
  • Pranay Harsh, CPG Dixie Growth Strategy Lead, Georgia Pacific
  • Chris Johnson, President, Foodservice, Vibrant Beverage
  • Stephanie Luros-Gilbert, Executive Vice President, BSI  
  • Brian Ripley, Vice President, Head of US Business Development. PepsiCo, Inc.
  • Scott Salisbury, Head of US Customer Development & Sales, Unilever Food Solutions 
  • Bryan Smith, VP, Proctor and Gamble Professional
  • Irene Stathakos, Vice President, Marketing and Commercial Expertise, High Liner Foods Inc.
  • Bree Tucker, VP Foodservice Commercial, Foodservice Commercial Chains, Tyson Foods
  • Jessica Waller, General Manager Away From Home, Kellanova

“Our 2026 Board of Directors will continue to set strategies for building engagement across the industry,” said Phil Kafarakis, IFMA The Food Away from Home President and CEO. “Greg Cocchiarella’s commitment to a stronger and more interconnected membership is inspirational. The whole association team looks forward to working with him and the board to best serve the industry and enhance the member benefits we offer.”
 
Service for IFMA The Food Away from Home Association board members runs on the calendar year. The call for nominations for the 2027 board will take place in September 2026.

See the current list of Board members >>