National Small Food Manufacturers' Conference
Heat Up Your Food Business

Speaker Biographies

Karissa Berks
Business Programs Director for USDA Rural Development

Karissa Berks assumed the role of Business Programs Director for USDA Rural Development in February of 2007.  Karissa primarily oversees programs that assist rural communities with job creation efforts through loan guarantees, direct loans and grant opportunities.  Ag producers, for-profit businesses and non-profit entities can take advantage of the over 10 programs that are offered through the Rural Business – Cooperative Service.  In Fiscal Year 2008, Karissa led efforts to assist rural Nebraska in delivering close to $19 million in funds in addition to creating or saving over 600 jobs.

USDA Rural Development administers over 40 programs to rural communities for housing, community development and business expansion.  In Fiscal Year 2008 as an Agency, USDA Rural Development delivered more than $189.8 million to rural Nebraska.  Housing funds delivered totaled $70.6 million, community facilities $11 million, utilities $22.4 million, business $18.9 million, telecommunications $51.3 million and electric $15.6 million.

Karissa was born and raised on a farm outside of Hanover, Kansas.  She attended the University of Nebraska – Lincoln where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business in 2003. 

Will Betts
Executive Coordinator of Perishables – Whole Foods Market – Midwest Region
Will started his career with Whole Foods Market in 1996 in Washington D.C. as an entry level team member.  He continued to advance to store level and regional operation positions.   In 2001 Mr. Betts was transferred to Chicago where he was responsible for the Midwest regional grocery program and directly responsible for product mix and pricing as well as support operations.    In 2008 he was promoted to his current position.  This position includes overseeing all perishable teams including meat, seafood, and bakery and prep foods.

Meredith Bond
Director - U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Commercial Service’s Omaha Office
The Commercial Service works with companies who are expanding their international business as well as those just beginning export sales.  As the Director covering Nebraska and Southwestern Iowa, Ms. Bond manages a portfolio of over 300 clients by developing international marketing strategies, performing market research and locating overseas business contacts, resulting in over $20 million in export sales during the past 5 years.  Ms. Bond also collaborates with local trade development organizations and Commercial Service colleagues worldwide to provide customized solutions for U.S. companies.  After several years with the Commercial Service’s Market Research Office in Washington, DC, Ms. Bond joined the Omaha office in 1996.  She has served as President of the Midwest International Trade Association (MITA) and served on the organization’s Board Advisory Committee.   She is a graduate of Bucknell University and received a Masters in International Affairs from American University.

Elaine E. Booth
CPA & Partner – Dana F. Cole & Company LLP
Ms. Booth has been providing a variety of accounting services to commercial and non-profit entities for over 30 years.  Her wealth of knowledge concerning all finance issues has proven invaluable to numerous businesses.

Dr. John J. Brasch
University of Nebraska Associate Vice Chancellor Emeritus, President - Nebraska Angels Inc.
After getting his doctoral degree at Washington University in St. Louis, John accepted a position in the Department of Marketing at the University of Nebraska , teaching and doing research in the area of International Marketing. After a decade he left UNL to found International Management Services, Inc. (IMSI) an export marketing contractor. That company successfully marketed medical products in more than a dozen countries and further helped various Nebraska companies start their own export programs. Eventually IMSI evolved into Senior Technologies, Inc. a manufacturer of electronic patient safety equipment used in the institutional care of the elderly.  John and his team built Senior Technologies to 250 employees over 18 years with North American dominance in its product categories. John sold the company to the Stanley Works in 2002 and continued for 2 years as the CEO of what is now Stanley Healthcare Solutions. In 2005 he became the Associate Vice Chancellor of Technology Development at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He retired from that position in 2008. John was instrumental in the founding of the Nebraska Angels, an angel investor network,  in 2006 and currently serves as president of that organization. He has served as president of the Nebraska Center for Excellence in Electronics, The Healthcare Manufacturers Marketing Council, and Family Service of Lincoln. He continues to be active in business ventures in the US and in the UK.

Tony Cox
Founder/Owner – 5th Food Group
www.5thfoodgroup.com
Tony has spent his entire career in the direct marketing, catalog and internet industries.  He spent two years as mail order manager at Omaha Steaks International, where he managed a $3 million annual marketing budget, and increased annual mail order sales from $12 million to over $25 million.

In 1988, he co-founded a full-service catalog agency in the Boston area. Two of his clients made the Inc. 500 list of the fastest growing private companies in America. In 1998, he decided to focus entirely on the specialty food by mail industry and sold his interest in the firm. 

In 1998, he founded Catalog Solutions/5th Food Group and began publishing the Food-by-Mail Industry Update, the only newsletter devoted exclusively to the art and science of selling specialty food and food gifts by mail.

Today the 5th Food Group is the largest direct marketing consultancy working exclusively in the specialty-food catalog and internet industry. Clients rely on 5th Food Group to analyze, plan and implement their catalog and online marketing initiatives. 

Clients include specialty food all-stars such as Zingerman’s, A Southern Season, Dorothy Lane Market, Paula Deen Enterprises, Smithfield Foods, Murray’s Cheese and Manhattan Fruitier.

In addition to building his own business and helping clients grow theirs, he is a frequent speaker at direct marketing conferences and specialty food shows throughout the US.

Doug Cunningham
Government Relations Director -Affiliated Foods Midwest  Director - Hometown Merchants Association
Affiliated Foods Midwest, started in 1934, is a grocery distributor and cooperative owned entirely by independent grocers located in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma.

For several years, Doug was a member of the Board of Directors of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association, where he was the Chair of the Legislative Committee and a member of the Scholarship Committee. Doug was also a member of the National Grocers Association and served on the Government Relations Council and the Political Education Committee. Doug participated in the Joint Public Affairs Assembly in Washington, D.C., for several years, and was appointed by Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel on two occasions to serve at the National Federation of Independent Businesses Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C.

Doug was presented with the coveted Spirit of America Award by the National Grocers Association at the 2000 Joint Public Affairs Assembly. The Spirit of America Award, established in 1982, is a national award that honors public officials and key industry and community figures that have provided leadership in the areas of community services and government relations on behalf of a free and independent food distribution system.  Recipients of the award have included former Presidents Gerald Ford and George Bush. 

Tim Forrest
President – Forrest Company
Tim Forrest helps food companies grow.  His 20 years experience in food marketing, development of selling strategies, pricing, venture funding, advertising, licensing, distribution, and program development skills accounted for more than $ 200 million in new sales. Tim is a graduate of UGA and attended the Professional Sales Institute in New York and received a Broker Management Certificate.  His experience and training within the two largest food companies in the world – Unilever and Nestle, assisted the success of starting his own International Rep Firm and Consultancy in 1997.  He shares his knowledge and experience readily having been an invited and top rated speaker to Food Conferences, Trade Development Forums, and Agricultural Extension Meetings.

Pierce Hollingsworth
President – Hollingsworth Media
Pierce Hollingsworth is President of Hollingsworth Media, which specializes in contract magazine publishing, e-media, start-ups, editorial services, and consulting.  In addition, Hollingsworth Media helps numerous clients develop new magazines, reposition and improve existing publications and more effectively manage their communications activities.   Pierce has an extensive background in the food industry, and is a speaker and consultant to food trade organizations and corporations.

Prior to Hollingsworth Media, Pierce was the Director of the Custom Media Group at BNP Media.   BNP Media is the leading publisher of media and information services for the food, beverage and packaging industries. Pierce was also the Marketing Editor for Stagnito’s New Products Magazine, writing a monthly business trends column. The Custom Media Group publishes Live Smart, a quarterly customer magazine for Schwan’s Inc., Tyson MealTime, for Tyson Foods, and numerous B2B custom magazines and educational pieces for clients such as Butterball, Heinz, Cargill, and other major manufacturers.

Other professional experience includes: Contributing editor for Food Technology magazine, writing a monthly market trends column and regular business features; While holding the role of Vice President of Publishing for Nobel Communications, he repositioned and expanded The Food Channel, a food trend newsletter.  Pierce was the Associate Publisher and Editor of  Food Business magazine.

Dr. David Jackson
Associate Dean – Agricultural Research Division -  University of Nebraska
Dr. Jackson serves as the Associate Dean of the Agricultural Research Division and Associate Director of the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of Nebraska. One of his many responsibilities includes teaching Food Product Development in the Department of Food Science & Technology. Dr. Jackson has a BS degree in Food Science from Cornell University, and MS and Ph.D. degrees in Food Science and Technology from Texas A&M University.

Michele Laritson
Business Analyst – The Food Processing Center
Ms. Laritson received her B.S. and Masters degrees in Business/Finance from the University of Nebraska.  Her business experience spans many industries including food innovation, healthcare, manufacturing and non-profit entities.  She has assisted many companies and producers with business development including financial analysis, computer software setup and maximization, product costing and financial analysis.  She also owns her own business, CatGifts4u.com, which retails unique cat art and collectibles. 

Larry D. Larsen CLU
Owner/Principle - Business Strategy Partners
Business Strategy Partners is a firm comprised of cooperating CPA’s, attorneys, third party administrators, financial planners, trust officers and risk management advisors.   A noted area of expertise lies in the design and implementation of exit strategies for closely held business owners and their families.  Additionally, BSP serves as a one stop financial shop for the sale of insurance, pension plans, asset management and risk management.  Furthermore BSP acts as the “quarterback” to bring all of the various practicing professionals together to execute the implementation of dynamic financial and estate plans.

Specific areas of noted excellence are the design of pension plans, business succession plans, charitable leverage, leveraged receivables, purchase and sale agreements and other strategies directly related to the reduction of income and estate taxes.

Patrick Lynch
National Association for the Specialty Food Trade – Senior Sales Director
No stranger to the Events/Media industry—Pat has over 25 years of experience in
media and trade events. During this timeframe, Patrick has provided customers from all over the world, market access solutions from several diverse industries, including internet technology, casino gaming,  finance and insurance, film and TV licensing fairs, photo-imaging/graphic arts, and specialty foods.

At the NASFT, Pat is devoted to attracting new members from around the corner and around the world. “Through The Fancy Food Shows, Specialty Food Magazine, Specialtyfood.com and ground-breaking industry research, the NASFT is recognized as the innovative hub of the global food & beverage industry”.  The mission of NASFT is to provide the greatest possible market access, while achieving 100% customer satisfaction.

The NASFT provides every significant buyer of specialty food and beverage products with the critical information they need to better serve their customers. In an ever changing competitive landscape that thrives on innovation, the collective NASFT community, have become the arbiters of taste, serving the trend-setting businesses that deliver the highest quality products from around the globe, to the American table.

Pat is working on outreach programs that will help attract the broadest, most diverse range of products to The Fancy Food Shows. Currently, the shows boast product representation from nearly 100 countries. This is what makes The Fancy Food Shows unique. The Fancy Food Shows remain the only “must attend” events for the food industry in North America. No other venue provides buyers with a never-ending smorgasbord of products from every corner of the world.

Leon J. Milobar  
District Director – U.S. Small Business Administration
Mr. Milobar joined the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2005 as the District Director in Portland Oregon.  In  2007 he was assigned to the Nebraska district office. Prior to joining the agency, Mr. Milobar was the Associate State Director at the Nebraska Business Development Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  He was responsible for the management and technical assistance provided to new and existing businesses throughout the nine service centers located in Nebraska. 

Mr. Milobar has been a frequent presenter on business planning, and starting and financing a business.  Mr. Milobar has a MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.   In addition he has a Certificate in Finance from the National Development Council.

 

William E. Olson, Jr.
Attorney
Mr. Olson received his J.D. with Distinction from the University of Nebraska.  He is also a graduate of the Harvard University Law School Summer Tax Institute.  Areas of law practice include Business Formation, Real Estate, Information Technology, Estate Planning and Administrative Law.

 

 

 

 

 

Brian O’Malley
Chef/Instructor - Institute for the Culinary Arts in Omaha
O’Malley grew up in cooking, camping and carousing in Omaha, Nebraska. He followed passions for design and philosophy before becoming a dedicated food and beverage professional. O’Malley Graduated with Distinction from the prestigious New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont. It was here that he first saw a local food system and fine dining operations come together through the “Vermont Fresh Network.” This relationship has affected his cuisine and disposition in irrecoverable ways. O’Malley has also worked as a chef in Santorini, Greece; Vail, Colorado; and Nebraska. He is currently an impassioned chef-instructor at the Institute for the Culinary Arts in Omaha where he focuses [perhaps pollutes] the minds of budding culinarians toward the pleasures of local, sustainable cuisine.  O’Malley is also the host of a local PBS television show, “The Recipe Box”.

O’Malley serves as coach and mentor for the American Culinary Federation’s Student Culinary Team Nebraska, and participates on numerous local and national boards for the culinary, hospitality, and food industries.

Gary Rezac
President – Pegler Sysco Foodservice Distributor
Gary Rezac began his career with SYSCO when he joined Pegler-SYSCO Food Services in 1971 as a sales trainee.   SYSCO is the largest foodservice distributor in the country.  Serving over 400,000 customers in the food industry for more than 30 years.   Through a series of promotions Gary was eventually transferred to Lincoln and became President of Pegler-SYSCO in 2000.   Prior to joining SYSCO, Gary spent 8 years in the supermarket industry. 

 

Tim Siedell
Creative Director/Co-Owner – Fusebox Brand Communications
Tim has conceived and executed creative marketing ideas for some of the largest brands in America. During his 18 years as a creative professional, including ten as a creative director, Tim’s work has earned more than one hundred regional, national, and international awards for creative excellence. Since 2000, Tim has been co-owner and creative director of Fusebox, a brand communications studio in Lincoln, Nebraska that has been featured in Communication Arts and the Financial Times of London.