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CFBN Events

connect. convene. facilitate.


We continue to offer a collection of virtual and hybrid events designed to create opportunities for connection, networking, and knowledge sharing amongst our industry! Use the links below to connect to those events and STAY TUNED - we are always working with our members to build out more content for the the coming months!   

Upcoming CFBN Events:

    • 5 Sep 2025
    • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Webinar
    Register

    Learn how to leverage CFBN’s resources to become an expert networker. Following networking best practices (and using CFBN’s Member Tools & Perks) can help you improve your communication skills, grow your business, and build your career. 

    Having the right connections can be a big advantage – that’s why networking is such an important skill, and why CFBN exists. In general, building up your networking skill set takes time and practice. Unsure how to get started?  Don’t worry –  CFBN’s list of best practices will set you on the path to networking success. The more you apply these simple guidelines to your networking efforts, the better your results will be.





    • 11 Sep 2025
    • 7:00 AM - 9:30 AM
    • CoLaboratory, 1210 W. Lake St., Chicago IL 60607
    • 68
    Register

    Join us for our highly anticipated Innovation Breakfast “The View from C-Level: Innovative Leadership.”  This event, is part of CFBN's popular Innovation Breakfast series, and offers an unparalleled opportunity to gain insights from top-tier executive leaders across the food and beverage industry.

    We will be featuring a dynamic panel of CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CMOs, and other executive leadership who will share their invaluable experiences, strategies, and the pivotal lessons they've learned on their journeys to the top. This is your chance to hear firsthand about navigating challenges, fostering innovation, and driving success in today's competitive landscape.


    AGENDA

    7:00 AM Doors Open

    7:30 AM Panel Discussion and Q&A

    8:30 AM Networking

    9:30 AM Event Ends



    SPEAKERS

    (Moderator)

    MARK KOENIG

    CFO/COO

    Bluedog


    As a cross functional leader, Mark powers Bluedog's evergreen growth through his uniquely combined leadership in Finance, Operations, and Technology. Through this multi-faceted lens, Mark confidently empowers teams to make “decisions at the edge,” driving Bluedog’s competitively advantaged growth strategy flywheel.

     His passion for business and community roots runs deep. With a lifetime invested under the hood of very different businesses—from helping define pricing strategies at his father’s machining company, to leading proprietary trading teams across the country in Nasdaq derivatives markets—Mark has always seen business as a platform for empowerment and shared success.


    BRIAN FOX

    CEO - President

    Miniat Holdings

    Brian joined Miniat Holdings in February 2025, bringing with him over 30 years of leadership experience in the food manufacturing industry. He has held executive roles at companies such as Richelieu Foods, Zentis North America, and ConAgra Foods, where he led successful turnarounds, strategic consolidations, and significant profit improvements. Brian’s background includes full P&L ownership, operational excellence, and deep expertise in pricing, product development, and organizational transformation. 


    MICHAEL NATALE

    President

    Edlong


    Michael Natale brings more than 23 years of Food & Beverage Industry experience to his role as Edlong’s President. Most recently, Michael served as VP Global Flavor, Multinational Accounts and Customer Experience for Ingredion, where he held several key roles including General Manager and Global Leader of Plant based Protein and Senior Director, Commercial and Growth Platforms in Guadalajara, Mexico. Prior to Ingredion, Michael served in leadership roles for Bell Flavor and Fragrance, including VP/Managing Director of Latin America and General Manager of Mexico, where he established and rapidly grew Bell’s business in the region.


    BARBARA O'BRIEN

    President & CEO

    Dairy Management Inc. and Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy

    Barbara O’Brien has more than 20 years of experience working on behalf of America’s 31,000 dairy farmers and dairy importers, and delivering results globally, nationally and locally. She is the President & CEO of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), the domestic dairy checkoff program that drives trust and sales of dairy products. In this capacity, she oversees the work of the National Dairy Council and U.S. Dairy Export Council.

    Barbara also serves as President & CEO of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, a pre-competitive forum that advances collaboration among dairy companies, farmers and others in the dairy community to help ensure a socially responsible and economically viable industry in the future. She leads with a results-driven mentality to deliver tangible impacts for farmers from field to fork and positively position U.S. dairy in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. 


    More Speakers to be Announced........


    This Event is in Collaboration With:





    • 17 Sep 2025
    • 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Nixon Peabody, 70 West Madison St. Suite 5200 Chicago IL
    • 128
    Register

    It's the scenario no one in the food industry wants to face: a potential food safety crisis leading to a product recall. With FDA recall rates at a 10-year high, the question isn't if it could happen, but when, and more importantly, "Who do you need on your team, and what do you need to effectively manage a recall and crisis in today's complex world?"


    Join CFBN for an insightful evening of cocktails and appetizers as our expert cross-functional panel dives deep into the modern challenges of food safety crises. Using a real-life, "ripped from the headlines" scenario, our panelists will share critical insights and best practices for navigating the intricacies of food and beverage recalls.


    This isn't just about reacting; it's about proactive preparation. Discover the ins and outs of not just surviving, but thriving and maintaining a healthy, growing brand by building a robust food safety culture. Our experts will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to prepare for the worst, ensuring your business is resilient in the face of adversity.

    Don't miss this essential event designed to strengthen your crisis management strategies and elevate your food safety culture.


    SPEAKERS


    MARTY DETMER

    Crisis Management, Product Recall & Contamination Broker

    AON

    Marty is a leading broker in the product recall and contamination insurance marketplace. He works with some of the largest companies in North America to appropriately address exposures to product recalls, contaminations, and foodborne illness. Marty has managed Aon’s Central Region for product recall & contamination since 2017. Marty is an established thought leader on the topics of product recall and contamination insurance. He contributes regularly to speaking engagements and written publications. Marty was recently recognized as a 2024 Rising Star and 2024 Power Broker by Risk & Insurance for Manufacturers.



    SABAHNUR DEMIRCI 

    Vice President, Expert Partners - North America 

    Mérieux NutriSciences


    Sabahnur  is a seasoned executive with nearly 30 years of comprehensive experience across end-to-end supply chain operations, quality management, and product development. Currently serving as Vice President of Expert Partners at Mérieux NutriSciences North America, she drives strategic initiatives in consulting, training, label compliance and regulatory services. Previously, as Managing director at Mérieux NutriSciences Turkey, Sabahnur led transformational projects across the organization. Her leadership is marked by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and advancing industry standards.



    MATT de NESNERA

    Vice President, U.S. Crisis & Risk 

    Edelman


    Matt brings more than 15 years of experience across some of the most recognizable brands in tech and sports to his role as vice president in Edelman’s U.S. Crisis & Risk practice, where he provides counsel to clients on reputation management and crisis preparedness. Matt’s background includes internal communications with Meta and corporate communications in professional sports with multiple NBA franchises. Matt began his career in TV news and graduated from the College of William & Mary.




    PETER BEGG

    Chief Quality and Food Safety Officer

    Lyons Magnus


    Peter Begg is currently Chief Quality and Food Safety Officer for Lyons Magnus.  He oversees all aspects of quality and food safety across the company including risk management, regulatory and food safety conformity and product compliance for the business.  Lyons Magnus offers ingredient solutions across the food industry to numerous foodservice and consumer products companies. Peter joined Lyons Magnus from Hearthside Food Solutions where he was the Senior Vice President of R&D, Quality and EHS.  At Hearthside, Peter led food safety, regulatory, product development, and Health and Safety across their network of contract manufacturing plants.  Throughout his 30-year career, Peter has worked in a variety of business roles including Engineering, R&D and Quality.  Peter also represented Mondelēz International on the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) board of directors from 2012-2017. 



    BRIAN SCHANEBERG, PhD

    Executive Director

    Illinois Tech Institute of Safety and Health

    Dr. Schaneberg is the Executive Director of the Illinois Tech Institute for Food Safety and Health, and an Industry Professor of Food Science coordinating the activities of an applied food science research consortium comprised of academia, the US FDA, and the food industry in the areas of food safety, food defense, and nutrition.  Previously, Dr. Schaneberg was a director within the Global Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory team at Starbucks Corporation with accountability in leading a team of scientists that interpret food and beverage regulations and consult with researchers and consortiums across multiple categories in areas such as coffee, nutrition, ingredients, claims substantiation, allergens, and risk assessments. Other experience includes the Quality & Food Safety and Scientific & Regulatory Affairs Director for Mars Botanical, a division of Mars, Inc., Director of Technical Services at ChromaDex, Inc., and Associate Research Scientist at the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi.  Additionally, Dr. Schaneberg is a Fellow of AOAC International.



    CHRIS SCHLAG

    Counsel

    Nixon Peabody


    Chris has extensive experience in regulatory compliance, product stewardship, sustainability, brand development and resilience, and managing complex supply chain risks (e.g., ingredient issues and customer expectations). She previously worked in-house with Tyson Foods and Whole Foods Market on global sustainability and business resilience issues and helped to develop compliance and risk management strategies for evolving regulatory frameworks and customer requirements. She has worked extensively with suppliers, brand owners, distributors, and retailers on issues ranging from regulatory risk management and compliance to supply chain due diligence, extended producer responsibility, brand strategy, and environmental marketing and labeling. Chris also has extensive experience working with brand owners on product development, product safety and quality, responsible sourcing practices, global compliance systems, and stakeholder relationship management.  



    (moderator)

    ALAN REED

    Executive Director

    The Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network 

    Alan Reed is the Executive Director of the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network, a startup, nonprofit organization that brings industry players together, provides a forum for collaboration and support, and better connects the 4,500 companies in the industry across Chicagoland to drive innovation and growth in the region.  The group leverages the power of the food & beverage industry in Chicagoland to grow the industry, and the local economy. 




    This Event is in Collaboration With: 











    • 15 Oct 2025
    • 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Well Fargo, 10 S Wacker Drive l Floor 16 l Chicago IL
    • 96
    Register

    We’ve gathered influential leaders from food industry companies, as well as  industry experts who can help you navigate the best route to increased growth for your company or brand.

    Join CFBN and Wells Fargo for an event designed for leaders of emerging brands, leadership from established mid-size brands, CEOs, Founders, and Owners. Your company’s ability to drive innovative approaches to growth across all departments - from product, customer service, sales, operations, leadership and culture, down to finance and planning - are what set you apart from your competitors as an emerging, growing, or established brand in the Chicagoland food and beverage industry.

    This event is specifically designed for leadership to participate in conversations and content focused on growth and innovation across the industry landscape. Join us for an event designed to give you new tools and insights from food & beverage industry leaders.


    AGENDA

    5:00 PM Doors Open

    5:30 PM Panel Discussion and Q&A

    6:30 PM Networking

    8:00 PM Event Ends


    SPEAKERS

    TIM BOSSLET  

    CFO

    Chomps

    Tim Bosslet serves as the CFO of Chomps, one of the fastest-growing food brands in the U.S., with products made from the highest-quality proteins and no harmful ingredients. With over 15 years of Finance and CPG experience, he has served as part of Chomps’ Leadership team for over 5 years. Tim is responsible for supporting the Company’s significant growth while establishing and scaling the financing, planning, reporting, finance, and accounting functions at Chomps. Prior to Chomps, Tim spent ~8 years in investment banking, focusing on M&A and financing activities for Consumer and Food companies. Tim also spent several years working professionally as a chef at leading Chicago restaurants. Based in the Chicago office, Tim is passionate about creating a sustainable and profitable enterprise by supporting a strong team and collaborating across functions.



    GREG EVANS

    President

    South Chicago Packing, LLC

    Greg Evans is a seasoned commercial and general management leader with over 25 years of experience driving growth and transformation in the Food and CPG industry. Known for turning strategy into results, he excels in demand generation, cross-functional leadership, and building data-driven growth plans. Greg has led both large-scale teams and start-up ventures, delivering success across B2B and B2C markets. His expertise spans commercial strategy, organizational design, and performance management, with a strong focus on revenue growth, profitability, and market share expansion.



    JOEL D. WARADY

    Board Chairman and Strategic Advisor


    Joel Warady most recently served as President of Catalina Snacks Inc. after developing and leading the team that grew the Catalina Crunch cereal and snack brand to over $120 million in brand sales in 5 short years. Prior to this, Joel was at Enjoy Life Foods in a Sales, Marketing, and General Manager role, experiencing18 consecutive years of growth under his guidance, achieving $100 million in North American consumption in 2019. In 2015, Joel was part of the two-person senior management team that successfully negotiated an acquisition by Mondelez International, remaining to run the business for 4 years post-acquisition. No longer involved in daily operational management, Joel is focused on lending his expertise as an advisor and board member to a select number of early-stage and mid-market companies. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of Fody Foods, a leading brand in the digestive health space, and Chairman of Prevail Jerky, an allergy-friendly meat protein brand. Joel also serves as Chairman of the Maine Crisp Company, a manufacturer of Buckwheat crackers and crisps.



    (moderator)

    ALAN REED

    Executive Director

    The Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network 


    Alan Reed is the Executive Director of the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network, a startup, nonprofit organization that brings industry players together, provides a forum for collaboration and support, and better connects the 4,500 companies in the industry across Chicagoland to drive innovation and growth in the region.  The group leverages the power of the food & beverage industry in Chicagoland to grow the industry, and the local economy. 


    More speakers to be announced........



    We’re hosting this event in collaboration with...






    • 22 Oct 2025
    • 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
    • Kent College of Law, 565 W. Adams St., Chicago IL
    • 94
    Register


    Join CFBN for a timely and critical discussion on the evolving landscape of Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs) and their profound implications for the food & beverage industry. As consumer awareness grows and regulatory discussions gain momentum, understanding the current thinking around UPFs is no longer optional—it's essential for the future of your business.


    What does "Ultra-Processed Food" truly mean?
    The concept of Ultra-Processed Foods, largely defined by the NOVA classification system, categorizes foods based on their level and purpose of industrial processing. These are typically industrial formulations made from substances extracted from whole foods, often with the addition of ingredients rarely used in home kitchens, such as high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, emulsifiers, and artificial flavors. While some processing is vital for food safety and shelf-stability, UPFs are designed for hyper-palatability, convenience, and profitability, often at the expense of nutritional density.

    What are the implications for the Food & Beverage Industry?
    The rise of UPFs is increasingly linked to public health concerns, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. This growing scientific scrutiny is prompting policymakers globally to consider potential regulations, which could significantly impact product formulation, labeling, marketing, and supply chains. This event will delve into:

    • Defining UPFs: A clear understanding of the NOVA classification and the ongoing debate surrounding a universal definition.
    • The Regulatory Horizon: What potential regulations are on the table, both domestically and internationally, and how might they be implemented?
    • Industry Impact: The potential challenges and opportunities for food and beverage companies, from ingredient sourcing and product innovation to consumer communication and brand perception.
    • Navigating Consumer Perception: How to address increasing consumer concern and demand for transparency.

    Don't miss this opportunity to gain critical insights and prepare your business for the potential shifts in the food and beverage industry.  


    AGENDA

    5:00 PM Doors Open

    5:30 PM Panel Discussion and Q&A

    6:30 PM Networking

    8:00 PM Event Ends


    SPEAKERS

    DYLAN BAILEY, MS, RD, FAND

    Senior Nutrition Specialist,

    Ketchum

    Dylan is a Senior Nutrition Specialist with Ketchum and a fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics who works across nutrition, food, beverage, ingredient, agriculture and wellness accounts to ensure accuracy in reporting science and research communications, as well as providing strategic reputation management counsel.

    He is a Registered Dietitian and has published several scientific manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals. His research interests include appetite hormones, obesity, weight bias, feeding behaviors, diversity in the dietetic profession and the impostor phenomenon among nutrition and dietetics professionals. He has been featured in publications including Food and Nutrition Magazine and Practice Applications of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dylan also spends time mentoring students about the growing field of nutrition communications and precepting dietetic interns from internships around the country.



    BRITT BURTON-FREEMAN, Ph.D.

    Professor and Chair,

    Department of Food Science and Nutrition and Director, Center for Nutrition Research (CNR),

    Institute for Food Safety and Health, Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech)


    Dr. Burton-Freeman’s research investigates dietary strategies to address risk factors of cardio-metabolic diseases focusing on plant foods/ingredients and their unique nutritional/phytochemical attributes. Her research characterizes the polyphenol profile of various fruits and spices tracing their metabolic consequences after ingestion, including their dynamic relationship with the gut microbiome affecting local and systemic physiology and health status. Dr. Burton-Freeman also studies human variability in response to diet as part of NIH’s Nutrition for Precision Health powered by the All of Us program. Dr. Burton-Freeman is actively involved in multiple professional societies dedicated to health and disease abatement, publishes in top journals and is co Editor-in-Chief of Nutrition and Healthy Aging. Dr. Burton-Freeman received her BS in Dietetics from the California State University, Chico, MS and PhD in Nutritional Biology from the University of California, Davis and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Internal Medicine at University of California, Davis. Dr. Burton-Freeman has held professional appointments in academia and the biotech industry leading research programs and teams to deliver on basic and clinical science objectives. 



    WENDY DAVIDSON

    President & CEO, Board Director

    Wendy Davidson is a global executive and board director with over 25 years of leadership in the consumer goods industry, recognized for her expertise in organizational integration, operational excellence, market expansion and cultural transformation. Most recently she served as Chief Executive Officer & Board Director of The Hain Celestial Group, a $1.7 billion global natural products company with brands including Garden Veggie Snacks™, Terra® chips, Earth's Best® and Ella's Kitchen® baby foods, Celestial Seasonings® teas, and Greek Gods® yogurt. Wendy has successfully led business transformation, portfolio integration and profitable growth of mature businesses within Glanbia Performance Nutrition, the Kellogg Company, McCormick & Company, and Tyson Foods, where she managed multi-billion-dollar businesses, navigated complex operations across geographic regions and influenced policy at the board level.



    (moderator)

    ERIC GREENBERG

    Principal Attorney 

    Eric F. Greenberg, P.C.

    Food & Drug Law


    Eric Greenberg is an attorney who has been practicing Food and Drug law for over 40 years.  He represents companies who develop, make, package, co-man or co-pack, supply or distribute food and beverages, and help them comply with federal and state legal requirements regarding manufacturing, ingredients, labeling and other issues. Among his clients are the Contract Packaging Association, a membership organization for co-man and co-pack companies, their suppliers and brands.  In addition to his law practice, he is legal columnist for Packaging World magazine, and a member of the Adjunct Faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California. He serves on the Board of Directors of Bigger Table.



    More speakers to be announced........



    This event is in collaboration with:






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