Growing Together – Collaboration Along the Supply Chain

Mark Allen is President & CEO of the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA), a McLean, Virginia based trade association representing the $280 billion foodservice distribution industry. Allen oversees IFDA’s day-to-day operations, including all initiatives in education, research and government relations. He also serves on IFDA’s Board of Directors, which is composed of the presidents and CEOs of 23 major foodservice distribution companies. Allen holds a B.S. in Marketing and Economics from the State University of New York at Oswego and a M.B.A. from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He is a past Vice-Chair of the Institute for Distribution Excellence; Past Chair of the NAW Association Executives Council and the Board of Directors of the National Association of Wholesaler Distributors.

Tom Bené is President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association—the Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing the nation’s restaurant and foodservice industry—and CEO of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Prior to assuming this role in June 2020, Tom served as Chairman, President & CEO of Sysco Corp., the world’s largest foodservice distributor, where he had previously served as COO, President of Foodservice Operations, and Chief Commercial Officer. Prior to Sysco, Tom served as President of Pepsi-Cola Foodservice and held a variety of senior leadership roles over his 23-year career with the company, including President of PepsiCo North America and SVP of Sales & Franchise Development.

Larry Oberkfell is responsible for the overall success of IFMA and works closely with the Board of Directors to provide strategic direction for the Association. He represents the membership through participation with other associations and groups involved in our industry, and he is involved in many industry initiatives, including GS1 leadership.

Jonathan Maze, Restaurant Business Editor-in-Chief, is a longtime industry journalist who writes about restaurant finance, mergers and acquisitions and the economy, with a particular focus on quick-service restaurants. He writes daily about the factors influencing the operating environment, including labor and food costs and various industry trends such as technology and delivery. Jonathan has been widely quoted in media publications such as the New York Times and the Washington Post and has appeared on CNBC, Yahoo Finance and NPR. He writes a weekly finance-focused newsletter for Restaurant Business, The Bottom Line, and is the host of the weekly podcast “A Deeper Dive.”

Mike Sweet currently holds the position of President of the Food Division for Ben E. Keith Company. He serves on the board for Ben E. Keith Company, IFDA (International Foodservice Distributors Association), Markon Inc., and DMA (Distribution Market Advantage). He is also on the IFDA Executive Committee. He began his career with Ben E. Keith Company in May 1999. Over the years, Mike has held positions in sales, purchasing, and operations. Prior to working at Ben E. Keith Company, Mike worked in commercial real estate, marketing and politics. Mike’s current community endeavors include: membership in the Salesmanship Club of Dallas; on the Board of Directors of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association; member of the Touchdown Club benefiting The Rise School of Dallas; member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO); associate member of the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association and actively involved with Folds of Honor.

As President and Founder of MFHA - an educational non-profit organization that makes the business case for developing cultural intelligence in the workplace- Gerry has spent decades educating and advocating for the business benefits of cultural diversity and inclusion in the foodservice & hospitality industry. An engagingly energetic Speaker who practices “straight talk”, he travels across the US and internationally, bringing authentic perspective on building Cultural Intelligence that raises the topline, improves the bottom-line, and builds brands’ cultural authenticity. Gerry was named to Nation’s Restaurant News 2018 Power List of the 50 Most Influential People in Foodservice, “the definitive list of industry leaders who are not only setting trends today, but also shaping them for tomorrow."