The Females in Food (FIF) Community is proud to announce the formation of its first Board of Directors, a significant milestone in its mission to close the gender gap in senior leadership across every sector of the Food and Beverage industry. This esteemed board is composed of industry leaders who are committed to supporting and empowering women in the food industry.
Board Members:
– Arika Pierce Williams, JD – CEO and Founder, Piercing Strategies
– Jeff Grogg – Founder, JPG Resources
– Lynn Ducharme – VP of Talent Strategy, Curtis Food Recruiters
– Tracy Bargman – Owner, T-Catalyst
“I am excited to lead Females in Food into the future alongside a board of distinguished experts in the food and beverage industry. Our board members not only share our mission and vision but also bring the skills, knowledge, and insights necessary to build our community, enhance our resources, and forge impactful partnerships. Together, we are committed to transforming the industry and closing the gender gap at the highest levels” (Angela Dodd, Founder of Females in Food).
Board Member Bios:
Arika Pierce Williams, is the CEO and Founder of Piercing Strategies, a leadership development firm focused on supporting organizations in strengthening and diversifying their leadership pipelines. Her extensive work in helping organizations develop and implement talent and diversity strategies aligns perfectly with FIF’s mission. Arika’s insights and expertise will be instrumental in guiding our efforts to support women and promote gender equality in the F&B industry.
Jeff Grogg founded JPG Resources in 2009 after leading R&D at Kashi, where he became dissatisfied with traditional approaches to food & beverage product innovation. His vision was to combine breakthrough innovation with grounded operational know-how to deliver impactful business results. Since then, the JPG team has grown to over 75 industry experts from a broad range of disciplines, launching over 2,500 new products on the market. Jeff is a passionate ally committed to helping women advance in the industry, evidenced by his initiatives in helping female founders, serving on various industry boards, and being a sponsor and advocate for countless women in the industry. His dedication to gender equality and diversity will drive our initiatives to create a more inclusive industry.
Lynn Ducharme is the Vice President of Talent Strategy for Curtis Food Recruiters, where she leads all growth initiatives for the F&B executive recruiting firm. Lynn began her career in Human Resource management, growing into corporate HR leadership before pivoting into executive recruitment and talent consulting, with an eye towards diversifying and therefore strengthening leadership teams. With over 5 years focused specifically within Executive talent development in Food & Beverage, Lynn brings a unique passion and insight into the market challenges both from an employer and employee perspective. Her expertise will enhance our efforts to bridge the gender gap in leadership and make her a vital addition to our board.
Tracy Bargman is the Founder of T-Catalyst, a firm specializing in innovation strategy and new product development. Tracy is a recognized expert in strategic visioning, consumer insight generation, and creative translation into innovative new products and strategies. With extensive experience in the food industry, including roles at General Mills and ConAgra Foods, she has firsthand experience with creating and launching new products. At General Mills, she identified whole grain opportunities in the cereal business. As the Vice President of Product Innovation at ConAgra Foods, she developed a line of innovative healthy frozen meals that expanded the Healthy Choice portfolio. Since founding T-Catalyst in 2004, Tracy has worked with numerous CPG companies, facilitating strategy development and creating new products across various categories. Tracy holds a Ph.D. in Food Science from the University of Nebraska. Her strategic insights and leadership skills will be invaluable in building robust support systems for women in the industry.
Together, these leaders will guide the Females in Food Community toward achieving its vision of gender equality in the F&B industry. They will oversee initiatives aimed at providing women with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities needed to succeed and lead, while also fostering strategic corporate partnerships to amplify our impact and drive industry-wide change.
About Females in Food Community:
Females in Food is the first female-focused professional platform committed to closing the gender gap across every sector of the F&B industry. Females in Food deploys a 360-degree approach to talent development and gender diversity by offering a curated network of women leaders, events, and a digital platform providing access to insights, resources and support to maximize the impact and potential of women leaders in the F&B industry. FIF also acts as a trusted partner to organizations to help increase gender diversity through talent connection, sponsorship programs, and employer branding.
We understand that in business, who you know matters as much as what you know. Our community fosters an unmatched culture of collaboration and support resulting in industry relationships that lead to new business opportunities, cost savings, and problem solving.
For more information, please contact:
Angela Dodd
Founder & CEO
Contact@femalesinfood.community
