About

Leadership

Officers

PRESIDENT

Jason Behrends, Ph.D., CCS®
Research and Development Director of PDM
Business Strategy
Tyson Foods, Inc.
Springdale, AR
Phone: 979-575-6959

VICE PRESIDENT

Anh Nguy
Project Leader, Culinology
Ingredion Incorporated
Bridgewater, NJ
Phone: 908-809-2410

TREASURER

Paul Rockwell, CEC, CFS
Executive Research and Development Chef
Diversified Foods & Seasonings
Madisonville, LA
Phone: 985-249-0787

SECRETARY

Justin Kanthak, CCS^®, CRC^®
Account Director
Griffith Foods Inc.
Bartlett, IL
Phone: 708-986-8825

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Catherine Proper, CEC
Senior Director, Product Development and Quality Assurance
Supervalu, Inc.
Eden Prairie, MN
Phone: 952-238-2854

Directors

Gerrie Bouchard, CRC®, MBA
Director of Product Operations
LoveTheWild
Vineland, NJ
Phone: 856-628-1735

Amanda Bushong
Director of Merchandising
Kansas City Steak Company
Kansas City, MO
Phone: 904-477-7994

Erich Chieca
Director of Culinary Sales
Sadler's Smokehouse, Inc.
Commerce Township, MI
Phone: 734-347-9104

Jeff Cowles, CCS®
Director of Culinary Sales
SugarCreek
St. Simons Island, GA
Phone: 513-374-4317

Stephen A. Kalil, CEC, CRC®
Director of R&D, Global Executive Chef
PepsiCo
Plano, Texas
Phone: 972-334-4726

Jaime Mestan, CSC®
Director of Bistro Products
Vienna Beef Ltd.
Chicago, Illinois
Phone: 708-821-3281

Nelson Serrano-Bahri
Vice President & Executive Chef
Puerto Rico Food Innovations, LLC
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Phone: 401-261-8862

Kami R. Smith, C.E.P.C.
Director of Culinary Showcasing
Pecan Deluxe Candy Company
Atlanta, GA
Phone: 404-955-9640

Rosemary Trout, M.S. in Food Science and Biotechnology
Department Head, Culinary Arts and Food Science; and Instructor of Food Science
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
Phone: 215-895-6025

Barbara Zatto
Chef, Culinologist, Food Writer
Mizkan Americas
Shoreline, WA
Phone: 206-617-0749

Board Advisor

Allen Freed
President
AJ Freed, LLC
Tucson, AZ
Phone: 520-989-8000

Learn more about the RCA nominations and election process.