Rachel Tracy, an account manager with Olson Communications located at 445 W. Erie, received the inaugural TerrIFECer Award from the Hyde Park, N.Y.-based International Foodservice Editorial Council (IFEC) at its 2012 conference at the Sheraton Music City in Nashville on Nov. 6.
IFEC brings foodservice editors and public-relations professionals together to exchange ideas, gain new insights and work collaboratively to inform the industry. Membership is open to editors, writers, public-relations practitioners and other communicators working in and with the foodservice media.
The TerrIFECer Award was introduced this year to recognize rising stars in the organization who take a leadership initiative in the foodservice-communications industry, generate innovative ideas and exemplify the mission and values of IFEC. Nominations are solicited from the entire membership, and one recipient is selected by the board of directors and recipients of the annual IFEC Betty Award.
“Rachel’s passion for achieving success shows in everything she does,” said IFEC member Patricia Burke of Artisan Candies, Santa Clara, Calif. “She truly cares about the organization, and is a tremendous asset.”
Since joining Olson Communications in 2007, Tracy has worked with many leading food brands, including The Cheesecake Factory Bakery, Pacific Natural Foods, Basic American Foods, ACH Foods, Praxair, CSM Bakery and Food Export Midwest. She is the managing director of the Culinary Visions® Panel, which taps the expertise of cutting-edge chefs, emerging industry leaders and consumer foodies to provide unparalleled insights on new products and menu development. In her role, Tracy manages projects that include proprietary research for food-industry clients as well as the annual consumer-research reports that shed light on issues and trends related to the food industry. Recent reports include Everyday Catering, Emerging Ethnic, Invisibly Healthy and The Essentials of the Flavor Experience.
Additionally, Tracy heads up Olson Communications’ Chefs of Tomorrow™ grant program for culinary educators, and has taken the lead in coordinating volunteers for a new community program that encourages nutrition literacy for underserved youth in Chicago in cooperation with the McCormick Boys & Girls Club and Les Dames d’Escoffier International.
Recently elected to serve on IFEC’s board of directors, Tracy is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) and the Chicago-based Food Executive Women’s Group. An Ohio native, she is a 2006 graduate of the University of Toledo.
Since 1988 Olson Communications has specialized in offering personalized, uniquely crafted marketing communication strategies for food business clients based in the United States and abroad. The agency’s business strategy of remaining small while exceeding the range and depth of service typical of larger food marketing agencies has earned Olson Communications international recognition. Visit www.olsoncom.com for more information.
