Meet the Longhorn
Leadership Team
Chair
Megan Halphen
Kerry
Chair-Elect
George West-Perry
Current Employer: Wingstop
Education: Food Science
Industry Experience: 13 years
Fun Fact: First Generation American
Past-Chair
Benton Genus
CAIF Nutrition A Caldic Company
Treasurer
Hank Dres
Current Employer: SPI Group
Education: BS Dairy/Food Science, Texas A&M University
Industry Experience: 49 years
Fun Fact: Love working with students.
Secretary
Natalie Freno
Current Employer: IFF
Education: BS Food & Environmental Nutrition, University of Akron
Industry Experience: 3 years
Fun Fact: I have re-watched New Girl more times than I should admit!
Technical Program Chair
& IFTSA Liason
Nitin Joshi
PepsiCo
Golf Day Chair
Madalyn Thibodeaux Broussard
7-Eleven Inc
Young Professionals Co-Chair
Allison Brenner
Daisy Brands
Young Professionals Co-Chair
Tercera Jones Farris
Fuchs North America
Suppliers' Night Chair
Donna Henry
Nutragenecs
Volunteer Chair
Shantrell Willis
Current Employer: Daisy Brand
Education: BS Food Science, MS Food Science, and Ph.D. Food Science, Alabama A&M University
Industry Experience: 1.5 years in Industry, 5 years in academia
Fun Fact: I am from a food science family!
Committee Chairs
Social Media Chair
Ariana Frangos
Innovopro
Scholarship Committee Chair
Hank Dres
SPI Group
Finance Chair
Chris Beninate
Current Employer: Haile Resources
Education: BA Broadcast Journalism, Minor in Finance
Industry Experience: 13 years in Food & Beverage Ingredient Supply
Fun Fact: Once had a beer with Mark Chesnutt at a Kiss concert!
About Longhorn IFT
Welcome to the Longhorn Section of IFT!
We are a nonprofit networking and educational organization. As part of the Institute of Food Technologists, we have built a community of food professionals from across the globe who come together to advance the science and industry of food.
Our members network and develop both personal and business relationships. We also work to support students and new professionals in our area who are beginning their careers in food science. Whether it's at a barbeque or one of our other fun events, at our annual or Suppliers Night Expo, or maybe a educational lecture featuring
an industry speaker... we look forward to having you with us!
So feel free to join us at any of our events, or become a member by clicking: JOIN IFT