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Board of Directors The ICFST has a board comprised of 5 industry leaders and 4 members from Illinois companies to guide the Center in the development of relevant programs and initiatives as new issues arise. The board members are hands-on stakeholders, working together to ensure the organization serves as THE food resource for Illinois.
Arthur Velasquez
Arthur R. Velasquez is a founder of
Azteca Corn Products Corporation, Chicago (in 1970), and served
as its President and Chief Executive Officer from that time
through May 1987. Azteca, one of the largest Mexican food
manufacturing companies in the Midwest, was acquired by the
Pillsbury Company in 1984. Azteca Foods, Inc. was formed in
early 1989 to acquire Azteca from Pillsbury. Mr. Velasquez
resumed his position of Chairman, President, and Chief Executive
Officer. A Trustee of the University of Illinois from 1974 through 1980, Mr. Velasquez was the first Hispanic elected to a Statewide office in Illinois. Mr. Velasquez is currently a Director of LaSalle Bank N.A., Peoples Energy Corporation, Chicago Metro Board of Junior Achievement, the Maryville City of Youth, The Museum of Science and Industry, the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, Catholic Charities of Chicago, the Big Shoulders Fund, and serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of Notre Dame and United Way of Chicago. He is also a member of the Civic Committee of The Commercial Club of Chicago.
Ellen Jordan Reidy is President and Founder of America's Food Technologies, Inc. (AMFOTEK®) a privately held, dry mix blending and packaging operation specializing in beverages for the foodservice and custom private label arenas. Ms. Reidy began her career with Wechsler Coffee Corporation in (1981 - 1998), holding numerous positions including that of President of Van Cortlandt Importers, the firm's specialty coffee division. During her 19 year coffee career, Ms. Reidy has served on numerous coffee industry boards and committees. She is a Trustee of the Specialty Coffee Institute (SCI), a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to advancing the role of technology and the sciences throughout all segments of the coffee industry. In the field of education, she serves on the Board of Overseers of the Illinois Institute of Technology's Stuart School of Business and on the Advisory Board for the University's Operations and Technology Management Program. Currently, she serves as President of IIT's Alumni Association and is a Trustee of the University. Ms. Reidy holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Terrance Mullins Terrance Mullins, along with five of his siblings, owns E.J. Mullins Co., Inc. Founded by his father, Edward Mullins, in 1963, E.J. Mullins Co. was one of the first companies devoted to selling and servicing industrial food companies with commodities and specialty ingredients. Today they are one of the largest industrial ingredient brokerages in the country, currently representing over 20 industrial ingredient companies from all of the world and selling to all segments of the food industry. Terrance, who is single and lives in Chicago, is a 1991 graduate of Marquette University and has been with the company for ten years.
Randy Graham An honors graduate from the University of Illinois in 1983, Randy has been part of the family business, Curtis Orchard, for the past 20 years. Experienced in commercial apple and pumpkin production and in educational and entertainment agriculture, Randy joined the board of the Illinois Horticultural Society in 1994. In 1996, he represented Illinois cider producers in Washington, D.C. at FDA meetings concerning fresh juice safety. In 1997, he spearheaded development of Illinois' HACCP-based cider certification program, the first of its kind in the nation.
Bruce Leman As a member of the Board of ICFST, Bruce Leman brings a background in production, sales, export, and promotion. Bruce, Randy, and Chris Leman are owners of Lone Willow USA, Inc. LWUSA is a vertically integrated pork business comprised of a SPF Genetic Breeding Livestock division, an Artificial Insemination Center, an Export Division, and a Commercial 1300 sow facility (Old Prairie Pork) producing high health pork that will be marketed through the producer owned Meadowbrook Farms, Inc. Co-op at Rantoul, Illinois. Lone Willow also has a division in Mexico (Lone Willow Mexico) where Genetic Livestock and an Artificial Insemination Center reside. Last is the branded label retail division, Premium Lean Pork. This program is an Internet-based retail outlet for Country Fresh Pork offering antibiotic-free and hormone-free natural pork products.
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