Leadership

Leadership Team

The Minnesota Section leadership constitutes volunteers of the IFT Minnesota Section. If you have questions about the activities and programs of the IFT, please feel free to contact the President of the Section. You are welcome to volunteer for any elected or appointed positions by contacting the Section President for further information.

Download the 2023-2024 Leadership list.

View the Great Plains Subsection Leadership team.

Section Officers
& Executive Committee

President
Hasmukh Patel
US Dairy and Foods Consulting LLC

President-Elect
Lindsay Budin
Agropur Dairy Cooperative

Immediate Past President
Muthu Muthukumarappan
South Dakota State University

Treasurer
Misen Luu
Puris Foods

Assistant Treasurer
Daniel Estrada
General Mills, Inc.

Secretary
Gerry Buescher
Agropur Dairy Cooperative

Director at Large
Dana Dronen
General Mills, Inc.

Director at Large
Ariana Frangos
InnovoPro

Director at Large
Sharon Herzog
Grain Millers

Director at Large
Trevor Sannes
Cargill

Director at Large
Mary Schmidl
University of Minnesota

Director at Large
Tess Tierney
Ardent Mills

U of M Food Science Club IFT Chair
TBD

Committee
Chairs

Bylaws
Mary Schmidl
University of Minnesota

Dairy Technology
Sonia Patel
University of Minnesota

Education
Peggy Pounce
Agropur Dairy Cooperative

Employment
Michael Getter
Actalent Services

Finance
Kirsten Ruud
General Mills, Inc.

Finance Accountability
Rusty Nelson

Golf Tournament
Ariana Frangos
InnovoPro

Macy Award
George Annor
University of Minnesota

Membership
Sharon Herzog
Grain Millers

New Professionals
Morgan Whitecotton
General Mills

Newsletter
Anto Charles
North Dakota State University

Nominations and Elections
Muthu Muthukumarappan
South Dakota State University

President’s Award
Dr. Hasmukh Patel
US Dairy and Foods Consulting LLC

Programming
Lindsay Budin
Agropur Dairy Cooperative

Scholarship
Anuradha Vegi
North Dakota State University

Section Photographer
Jodi Nelson
University of Minnesota

Silent Auction
Ariana Frangos
InnovoPro

Social Media
Anto Charles
North Dakota State University

Strategic Leadership Planning
Emily Grisbeck
General Mills, Inc.

Student Engagement
TBD

Supplier’s Expo
Michael Getter
Actalent Services

Committees

Click a committee below to view volunteer information and current chair(s) and members.