Jun 3 2010 --- Skip Rosskam, President and Chief Operating Officer, David Michael & Co., was elected IFT Fellow in 2010 for his contributions in the commercialization of innovative flavors, enabling the development of new or improved products.

Fellow is a unique professional distinction conferred on individuals with outstanding and extraordinary qualifications and experience for their contributions to the food science and technology field. The nominee must have been an IFT Member for 15 years and a Professional Member at the time of nomination. The 15-year member requirement may be waived by the Fellows Jury for those nominees who have spent all or a portion of their careers outside the United States.

Rosskam has been responsible for developing innovative programs for the food industry, including a Strategic Alliance Advisory Board to strengthen current corporate partnerships and develop and nurture new strategic alliances. He also initiated a program with 16 universities to recognize graduating students in food science, food marketing, and culinary, and to educate them about the flavor industry. He invented and patented a unique technology for producing frozen novelties and conducted research on vanilla, which resulted in two patents. As a way to provide education for the food industry, Rosskam created the Innovation Roadshow, which was designed to provide product developers with a first look at product, process, and flavor innovations as well as highlighting emerging trends and product development.