Pleasant Valley, NY — The International Foodservice Editorial Council (IFEC) is proud to announce Megan McKenna, Senior Director of Marketing & Foodservice, National Watermelon Promotion Board, as the recipient of the 2021 Betty Bastion Outstanding Service Award. The council’s highest honor, informally called the “Betty,” is presented annually to an IFEC member who has made significant contributions to the well-being of IFEC and the field of foodservice communications through outstanding leadership, service and professionalism. Megan received the award during IFEC’s annual conference in Annapolis, MD in October.
An active participant in IFEC for 15 years, Megan immediately involved herself in committee work and has continued actively participating since she joined. She has served on 15 different committees, many for several years, served on the Board of Directors from 2010-2012, and is currently serving from 2020 until 2022. In addition to chairing many of the committees, she has taken on each of the Executive Committee leadership positions, serving as Vice President in 2011, as President in 2012, most recently served as Secretary in 2021 and will act as Treasurer in 2022. Notably, she is the first IFEC member to have received both of the association’s top awards since she also received the TerrIFECer award in 2013.
“Megan is a ‘lead by example’ leader who generates excitement and interest without a lot of drama. Quiet but effective, she’s a soft hand in an iron glove type of leader who brings new thinking and ideas to IFEC, as well as to her own organization,” says one of several IFEC colleagues who nominated Megan for the Betty. Another nominator detailed that Megan “brings grace, leadership and positivity to all she does – including IFEC. She is a thoughtful professional, always willing to share her insights with colleagues.”
Megan is the Senior Director of Marketing & Foodservice for the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB). Megan has been with the Watermelon Board since December 2014, starting as the Director of Foodservice & Marketing when the watermelon industry added a primary focus of increasing demand of watermelon in foodservice. She works with decision-makers in foodservice such as culinary, marketing, purchasing, nutrition and more, to place more watermelon on menus. Previous to the NWPB, Megan was with the National Mango Board, starting as the Marketing Specialist in 2007, and left the organization as the Director of Marketing in 2014. Before falling in love with the produce and foodservice industries, Megan graduated from the University of Central Florida and worked for the Historical Society of Central Florida. A born and raised Floridian, Megan lives in Winter Park, FL, with her husband, Jay, children, Sara Mae and James, and pup, Griswold.
The Betty is named for IFEC’s first executive director, Betty Bastion Varese, who retired in 1991 and continues as an honorary member. IFEC is a 200-member professional association that brings foodservice editors and public relations and marketing communications professionals together to exchange ideas and share resources. Editor members are the voices of the leading print and digital magazines, while PR members represent key suppliers, restaurants, non-commercial operations, trade groups and more. Through education and networking activities, tuition assistance for members’ continuing education and scholarships for students preparing for foodservice communications careers, the council strives to encourage high professional and aesthetic standards among those working in and with the foodservice media and the entry of high-caliber individuals into the field.