MINNEAPOLIS — The Womens Foodservice Forum (WFF) is proud to announce Fritzi Woods has accepted the position of incoming president and CEO of the organization. As WFF enters its 21st year, Woods and WFF are more passionate than ever to elevate women leaders and achieve the goal of gender parity on senior teams and boards. Woods will assume her role on May 1.
As a WFF member for six years, I am continually impressed by the organizations drive and passion toward elevating women leaders. Im drawn to the strong impact WFF has on the industry and Im excited to build on their success by strategically increasing our visibility and outcomes in 2010 and beyond, said Woods.
Woods vast experience spans multiple industries and business models. Most recently, Woods served as president, CEO and chair of the board for PrimeSource FoodService Equipment, Inc. PrimeSource specializes in quick-service restaurant chains and supports over 20,000 establishments in the U.S. and across the globe. Her leadership and commitment to creating strong and effective culture accelerated the organizations turnaround, leading to record profitability.
Fritzis business experience and long-standing commitment to WFF made her an ideal fit for the role of president and CEO, said Mary OBroin, chair, WFF. We are ready to push forward stronger than ever to achieve our goals, and Fritzi possesses the leadership, strategic thinking, drive and expertise to make it happen.
Woods has served as the executive vice president/CFO of The Dallas Morning News/Belo Corporation, also leading sales and marketing for the largest operating company within the Belo portfolio. As CFO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Woods lead the financial stability of the association through increasing membership, implementing strategic pricing guidelines and managing an aggressive bid and contracting process resulting in increased conventions. As an active member of the BUCA, Inc. board of directors, Woods collaboratively led the informed internal strategy while positioning the company for the future. Her expertise has lead to multiple honors including recognition as a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Fritzi Woods has that rare gift of being strategic in her thinking and advice, but relevant in how to operationalize the ideas. In working with Fritzi on a public company board, she brought great credibility as our audit chair with her experience and high impact as a board member with her CEO experience. Finally, with Fritzi’s keen intellect, varied experience and world class collaborative skills she is well suited to be the president and CEO of Women’s Foodservice Forum representing and communicating its vision and mission for the organization, its members and the industry, said Wallace B. Doolin, chairman and founder of BlackBox Intelligence and former president and CEO of Carlson Restaurants Worldwide.
Woods had previously served as the chair-elect of WFFs board of directors; however with her new appointment Maureen Hurley, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Rich Products Corporation, will assume the role of chair-elect and become chair of WFF at the WFF Annual Leadership Development Conference April 6-9 in Las Vegas. Linda Pharr, WFFs immediate past chair, has been serving as the organizations interim president during the search process and will continue until May 1.
Woods continues as the executive chair and owner of PrimeSource FoodService Equipment, Inc. She is proud to announce the promotion of Darren Anderson, previously interim COO to the role of president and COO.
Source: Women’s Foodservice Forum