Bob Garrison earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1985 from Indiana University’s School of Journalism. Then he was a Kokomo (Ind.) Tribune newspaper reporter from 1985 to 1987, before joining Chicago-based Gorman Publishing and its Bakery Production & Marketing title. In 1990, Garrison was one of 12 people who founded Stagnito Publishing in Northbrook, Ill. At the time, Garrison was executive editor for a start-up publication entitled “Dairy & Frozen Foods.” From 1995 to 2012, he served as editor for the magazine, which is now known as Refrigerated & Frozen Foods. In 2012, Bob became Editor-in-Chief at Prepared Foods (www.PreparedFoods.com), the largest audited titles serving more than 40,000 food and beverage manufacturing professionals (all channels) in R&D, marketing, innovation, culinary and health/wellness/nutrition. Prepared Foods operates across three platforms with a digital magazine, online media as well as the industry’s oldest running in-person new product innovation event: the New Products Conference.

Leslie Maclin is the Principal of Isthmus Innovation, a strategic consulting practice focused on designing successful new product platforms to fuel business growth, with expertise leveraging both early stage and legacy food technology assets. Isthmus Innovation collaborates across the spectrum of innovation initiatives, with experience leading business analysis, opportunity identification, and concept design briefs and validation for Global brands, “intra-”preneur brands and businesses, and disruptive emerging brands. Leslie is respected as a collaborative innovation catalyst and new business builder, fueled by a unique blend of hands-on food industry experience: CPG breakthrough innovation, B2B Omni-channel marketing, and Hospitality & Culinary Management. Isthmus Innovation client profiles include Global CPG’s, Venture Capital groups and Emerging Start-up brands. Prior roles include Senior CPG roles at Kellogg’s, including Sr. Director Innovation & Business Development. She received her B.A. from the University of Kentucky.

Ilya Sokolov joined Bel as the Global General Manager for the Babybel brand within the Strategy, Growth Levers & Markets Department on June 1st, 2020. He is located at the US headquarters office in Chicago, Illinois. Ilya is a purpose-driven General Manager and Marketing & Innovation executive who specializes in nutrition. In his 20+ year career, he worked across North America, Europe and Asia in global and regional roles worked across all elements of the healthy diet – grains, dairy, fruits, vegetables, plant-based. For 10 years, Ilya was with PepsiCo working as Regional General Manager for both dairy and children’s food portfolio, and as Global Brand Leader where he led the restaging and portable breakfast launch in 50 markets and led the cross category kids’ platform under Quaker and Tropicana brands in US, China and other key markets. Just prior to joining Bel, Ilya led Marketing & Innovation at Curation Foods (a fresh plant-based portfolio company) based out of California where he led their fresh plant-based portfolio restage in US and Canada.

Lu Ann Williams is director of innovation at Innova Market Insights, provider of market research services including the Innova Database. With more than 20 years’ experience, Lu Ann leads a team of analysts to discover and understand the latest trends shaping the global food market.