Tom Bené

Tom Bené is a consumer and distribution industry executive with over 30 years of experience. Mr. Bené spent 7 years at Sysco, the world’s largest foodservice distributor, where he served as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer from 2018 to 2020, and where he had previously served as Chief Operating Officer, President of Foodservice Operations, and Chief Commercial Officer from 2013 through 2017. Before Sysco, Mr. Bené had a 23-year career with PepsiCo, from 1989-2013, rising up through the ranks initially with Pepsi-Cola in roles such as Market Unit General Manager, Senior Vice President of Sales & Franchise Development, President of Pepsi-Cola North America, and later with PepsiCo as President of PepsiCo’s Foodservice Division. Mr. Bené currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Restaurant Association, a position he has held since June of 2020, the Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing the nation’s restaurant and foodservice industry. Additionally, Mr. Bené is the past Chair of the American Beverage Association and has served on the Executive Committee of the Women’s Foodservice Forum. Mr. Bené holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Kansas.

John Bryant

John Bryant is a consumer industry executive with over 30 years of experience. Mr. Bryant previously served as Chairman from 2014 to 2018 and Chief Executive Officer from 2011 to 2017 of the Kellogg Company, one of the world’s largest food manufacturing companies with over 31,000 employees and $13 billion in revenue. While at Kellogg, which he joined in 1998, Mr. Bryant held a variety of roles before being named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, such as Chief Financial Officer, President of Kellogg North America, President of Kellogg International, and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Bryant currently serves on the boards of directors of Macy’s, Coca-Cola European Partners, Compass Group PLC, and Ball Corporation. Mr. Bryant holds a BCOM from Australian National University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Alison Burns

Alison Burns is a marketing, branding and communications professional whose career has spanned more than 30 years, and has been split between the UK and the US, focused increasingly on multinational brands. Before her current independent consulting stint, Ms. Burns spent ten years at WPP’s J. Walter Thompson from 2006 to 2016, as CEO of the firm’s flagship London office and then in New York, where she led several of the firm’s most prestigious and globally significant client accounts, including Rolex, Kelloggs, and Unilever haircare. Ms. Burns’ prior experience includes 5 years as President of Fallon from 1998 to 2003, where she led the Agency through a period of rapid growth and creative distinction, adding assignments from Starbucks, Pepsico, Georgia- Pacific and Viacom. From 1994 to 1998 Alison served as a senior global marketer for Pepsico based in Dallas and New York, helming International marketing for Pizza Hut and then domestic marketing for the Fountain Beverage Division. Other experience includes a decade in senior roles in UK Advertising firms, running accounts as diverse as political campaigns, confectionery, fashion and financial services. Ms. Burns has guest-lectured at Columbia and NYU, served on the Boards of both Hale and Hearty Soups and the International Advertising Association, and currently serves as a senior advisor to Powell Communications, a boutique public relations firm based in New York. Alison holds a BA in English and Politics from the University of York.

Mike Duffy

Mike Duffy is the chief executive officer of OnTrac. Headquartered in McLean, VA, OnTrac is an independent, transcontinental carrier for last-mile e-commerce parcel deliveries. OnTrac’s delivery network spans 31 states and Washington, D.C. and reaches over 250m US consumers.

Previously, Mike was the chief executive officer of FleetPride. Headquartered in Irving, TX, FleetPride is the nation’s largest distributor of truck and trailer parts and service in the independent heavy-duty aftermarket. FleetPride operates over 300 retail branch locations and 70 service centers in 46 states.

In his previous role, Mike was chief executive officer, C&S Wholesale Grocers, the largest wholesale grocery supply company in the U.S. and the industry leader in supply chain innovation. Founded in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores, C&S now services customers of all sizes, supplying more than 7,700 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and institutions with over 137,000 different products.

Prior to C&S, he served as president, Hospital Solutions and Global Supply Chain at Cardinal Health, where he was responsible for a $10 billion division with more than 23,000 employees. His scope included bringing all Cardinal Health Medical products, services and solutions to the company’s hospital clients as well as leading the company’s Global Manufacturing (32 domestic and international plants) and Distribution (70 distribution centers) organizations.

In addition to sitting on OnTrac’s board of directors, Mike is chairman of the board of directors for FleetPride, a member of the Republic Services board of directors (NYSE: RSG), and an industry advisory to Twin Ridge Capital Acquisition Corp (NYSE: TRCA.U). Previously, Mike served on the Columbus Metropolitan Library board of trustees and the board of directors for the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP).

Mike earned both a bachelor’s degree in operations research and a master’s degree in transportation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Steve Louden

Steve Louden is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Roku, Inc., where he has served in this role since 2015. From 2009 to 2015, Mr. Louden served in various capacities at Expedia, Inc., an Internet travel company, including as its Vice President, Corporate Finance and most recently serving as its Treasurer. Prior to joining Expedia, Mr. Louden held finance, strategy and planning roles at Washington Mutual, Inc., McKinsey & Company and the Walt Disney Company, and began his career as a financial analyst with Merrill Lynch and Co., Inc. Mr. Louden holds a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics from Claremont McKenna College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Christopher O’Leary

Christopher O’Leary is a consumer industry executive with over 40 years of experience. Mr. O’Leary is a current senior advisor and former partner of TRCM. Mr. O’Leary was previously Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at General Mills from 2006 to 2017, a top global food company, with revenues of $17 billion and over 35,000 employees in over 100 countries. Mr. O’Leary also was President of the Betty Crocker Division from 1999 to 2001 and President of the Meals Division from 2001 to 2006. Prior to General Mills, Mr. O’Leary spent 17 years at PepsiCo from 1981 to 1997, rising through the marketing ranks. His last position at PepsiCo was President and Chief Executive Officer Frito-Lay Canada. Mr. O’Leary also serves on the boards of Tupperware Brands (of which he was the former interim Chief Executive Officer) and Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. Mr. O’Leary holds a B.B.A. degree in Marketing from Pace University and an M.B.A. from New York University.

Michael B. Polk

Michael B. Polk has over 35 years of experience at industry-leading consumer and commercial products companies. Since February 2020, Mr. Polk has been an advisory director at Berkshire Partners and Chief Executive Officer of Implus LLC, a leading sports accessories company, where he also serves on the board. Prior to his role at Implus, Mr. Polk served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Newell Brands beginning in July 2011 until his retirement in June 2019. He served on the Board of Directors of Newell Brands from November 2009 through June 2019. Prior to joining Newell, Mr. Polk had been President, Global Foods, Home & Personal Care, Unilever, a leading consumer goods company where he was also a member of the Unilever Executive Committee. Mr. Polk joined Unilever in 2003 as Chief Operating Officer, Unilever Foods USA and subsequently became President, Unilever USA in 2005. From 2007 to 2010, Mr. Polk served as President, Unilever Americas. Prior to joining Unilever, Mr. Polk spent sixteen years at Kraft Foods Inc., a consumer foods company, and three years at The Procter & Gamble Co. At Kraft Foods, Mr. Polk was President, Kraft Foods Asia Pacific and President, Biscuits and Snacks Sector, and was a member of the Kraft Foods North American and Kraft Food International Management Committees. Mr. Polk has outstanding global marketing, consumer innovation, customer development and operations leadership experience. Mr. Polk has been successful in leading multibillion dollar brands, in managing diverse product categories and navigating complex geographies. Mr. Polk serves on the Board of Directors of Colgate-Palmolive Company, where he chairs the Personnel and Organization Committee, serves on the Board of Logitech International where he chairs the Compensation Committee, and is a former member of the Board of Directors of The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. Mr. Polk holds a BS in Operation Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Bill Toler

Bill Toler is a consumer industry executive with over 35 years of executive leadership experience in supply chain and consumer packaged goods. Mr. Toler is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hydrofarm Holdings which he joined in 2019, the nation’s oldest and largest manufacturer of hydroponics equipment. Prior to Hydrofarm, he served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Hostess Brands from 2014 to 2018, one of the largest packaged food companies focused on developing and manufacturing sweet goods, where he helped re-establish the company as a leader within the sweet baked goods category and helped return it to profitability. Additionally, Mr. Toler served as a senior advisor for the investment management firm Oaktree Capital Management, served on the board of directors of Collier Creek Holdings, and was previously Chief Executive Officer of AdvancePierre Foods from 2008 to 2013. He has also held executive roles at Pinnacle Foods, Campbell Soup Company, Nabisco, and Procter & Gamble. Mr. Toler holds a B.A. in Business Management and Economics from North Carolina State University.