IACP Selects Kellen for Its Management

The board of directors of the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) has selected Kellen Co. for full-service association management of its 4,000-member food and beverage professional organization. Kellen is a global professional services firm with operations in New York City, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Tucson, Brussels and Beijing. Founded in 1978, IACP serves as a resource and support system for food professionals worldwide through an array of offered membership programs, education, certification, networking, tools and events.

“We are thrilled to have Kellen Company’s unrivalled expertise in the food industry, worldwide outreach and knowledgeable staff to guide our organization to even greater success,” says IACP president Cathy Cochran-Lewis, global media relations coordinator for Whole Foods Market. “Kellen Company is widely regarded as an industry leader in non-profit management and we are confident that we have engaged a strategic partner that perfectly aligns with our mission.”

IACP is now headquartered in Atlanta under Kellen's leadership, with Vickie Mabry serving as executive director. She has more than 20 years experience as an association professional, including experience with a variety of food industry associations at Kellen Co. Kellen will manage all aspects of IACP, including membership services, financial services, strategic planning, education, government affairs, communications, marketing and events management.

"Kellen Company has over 45 years of experience managing food and beverage organizations,” says Kellen Chairman/CEO Peter Rush. "We look forward to applying our unique understanding of the industry and well-established best practices in association management to assist IACP in accomplishing its goals now and for the continued enhancement of the culinary industry."

In addition to events, education and certification, IACP recognizes excellence in the industry with the IACP Awards of Excellence and the IACP Cookbook Awards, which annually celebrate outstanding food and beverage publications. These awards are presented each year at IACP’s International Conference, which next will be held in Denver April 1-4, 2009.