Anaheim, CA — Ray Burke, President, In-Store Bakery & FS Div., Rich Products Corporation, received the 2011 International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association’s President’s Award at the Awards Banquet, the closing event of Dairy-Deli-Bake 2011. Mark Rudy, President of the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association and VP Sales, Hubert Company, selected Burke for the honor which recognizes distinguished service or contribution to the industry and honors those who have led with vision and dedication.
In presenting the award on Tuesday, June 7, Rudy said:
The IDDBA President’s Award is given to an individual who has made an extraordinary commitment to serving a cause, an organization, an industry, or a country.
Ray Burke has the unique honor of having served as President of the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association not once, but twice. It is this unselfish willingness to meet challenges and work for the good of all that has marked his career since the very beginning.
His passion for excellence, his enthusiasm, and his creativity set him on a career path that led to the presidency of Rich Products Corporation’s In-Store Bakery and Foodservice Divisions. His strategic planning and operational execution have set the bar for achievement very high.
His activity with industry organizations includes membership and committee involvement. A member of the IDDBA Board of Directors for over a decade, he served as President in 2004-2005 and again in 2008-2009.
In recognition of his passion and enthusiasm for excellence, and on behalf of the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association and our grateful industry, we are delighted to present the 2011 IDDBA President’s Award to Ray Burke.
His vision, leadership, and service are an inspiration to us all.
As president of Rich Products Corporation’s In-Store Bakery and Foodservice Divisions, Ray Burke oversees businesses that serve both the foodservice and retail channels. He is also a member of Rich’s North American Steering Team which is charged with the strategic planning, business development and operational execution for Rich’s North America business.
Ray, who joined Rich’s in 1981 as part of their Management Training Program, has advanced within the organization. In 1997 he was named President, In-Store Bakery Division and added the leadership of Rich’s Foodservice Division in 2008. His background includes strategic planning, business analysis, marketing, sales and division leadership.
During his 30 year career in the food industry, Ray has served on the board of the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association and was elected its president in 2004. He had the privilege of being the Association’s only two term president in 2009. He is also a member of the American Bakers Association.
Ray earned his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo in political science and economics. He resides in Buffalo, NY with his wife Debbie and their three children.
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Information on IDDBA’s research, education, and other industry activities is also available on its Web site, www.iddba.org, or by calling 608.310.5000. Now in its 47th year, IDDBA specializes in promoting the dairy, deli, cheese, and bakery industries. Member companies enjoy many benefits and services including the annual seminar and expo, leading-edge research, video and computer-based training programs, management tools, an annual trends report, and a member directory of key industry contacts.
Source: The International Dairy•Deli•Bakery Association