Renee Leber
Chicago
Summary
I have over ten years of product development experiences from start-up companies to major food distributors to the Institute of Food Technologists. I have worked for over the last three years with the Institute of Food Technologists assisting companies with their product development hurdles by connecting them to the right resources at the right time. I am part of the core team creating and guiding IFT's new AI software designed to help product developers find the information they need and am managing a team within this endeavor. I have helped determine what resources could be of use to product developers and was instrumental in creating these.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Technical Services Manager
Institute of Food Technologists
01.2022 - Current
- Work with companies of all sizes to connect them to the resources they need for their technical hurdles
- Initiated and maintained a monthly professional development series for our Concierge Service
- Was part of the core team in discussion, decision and implementation of a repricing structure for a key product offering
- Initiated an anonymous communication system for members to communicate sensitive questions and requests
- Helped to guide the direction of resources and of professional development opportunities within IFT’s offerings
- Represented IFT during scientific sessions at IFT FIRST
- Responded to media requests on current topics of interest within the profession
- Wrote overviews for the industry such as IFT's Food Additives Overview
- Writer for Food Technology Magazine
- Guest speaker on Omnivore Podcast
Associate Product Developer
US Foods
11.2017 - 01.2022
- Led a cross functional team for 16 SCOOP national projects from ideation to launch
- Led produce category conversion to a new data warehousing system and acted as point person for external partners
- Researched and problem solved solutions for barriers to new products within the development process leading to smooth launches
- Traveled to external partners for production runs of new products to ensure specification compliance and facilitate a smooth run
- Led integration sku consolidation cuttings and comparisons with US Foods purchased companies
- Large presentations to introduce new products and processes to the marketplace
Product Development Specialist
Freshway Foods/ US Foods
11.2013 - 11.2017
- Research and developed new produce based products and recipes including generation and analysis of nutritional analysis, label development and compliance, product specialization generation and maintenance and costing for new products
- Facilitating with productions of new products to ensure a comfort level with the production teams
- Assistance with customer ideations and presentations
- Trade show assistance and presentations
Teaching Assistant
The Ohio State University, Department of Food Science and Technology
08.2013 - 12.2013
- Leading student tours of food pilot plants
- Familiarizing students with equipment commonly used in the food industry
- Acting as an envoy to local food plants and bringing students to see the operations Grading student work
Bakery and R&D
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream
04.2013 - 10.2013
- Recipe development for new flavors and limited time offers
- Assistance with special event preparation and execution
- Large scale manufacturing running large runs of flavors through ice cream spinners and extraction
Education
Bachelors of Science - Food Science and Technology
The Ohio State University
12.2013
Associates - Baking and Pastry Arts
The Culinary Institute of America
04.2011
Skills
- Product Development
- Commercialization
- Team Management
- Nutritional Analysis
- Label Development
- Training large groups
- Public speaker/presenter
- Management
- Media Communications
Accomplishments
Media Features of note:
1. How Prevalent Are Dyes in Foods? We Crunched the Numbers. - WSJ
2. Dye on the vine | Food Safety News
3. Is plant-based still trending in the bakery industry?
4. Sugar reduction solutions to reduce sugar and retain taste
5. Food industry wrestles with PFAS as scrutiny intensifies - Just Food
6. What Is The Purpose of Food Additives? | Britannica
7. Why functional foods for brain health remain a work in progress
8. 合成食用色素的興衰史｜大紀元時報 香港｜獨立敢言的良心媒體
9. O que a eliminação dos corantes alimentares artificiais pode significar para o sistema alimentar - CNN Portugal
10. Food dyes: Tech firms look for natural food colours
11. These natural food dyes could replace artificial colorants | CNN
12. Navigating the natural color transition: IFT expert details reformulation and cost insights
13. EP 34: Food Systems Changemaker, Additive Bans Conundrum, Battling Biofilms | Omnivore
14. What’s Red-Hot in Food Dye Substitutes? - IFT.org
15. The Road to Reformulation - IFT.org
16. EP 60: African Food Trend Heats Up, Cornell Scientists Serve Up Food Solutions, Hitting the Sweet Spot with Sugar Reduction - IFT.org
17. Omnivore Presents: SciDish | July 2025: The Scientific Skinny on Sugar Reduction - IFT.org
18. Reimagining Reformulation: What Could Go Wrong? - IFT.org
Certification
ServSafe Food Handler (2020-04 – 2025-04)
Timeline
Technical Services Manager
Institute of Food Technologists
01.2022 - Current
Associate Product Developer
US Foods
11.2017 - 01.2022
Product Development Specialist
Freshway Foods/ US Foods
11.2013 - 11.2017
Teaching Assistant
The Ohio State University, Department of Food Science and Technology
08.2013 - 12.2013
Bakery and R&D
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream
04.2013 - 10.2013
Associates - Baking and Pastry Arts
The Culinary Institute of America
Bachelors of Science - Food Science and Technology
The Ohio State University
Awards
Worked with a small team to incorporate natural colors in an unexpected way. The team opted to make and extruded fruit cereal, 1st place- D.D. Williamson product development team competition (2013) D.D. Williamson with red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple colors., Participated in a team that created a vegetarian burger complete with a bun that was microwavable., 3rd Place- IFT food product development team competition (2012) IFT
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