Chicago market research exec honored
March 26, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- Thedore C. File, senior vice president of Information Resources Inc., will be honored today, March 26, by the Western Michigan University Food Marketing Program.
File will receive the Adrian Trimpe Distinguished Service Award on the opening night of the 36th annual Food Marketing Conference, March 26-27 at WMU's Bernhard Center. The event is expected to draw more than 500 food marketing executives from around the nation.
The award was established in 1996 and is named for the founder of WMU's nationally known Food Marketing Program. File is being honored for his professional accomplishments and impressive volunteer contributions to the program and the University.
"Ted has been a tremendous asset to our program," says conference coordinator Dr. Frank M. Gambino, associate professor of marketing and adviser to the Food Marketing Program. "He has been a member of our advisory board for more than a decade, and a supporter of higher education for many years. One of his greatest contributions has been his assistance in securing state-of-the-art industry software donations--the kind of cutting-edge software most other universities envy. He's been a true friend to the Haworth College of Business and this award is just a small token of our tremendous gratitude."
File joined Chicago-based Information Resources, Inc. in 1989. He serves as senior vice president of IRI, the nation's largest market research organization. He has also served as a vice president at the Food Marketing Institute, A.M. Lewis Co. and Rosauers' Supermarkets. File began his career as a sales manager with the Roundup Co., a division of the Fred Meyer Co., after earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Montana and an MBA from the University of Southern California. He has taught at Eastern Washington College and Gonzaga University.
File serves on the Business Advisory Council in WMU's Haworth College of Business, as well as the advisory board of the University's Food Marketing Program. For the past three years he has chaired the food marketing subcommittee that organizes the conference at which he'll be honored.
The annual food marketing conference is sponsored by WMU's Food Marketing Program in the Haworth College of Business and by Sigma Phi Omega, a professional business fraternity. All proceeds from the conference support scholarships and program operations.
The cost of attending the conference for both days is $275. Single day registrations also are available at reduced prices. Reservations and information can be obtained by calling the conference hotline at (616) 387-2132.
Media contact: Jessica English, 616 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu