New York, June 27, 2017—Upwardly Global (UpGlo), an award‐winning, national nonprofit organization that helps immigrants and refugees find their place in the professional U.S. job market, will honor Dr. Hamed Faridi, Chief Science Officer of McCormick & Company, Inc., with the organization’s Outstanding Leadership Award.
The award, which recognizes individuals who have advanced the promise of an interdependent world and global economy by championing immigrants and refugees, will be celebrated at UpGlo’s annual Passport to Possibilities Awards & Gala on Nov. 1, 2017 in New York City. Proceeds from the event support UpGlo’s innovative programs that prepare work‐authorized immigrants and refugees to translate their education, skills, and previous careers into the U.S. workforce.
“Through his own professional journey and his work to enhance diversity and inclusion initiatives at McCormick, Dr. Faridi has demonstrated a profound commitment to giving a voice and opportunity to diverse talent,” said Nikki Cicerani, President and CEO of Upwardly Global. “He embodies UpGlo’s vision of a United States where newcomers are integrated into the professional workforce and the fabric of American life, and are recognized for the value they bring to both. We are thrilled to honor Dr. Faridi as a leader in building an inclusive workforce and nation.”
In his role as Chief Science Officer at McCormick & Company, Inc., Dr. Faridi leads a global team of 450 scientists and flavor experts in 14 countries dedicated to research, product development, innovation, and sustainability. His vision led to the creation and development of the McCormick Science Institute (MSI), an independent research group whose mission is to increase the scientific understanding of the potential impact of flavorful healthy eating on public health. This is reflective of the fact that McCormick is committed to building a global, diverse, and inclusive workforce, and was recognized as a 2017 DiversityInc. top 50 company.
A naturalized Iranian‐American, Dr. Faridi received his MS and Ph.D. in food science from Kansas State University, and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He has published six books and dozens of articles about food science and technology. In addition, he has lectured at conferences and research institutions in 21 countries and has served on several boards of professional and trade associations in the U.S. and Europe. He has also received numerous awards including the 2016 Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
“Diversity and inclusion are not just corporate phrases, but values that strengthen companies and drive innovation,” Dr. Faridi said. “Immigrants are pivotal to our growing economy and evolving culture and I greatly admire the work Upwardly Global does to ensure that newcomers are recognized for their value and are able to contribute at their full potential.”
Previous honorees of the Outstanding Leadership Award include Julio Rojas, Chief Executive Officer, Americas, Standard Chartered Bank; Deven Sharma, Former President, Standard and Poor’s; Dr. Mehmood Khan, Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer, PepsiCo; Tony Goncalves, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, AT&T; and Rita Gonzalez, Managing Director, Head of Institutional Sales, America, HSBC.
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About Upwardly Global
Upwardly Global is the first and longest‐serving organization that focuses on helping foreign‐trained immigrants and refugees integrate into the American workforce. We prepare newcomers for jobs that match their education and skills, and provide employers with the tools to create inclusive hiring practices so they can take advantage of this untapped and valuable potential.
HAMED FARIDI, Ph.D. Chief Science Officer
A renowned food industry leader, Dr. Faridi heads a global team of more than 450 scientists and flavorists responsible for research, product development and innovation, and is the voice of food science for McCormick & Company. Under his leadership, McCormick’s R&D program has been transformed and is rated by investors and global customers as one of the most innovative in the industry.
Dr. Faridi’s science‐based approach to “Flavorful Healthy Eating” is recognized as a groundbreaking platform for improving public health. His vision led to the formation of the McCormick Science Institute in 2006.
He has published six books and over 60 articles, has been a featured lecturer at conferences and research institutions in more than two dozen countries, and has served on several boards of professional and trade associations in the U.S. and Europe. Dr. Faridi has served as President of the American Association of Cereal Chemists and the Flavor & Extract Manufacturers Association. He currently serves on the boards of the Maryland University of Integrative Health and the Sabri Ulker Nutrition Foundation in Istanbul, Turkey.
Dr. Faridi was honored as a Fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists in 2010 and of AACC International in 2011. He is also the recipient of Kansas State University’s 2013 Outstanding Alumni Award. In 2015, he received the coveted Dr. Richard L. Hall Distinguished Service Award from FEMA, and in 2016 Dr. Faridi received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
Prior to joining McCormick in 1997, Dr. Faridi served on the faculty of Washington State University (1979‐1983) and held R&D executive positions at Nabisco from 1983 to 1997. Dr. Faridi received his B.S.c. from Pahlavi University in Shiraz, Iran (1969), his M.S. (1973) and Ph.D. in Food Science from Kansas State University (1975), and his M.B.A. from Fairleigh Dickinson University (1987).