Rick Smilow is the Chairman and Founder of the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE). Rick earned a BA degree in history from Emory University and an MBA in marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. In 2010, he co-authored Culinary Careers: How to Get Your Dream Job in Food, a 360-page ‘information and inspiration’ book published by Random House. Smilow is a board member or advisor to City Harvest, Streets International, the Yale Sustainable Farm, and the Aspen Institute's Food & Society division. Recently, he celebrated his 30th anniversary as ICE CEO, and he is honoring the 50th anniversary of ICE throughout 2025.