Industry Contributors and How to Apply
While NPA membership is limited to companies that align with its membership categories, individuals can also interact with the NPA membership and participate through the Industry Contributor program. The Industry Contributor program includes two categories, Industry Experts and Ambassadors.
Industry Experts are highly qualified scientists and individuals from universities, government, research institutes, or foundations with an interest or connection to the pasta industry, including individuals involved in teaching, research, or extension.
Learn more about Industry Experts and why they participate.
Interested in learning more about the Industry Contributor program and submitting an application? Click here.
Ambassadors are key opinion leaders and influencers in the food field. These can be culinary professionals like celebrity chefs, foodies and bloggers, registered dietitians and nutritionists, lifestyle and fitness bloggers/influencers and personal trainers/exercise enthusiasts that have an established brand that can help promote the consumption of pasta.
Learn more about Ambassadors and why they participate.
Interested in learning more about the Industry Contributor program and submitting an application? Click here.
Industry Expert:
- Individuals included in this category: highly qualified scientists and individuals from universities, government, research institutes, or foundations with an interest or connection to the pasta industry, including individuals involved in teaching, research, or extension.
- Only a small group of Industry Experts are selected to participate with NPA. Industry Experts participate for a period of 2 years, with the opportunity to renew for up to 3 terms (6 years).
What is involved with being an Industry Expert?
- Industry Experts give one informational/educational presentation, either at the Annual Meeting or via webinar during their term as Industry Expert.
- Commitment of approximately 1-2 hours per month, excluding meeting attendance
- Industry Experts participate as a scientific advisor on an NPA Committee related to their expertise (Technical Affairs, Government Affairs, Nutrition Research Task Force, Communications, etc.) and bring expertise, experience, and perspective to the Committee that complement and enhance the input of the member companies.
Why do Industry Experts Participate?
- Professional Development: opportunities for relationship building through Committee participation and attending the NPA Annual Conference. Industry Experts will be listed by name on the NPA website.
- Networking: receive complimentary registration to attend the NPA Annual Meeting each year of term. At the end of each term, an Industry Expert will receive a plaque or recognition for their service.
- Access: be the first to know about new initiatives, events and resources in the pasta industry and gain access to a network of manufacturers, suppliers, and millers. NPA members may provide product in-kind for work or tours of facilities.
- Participate and Promote: speak up in-person and online about NPA and the pasta industry.
- Recognition as Industry expert: Increase credibility and status in the industry as the go-to expert on pasta.
- Participate and Promote: speak up in-person and online about NPA and the pasta industry.
- Potentially lead to future collaborations.
Current Industry Experts:
Chef Helmut Holzer, CMC
Fill out an application today!
Ambassador:
- Individuals included in this category: key opinion leaders and influencers in the food field. These can be culinary professionals like celebrity chefs, foodies and bloggers, registered dietitians and nutritionists, lifestyle and fitness bloggers/influencers and personal trainers/exercise enthusiasts that have an established brand that can help promote the consumption of pasta.
- Only a small group of Ambassadors are selected to participate with NPA. Ambassadors participate for a period of 2 years, with the opportunity to renew for up to 3 terms (6 years).
What is involved with being an Ambassador?
- Ambassadors will help to grow pasta consumption overall by promoting pasta in their own brands through the creation and featuring of pasta recipes, talking about pasta, and increasing overall awareness.
- NPA will provide Ambassadors with information and materials to talk about pasta in their own work so that NPA can help to shape the conversation around pasta.
- Ambassadors give one informational or educational presentation, either at the Annual Meeting or via webinar during their term as an Ambassador, if applicable.
Why do Ambassadors Participate?
- Networking and Recognition: Receive complimentary registration to attend the Annual Meeting each year of term and develop relationships within the pasta industry. At the end of each term, an Ambassador will receive a plaque or recognition for their service. Ambassadors are listed by name on the NPA website (with link to their work) and on NPA’s consumer-facing website, SharethePasta.org.
- Unprecedented Access: be the first to know about new initiatives, events and resources in the pasta industry and gain access to a network of manufacturers, suppliers, and millers.
- Participate and Promote: speak up in-person and online about NPA and the pasta industry.
- Recognition as Pasta Expert: ambassador will be featured on NPA website and across NPA’s digital platforms and social media channels. This will establish ambassador as pasta expert
- Build Ambassador Brand: as part of this program ambassadors can potentially increase status, followers and reach through participation on NPA platforms.
- Future Projects: exposure could lead to future paid opportunities and other jobs.
Current NPA Ambassadors:
Process for Industry Contributor Selection:
- Individuals can only apply to be an Industry Expert or Ambassador if they don’t fall into other current NPA categories (i.e. cannot work for a company that would otherwise fall into another membership type. See NPA membership categories).
- Industry Experts and Ambassadors are each limited to a small number of individuals or companies that serve for a period of 2 years, with the opportunity to renew for up to 3 terms (6 years).
- Applications are accepted and reviewed year-round.
- Responsibilities are approximately 1-2 hours per month for Industry Experts and approximately 5 to 10 hours a month for Ambassadors, excluding meeting attendance.
Once Selected and Approved:
- Industry Experts and Ambassadors approved by the NPA Board will be provided with a welcome letter with general information about NPA, terms of NPA service, and additional materials related to their area of expertise, including NPA core communication messages and communication guidelines
