Virginia Dare President Earns FEMA Lifetime Achievement Award 

How long does it take to win a lifetime achievement award? About 40 years, at least for Howard Smith Jr., our president. While Howard has worked tirelessly at Virginia Dare, he’s also uplifted the industry at large through his work with the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) and the International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI). In other words, it came as no surprise when Howard was selected as FEMA’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree!

Howard unites the best qualities in a leader and mentor: decisive, nurturing, and always thinking ten steps ahead. As the fourth generation to serve as Virginia Dare’s president, Howard’s work is more than a 9-to-5 career. It’s ingrained in his family, a legacy he carries on with his son Christopher, Virginia Dare’s Executive Vice President. 

Here’s to many more successes to come!