Rebecca Singer

Rebecca Singer is President and CEO of the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT), where she leads efforts to strengthen Ohio’s manufacturing, food processing, and agribusiness sectors through innovation, technical assistance, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. She also directs the Northwest Ohio region of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), connecting manufacturers with expertise and resources to improve productivity, adopt new technologies, develop their workforce, and compete in a rapidly changing economy.

Under Rebecca’s leadership, CIFT has become an important catalyst for economic development across Northwest Ohio, supporting manufacturers as well as emerging food entrepreneurs through initiatives such as the Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen. Since 2016, CIFT reports helping create more than 2,100 jobs, retain more than 7,800 jobs, support $123 million in sales, and facilitate more than $322 million in business investment.  Rebecca is particularly passionate about building strong teams, creating opportunities for small businesses, developing the next generation of manufacturing talent, and connecting innovation with meaningful regional economic growth.