David Fikes is Vice President, Communications and Consumer/Community Affairs for Food Marketing Institute, the trade association for supermarkets, grocery stores and all manner of food retail venues. His areas of responsibility, which include consumer research, animal welfare issues, and communication, all feed his fascination with people and deepen his curiosity about how we think, feel, interact and convey our values. Prior to his position with FMI, Fikes served as the Director of Communication for the American Frozen Food Institute. Before entering the world of food trade associations, he worked for 20 years as an Episcopal priest, serving parishes in Georgia, Tennessee and Texas. Fikes holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas and a Masters of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University.