LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY - Corporate Board Profile

Lifeway Foods, Inc.

Filing Date	Source Excerpt
2003-04-30	Ludmila Smolyansky 55 Chairperson of the Board of Directors 2003 LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an enlargement of the number of Directors to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. During 2002, each outside (non-employee) director was compensated at the rate of $500 per meeting attended for three of the four meetings held during the year. None of the employee directors (Michael Smolyansky, Ludmila Smolyansky and Julie Smolyansky) or Thomas Kunz were compensated as Directors during 2002.
2004-04-29	Ludmila Smolyansky 56 Director and Chairperson of the Board of Directors 2002
2005-04-29	Ludmila Smolyansky 57 Director and Chairperson of the Board of Directors As compensation for continuing advisory services to the Company, and in light of her extensive experience, the Company approved the payment to Ludmila Smolyansky of a salary of $91,538.44 and a bonus of $75,000 in 2004.
2006-05-12	During 2005, each outside (non-employee) director was compensated at the rate of $500 per meeting attended. Neither any employee director (Ludmila Smolyansky and Julie Smolyansky) nor any Director serving as the nominee of Danone (Juan Carlos Dalto) was compensated as a Director during 2005. As other compensation for continuing advisory services to the Company, and in light of her extensive experience, the Company approved the payment to Ludmila Smolyansky of a salary of $97,249.94 and a bonus of $28,000 in 2005.
2007-05-22	Ludmila Smolyansky was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. The Company approves, on an annual basis, the payment to Ludmila Smolyansky of salary and bonus as other compensation for continuing advisory services to the Company, and in light of her extensive experience. Ludmila Smolyansky devotes as much time as necessary to the business of the Company. During 2006, neither any employee director (Ludmila Smolyansky and Julie Smolyansky) nor any Director serving as the nominee of Danone (Juan Carlos Dalto) was compensated as a Director during 2006. As other compensation for continuing advisory services to the Company, and in light of her extensive experience, the Company approved the payment to Ludmila Smolyansky of a salary of $99,000 and a bonus of $55,000 in 2006.
2008-05-29	Ludmila Smolyansky was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. ... As other compensation for continuing advisory services to the Company, and in light of her extensive experience, the Company approved the payment to Ludmila Smolyansky of a salary of $162,807 and a bonus of $55,000 in 2007. Ludmila Smolyansky devotes as much time as necessary to the business of the Company.
2009-06-05	LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. ... As other compensation for continuing advisory services to the Company, and in light of her extensive experience, the Company approved the payment to Ludmila Smolyansky of a salary of $190,076 and a bonus of $50,000 in 2008.
2010-05-04	LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. Mrs. Smolyansky devotes as much time as necessary to the business of the Company. As other compensation for continuing advisory services to the Company, and in light of her extensive experience, the Company approved the payment to Ludmila Smolyansky of a salary of $359,926 and a bonus of $60,000 in 2009.
2011-05-05	LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY, 60, was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. ... The Company approves, on an annual basis, the payment to Ludmila Smolyansky of salary and bonus as other compensation for continuing advisory services to the Company and in light of her extensive experience. Ludmila Smolyansky devotes as much time as necessary to the business of the Company.
2012-05-25	Ludmila Smolyansky, 61, was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. ... Director Compensation as of December 31, 2011: Ludmila Smolyansky $716,500 total compensation.
2013-05-29	LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY, 62, was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. ... Mrs. Smolyansky devotes as much time as necessary to the business of the Company and currently holds no other directorships in any other reporting company. ... Director Compensation as of December 31, 2012 ... Ludmila Smolyansky ... Fees Earned or Paid in Cash $591,626 ... All Other Compensation $13,052 ... Total $604,678.
2014-05-02	LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY, 64, was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. ... Mrs. Smolyansky devotes as much time as necessary to the business of the Company and currently holds no other directorships in any other reporting company. ... Director Compensation as of December 31, 2013: Ludmila Smolyansky Fees Earned or Paid in Cash $408,000, All Other Compensation $14,200, Total $422,300.
2015-11-23	LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY, 65, was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. ... Ms. Smolyansky did not receive any additional retainer fees or other meeting attendance fees in her capacity as a director. ... Of the Fees Paid in Cash, $718,260 represents the annual fees paid to Ms. Smolyansky for her services as a consultant to the Company on strategic matters ... The “all other compensation” column of the Director Compensation table reflects for Ms. Smolyansky (i) the Company’s portion of the matching contributions to the Company’s 401(k) plan on her behalf equal to $12,830 for 2014; and (ii) $7,251 for health insurance premiums.
2016-04-29	LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY, 66, was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. Mrs. Smolyansky has been the operator of several independent delicatessen, gourmet food distributorship businesses and imported food distributorships. Ms. Smolyansky and Michael Smolyansky founded the Company and Ms. Smolyansky served as the Company's General Manager. In 2010, Ms. Smolyansky retired as an employee of the Company and has continued to serve the Company as its Chairperson of the Board since 2002 and as a consultant since 2011. Mrs. Smolyansky currently holds no other directorships in any other reporting company. Mrs. Smolyansky is the mother of Julie Smolyansky (the President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of the Company) and Edward P. Smolyansky (the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of the Company). Mrs. Smolyansky brings many years of food industry experience to the Board. ... In 2015, Ms. Smolyansky was paid $1,000,000 in cash. Ms. Smolyansky was also provided the opportunity to participate in the Company's health benefit plan and 401(k) plan which amount is included in the "all other compensation" column of the Director Compensation table. ... Director Compensation table: Ludmila Smolyansky $1,009,738 total compensation.
2017-05-01	LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY, 67, was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. ... Mrs. Smolyansky did not receive any additional retainer fees or other meeting attendance fees in her capacity as a director. ... Director Compensation for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2016 ... Ludmila Smolyansky $1,600,000 (1) $5,109 (2) $1,605,109 ... (1) $1,000,000 represents the annual fees paid to Mrs. Smolyansky for her services as a consultant to the Company on strategic matters including, without limitation, plans and strategies for geographic expansion and development of recipes and new products, and new product and facility acquisition; and (b) $600,000 represents royalty payments as discussed further in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.” Mrs. Smolyansky did not receive any additional retainer fees or other meeting attendance fees in her capacity as a director.
2018-04-30	LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY, 68, was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. Mrs. Smolyansky has been the operator of several independent delicatessen and gourmet food distributorship businesses, and imported food distributorships. Mrs. Smolyansky and Michael Smolyansky founded Lifeway and Mrs. Smolyansky served as our General Manager. In 2010, Mrs. Smolyansky retired as a Lifeway employee and has continued to serve Lifeway as its Chairperson of the Board since 2002 and as a consultant since 2011. Mrs. Smolyansky holds no other directorships in any other reporting company. Mrs. Smolyansky is the mother of Julie Smolyansky (the President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of the Company) and Edward Smolyansky (the Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, and a Director of the Company). Mrs. Smolyansky brings many years of food industry experience, historical perspective, and operational expertise to the Board.
2019-04-30	LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. Mrs. Smolyansky has been the operator of several independent delicatessen and gourmet food distributorship businesses, and imported food distributorships, and been a leading force in the health food market for over 40 years. Mrs. Smolyansky and Michael Smolyansky founded Lifeway and Mrs. Smolyansky served as our General Manager. In 2010, Mrs. Smolyansky retired as a Lifeway employee. She has continued to serve Lifeway as its Chairperson of the Board and as a full-time consultant since 2011. Mrs. Smolyansky devotes as much time as necessary to Lifeway’s business and currently holds no other directorships in any other reporting company. Mrs. Smolyansky is the mother of Julie Smolyansky (the President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of the Company) and Edward Smolyansky (the Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer, Secretary, and a Director of the Company).
2020-09-03	LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. Mrs. Smolyansky has been the operator of several independent delicatessen and gourmet food distributorship businesses, and imported food distributorships, and been a leading force in the health food market for over 40 years. Mrs. Smolyansky and Michael Smolyansky founded Lifeway and Mrs. Smolyansky served as our General Manager. In 2010, Mrs. Smolyansky retired as a Lifeway employee. She has continued to serve Lifeway as its Chairperson of the Board and as a full-time consultant since 2011. Mrs. Smolyansky devotes as much time as necessary to Lifeway’s business and currently holds no other directorships in any other reporting company. Mrs. Smolyansky is the mother of Julie Smolyansky (the President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of the Company) and Edward Smolyansky (the Chief Operating Officer and a Director of the Company). Of the All Other Compensation, (a) $1,000,000 represents the annual fees paid to Mrs. Smolyansky for her services as a consultant to Lifeway; and (b) $585,132 represents royalty payments. Both relationships are discussed further in the “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” section below. Mrs. Smolyansky did not receive any retainer fees in her capacity as a non-employee director.
2021-09-01	Ludmila Smolyansky, Founder and Chairperson of the Board Age: 71 Board Leadership Roles: • Chairperson of the Board Mrs. Smolyansky did not receive any retainer fees in her capacity as a non-employee director. Of the All Other Compensation, (a) $1,000,000 represents the annual fees paid to Mrs. Smolyansky for her services as a consultant to Lifeway through December 31, 2020. Effective January 1, 2021, Mrs. Smolyansky will be paid an annual service fee of $500,000 and will also be eligible for an annual performance fee target of $500,000 based on the achievement of specified performance criteria.; and (b) $600,000 represents royalty payments.
2022-08-03	Ludmila Smolyansky was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. ... Ludmila Smolyansky did not receive any retainer fees in her capacity as a non-employee director. ... The table below describes the cash and stock award portions of the annual retainer paid to each non-employee director who served in fiscal year 2021. ... Ludmila Smolyansky's total compensation was $1,105,427.
2023-04-28	LUDMILA SMOLYANSKY was appointed as a Director by the Board to fill a vacancy created by an increase of the maximum number of Directors up to seven and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. Ludmila Smolyansky has been the operator of several independent delicatessen and gourmet food distributorship businesses, and imported food distributorships, and been a leading force in the health food market for over 40 years. Michael Smolyansky, her husband, founded Lifeway and Ms. L. Smolyansky served as our General Manager. In 2010, Ms. L. Smolyansky retired as a Lifeway employee. She continued to serve Lifeway as its Chairperson of the Board until August 2022 and served as a consultant to Lifeway from 2011 until January 2022. Ludmila Smolyansky currently holds no other directorship in any other reporting company. She is the mother of Julie Smolyansky (the Chief Executive Officer of the Company).